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Raccoon River at Van Meter

Highest listed crest 26.34 ftFlood stage 17.0 ft118 crests since 1915

The Raccoon River at Van Meter crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 118 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1915 to 2025. The highest, 26.34 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
26.34 ft
July 10, 1993; 70,100 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
17.0 ft
Major flooding from 23.0 ft
Crests at major
3
58th of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
March 14, 2019
20.08 ft, minor flooding
Location
Dallas County
Near Waukee (5.2 mi), West Des Moines (8.8 mi), Clive (9.5 mi)

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
Action stage15.014Jan 22, 2017The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)17.035Mar 14, 2019Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage22.02Jun 12, 2008Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage23.03Jun 25, 2015Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

118 crests from 1915 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Raccoon River at Van Meter, 1915 to 2025 51015202530ft Flood stage 17.0 ftMajor 23.0 ft May 29, 1915: 15.90 ft, action stage; 21,600 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1916: 8.40 ft, below flood stage; 5,840 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1917: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 35,200 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1918: 13.70 ft, below flood stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1919: 12.60 ft, below flood stage; 12,400 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1920: 12.20 ft, below flood stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 1921: 11.10 ft, below flood stage; 9,670 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1922: 12.10 ft, below flood stage; 11,400 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1923: 11.60 ft, below flood stage; 10,300 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1924: 15.20 ft, action stage; 20,100 cubic feet per secondAug 7, 1925: 10.10 ft, below flood stage; 8,060 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 1926: 18.96 ft, minor flooding; 32,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 8, 1927: 9.70 ft, below flood stage; 6,880 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 1928: 10.80 ft, below flood stage; 8,480 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1929: 16.20 ft, action stage; 19,400 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1930: 8.80 ft, below flood stage; 5,870 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1931: 8.30 ft, below flood stage; 5,270 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 1931: 14.60 ft, below flood stage; 15,200 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1933: 10.10 ft, below flood stage; 7,550 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1934: 5.00 ft, below flood stage; 2,020 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1935: 13.10 ft, below flood stage; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1936: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1937: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1938: 11.60 ft, below flood stage; 8,590 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1939: 17.85 ft, minor flooding; 14,000 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 1940: 9.20 ft, below flood stage; 5,770 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1941: 10.00 ft, below flood stage; 6,920 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1942: 11.70 ft, below flood stage; 8,800 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 1943: 14.70 ft, below flood stage; 12,500 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1944: 18.30 ft, minor flooding; 23,400 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1945: 16.10 ft, action stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1946: 16.10 ft, action stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1947: 21.40 ft, minor flooding; 41,200 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1948: 19.00 ft, minor flooding; 26,700 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1949: 15.70 ft, action stage; 15,900 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1950: 16.10 ft, action stage; 17,600 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1951: 19.15 ft, minor flooding; 27,700 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1952: 14.81 ft, below flood stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1953: 19.42 ft, minor flooding; 26,000 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1954: 17.40 ft, minor flooding; 20,800 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1955: 11.43 ft, below flood stage; 8,620 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1956: 7.43 ft, below flood stage; 4,150 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1957: 17.27 ft, minor flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1958: 21.77 ft, minor flooding; 35,200 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1959: 13.22 ft, below flood stage; 13,500 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1960: 21.18 ft, minor flooding; 32,300 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1961: 12.35 ft, below flood stage; 11,300 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1962: 17.23 ft, minor flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1963: 12.62 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1964: 15.92 ft, action stage; 17,400 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1965: 18.35 ft, minor flooding; 22,300 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1966: 15.15 ft, action stage; 16,200 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1967: 18.07 ft, minor flooding; 20,600 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1968: 7.05 ft, below flood stage; 4,360 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1969: 17.60 ft, minor flooding; 22,800 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 1970: 14.23 ft, below flood stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1971: 18.85 ft, minor flooding; 23,000 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 1972: 11.33 ft, below flood stage; 9,730 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1973: 21.74 ft, minor flooding; 35,600 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1974: 20.13 ft, minor flooding; 30,400 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1975: 14.01 ft, below flood stage; 14,300 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1976: 12.84 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1977: 12.79 ft, below flood stage; 11,900 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1978: 17.62 ft, minor flooding; 20,800 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1979: 20.39 ft, minor flooding; 29,900 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1980: 7.76 ft, below flood stage; 4,870 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1981: 7.12 ft, below flood stage; 4,130 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1982: 14.34 ft, below flood stageJun 15, 1982: 14.21 ft, below flood stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1983: 18.59 ft, minor flooding; 25,500 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1984: 19.51 ft, minor flooding; 28,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1985: 12.70 ft, below flood stage; 9,900 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1986: 22.69 ft, moderate flooding; 40,200 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 1987: 13.97 ft, below flood stage; 14,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1988: 11.69 ft, below flood stageJun 9, 1988: 7.16 ft, below flood stage; 3,920 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1989: 11.00 ft, below flood stageSep 9, 1989: 9.98 ft, below flood stage; 7,640 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1990: 21.39 ft, minor flooding; 34,600 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1991: 16.78 ft, action stage; 21,000 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 1992: 12.69 ft, below flood stage; 12,400 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1993: 26.34 ft, major flooding; 70,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1994: 12.64 ft, below flood stageMar 7, 1994: 10.42 ft, below flood stage; 8,750 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1995: 13.12 ft, below flood stage; 12,400 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1996: 16.47 ft, action stage; 17,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1997: 17.04 ft, minor flooding; 11,500 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1998: 23.29 ft, major flooding; 47,400 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1999: 17.97 ft, minor flooding; 20,400 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2000: 8.00 ft, below flood stage; 5,410 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2001: 14.25 ft, below flood stage; 14,600 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2002: 10.08 ft, below flood stage; 8,420 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2003: 16.51 ft, action stage; 20,300 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2004: 21.59 ft, minor flooding; 36,900 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2005: 17.08 ft, minor flooding; 19,300 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 2006: 9.47 ft, below flood stage; 7,600 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2007: 20.24 ft, minor flooding; 29,600 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2008: 22.67 ft, moderate flooding; 43,500 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2009: 17.19 ft, minor flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2010: 18.49 ft, minor floodingJun 28, 2010: 18.43 ft, minor flooding; 29,300 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2011: 13.82 ft, below flood stage; 16,600 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2012: 9.01 ft, below flood stage; 8,740 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2013: 17.28 ft, minor flooding; 24,600 cubic feet per secondSep 1, 2014: 15.76 ft, action stage; 19,700 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2015: 23.09 ft, major flooding; 49,400 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2015: 19.34 ft, minor flooding; 27,700 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 2017: 15.16 ft, action stageMay 21, 2017: 13.13 ft, below flood stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2018: 14.83 ft, below flood stage; 18,100 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2019: 20.08 ft, minor flooding; 40,700 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 2019: 11.68 ft, below flood stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 2020: 13.46 ft, below flood stageJul 12, 2021: 5.18 ft, below flood stage; 2,500 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2022: 13.09 ft, below flood stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2023: 10.56 ft, below flood stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2024: 13.97 ft, below flood stage; 16,100 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2025: 11.79 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per second Highest, 26.34 ft, Jul 10, 1993 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Raccoon River at Van Meter 1910s: 1 1920s: 1 1930s: 1 1940s: 3 1950s: 5 1960s: 5 1970s: 5 1980s: 3 1990s: 5 2000s: 5 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 0 1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. 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.
  2. 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

