Raccoon River at Van Meter Hwy R16--IFC

Highest listed crest 867.14 ftFlood stage 857.8 ft1 crests since 1993

The Raccoon River at Van Meter Hwy R16--IFC crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 1 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1993 to 1993. The highest, 867.14 ft on July 10, 1993, was major flooding, 9.34 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Raccoon River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest: 867.14 ft; July 10, 1993
Flood stage: 857.8 ft; Major flooding from 863.8 ft
Crests at major: 1; 93rd of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest: July 10, 1993; 867.14 ft, major flooding
Location: Dallas County; Near Waukee (5.2 mi), West Des Moines (8.8 mi), Clive (9.5 mi)
Identifiers: NWS VANI4; No USGS station

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Raccoon River at Van Meter Hwy R16--IFC

Action stage	855.8	0	—	The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)	857.8	0	—	Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage	862.8	0	—	Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage	863.8	1	Jul 10, 1993	Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

1 crests from 1993 to 1993. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Raccoon River at Van Meter Hwy R16--IFC

1	Jul 10, 1993	867.14	+9.34	Major	—

The worst floods along the Raccoon River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Raccoon River that crested above flood stage within a week.

July 10, 1993: 867.14 ft here, major flooding

Des Moines IA 28IA · Jul 11, 1993 · 40.77 ft · Major
Des Moines Fleur DrIA · Jul 11, 1993 · 26.80 ft · Major · its highest
Van MeterIA · Jul 10, 1993 · 26.34 ft · Major · its highest

Gauges on the Raccoon River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Raccoon River

Des Moines Fleur Dr	IA	12.0	26.80 ft, Jul 11, 1993	1
Des Moines IA 28	IA	36.0	41.31 ft, Jun 13, 2008	3
Van Meter	IA	17.0	26.34 ft, Jul 10, 1993	3
Van Meter Hwy R16--IFC this gauge	IA	857.8	867.14 ft, Jul 10, 1993	1

Other gauges in Dallas County

Flood gauges in Dallas County

Perry	15.0	23.00 ft, Jul 10, 1993	8
Van Meter	17.0	26.34 ft, Jul 10, 1993	3
Redfield	20.0	29.04 ft, Jul 2, 1958	1
Waukee 156th St	9.0	13.34 ft, Jul 9, 1993	0

Dallas County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Iowa

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge VANI4, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.