The 50 highest of 118 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Raccoon River at Van Meter
1Jul 10, 199326.34+9.34Major70,100
2Jun 15, 199823.29+6.29Major47,400
3Jun 25, 201523.09+6.09Major49,400
4Jul 1, 198622.69+5.69Moderate40,200
5Jun 12, 200822.67+5.67Moderate43,500
6Jul 3, 195821.77+4.77Minor35,200
7Jul 4, 197321.74+4.74Minor35,600
8May 23, 200421.59+4.59Minor36,900
9Jun 13, 194721.40+4.40Minor41,200
10Jun 16, 199021.39+4.39Minor34,600
11Apr 2, 196021.18+4.18Minor32,300
12Mar 19, 197920.39+3.39Minor29,900
13Apr 26, 200720.24+3.24Minor29,600
14May 19, 197420.13+3.13Minor30,400
15Mar 14, 201920.08+3.08Minor40,700
16Apr 30, 198419.51+2.51Minor28,500
17Jun 11, 195319.42+2.42Minor26,000
18Dec 15, 201519.34+2.34Minor27,700
19Mar 31, 195119.15+2.15Minor27,700
20Mar 19, 194819.00+2.00Minor26,700
21Sep 20, 192618.96+1.96Minor32,000
22Feb 20, 197118.85+1.85Minor23,000
23Jul 3, 198318.59+1.59Minor25,500
24Mar 10, 201018.49+1.49Minor—
25Jun 28, 201018.43+1.43Minor29,300
26Jun 7, 191718.40+1.40Minor35,200
27Apr 6, 196518.35+1.35Minor22,300
28May 21, 194418.30+1.30Minor23,400
29Jun 12, 196718.07+1.07Minor20,600
30May 21, 199917.97+0.97Minor20,400
31Mar 12, 193917.85+0.85Minor14,000
32Mar 22, 197817.62+0.62Minor20,800
33Mar 25, 196917.60+0.60Minor22,800
34Jun 25, 195417.40+0.40Minor20,800
35May 30, 201317.28+0.28Minor24,600
36Jun 18, 195717.27+0.27Minor20,000
37Mar 31, 196217.23+0.23Minor19,700
38Apr 27, 200917.19+0.19Minor19,900
39May 13, 200517.08+0.08Minor19,300
40Feb 19, 199717.04+0.04Minor11,500
41Apr 19, 199116.78−0.22Action21,000
42May 9, 200316.51−0.49Action20,300
43May 24, 199616.47−0.53Action17,400
44Mar 14, 192916.20−0.80Action19,400
45Jun 6, 194516.10−0.90Action15,100
46Sep 9, 194616.10−0.90Action15,100
47Jun 20, 195016.10−0.90Action17,600
48Jun 23, 196415.92−1.08Action17,400
49May 29, 191515.90−1.10Action21,600
50Sep 1, 201415.76−1.24Action19,700

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: 26.34 ft here, major flooding

June 15, 1998: 23.29 ft here, major flooding

June 25, 2015: 23.09 ft here, major flooding

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 DrIA12.026.80 ft, Jul 11, 19931
Des Moines IA 28IA36.041.31 ft, Jun 13, 20083
Van Meter this gaugeIA17.026.34 ft, Jul 10, 19933
Van Meter Hwy R16--IFCIA857.8867.14 ft, Jul 10, 19931

Other gauges in Dallas County

Flood gauges in Dallas County
Perry15.023.00 ft, Jul 10, 19938
Van Meter Hwy R16--IFC857.8867.14 ft, Jul 10, 19931
Redfield20.029.04 ft, Jul 2, 19581
Waukee 156th St9.013.34 ft, Jul 9, 19930

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge VNMI4, 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.