Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

South Skunk River at Colfax

Highest listed crest 23.85 ftFlood stage 18.0 ft42 crests since 1986

The South Skunk River at Colfax crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 42 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1986 to 2025. The highest, 23.85 ft on August 14, 2010, was major flooding, 5.85 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the South Skunk River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
23.85 ft
August 14, 2010; 24,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
18.0 ft
Major flooding from 21.0 ft
Crests at major
2
70th of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
March 16, 2019
18.80 ft, minor flooding
Location
Jasper County
Near Newton (10.7 mi), Altoona (12.2 mi), Pleasant Hill (14.5 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Skunk River at Colfax
Action stage15.010Jul 31, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)18.010Mar 16, 2019Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage19.03Jun 14, 2008Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage21.02Aug 14, 2010Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

42 crests from 1986 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Skunk River at Colfax, 1986 to 2025 510152025ft Flood stage 18.0 ftMajor 21.0 ft Jul 1, 1986: 17.15 ft, action stage; 6,530 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 1987: 17.35 ft, action stage; 6,850 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 1987: 10.27 ft, below flood stage; 1,130 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1989: 12.85 ft, below flood stageMay 25, 1989: 11.98 ft, below flood stage; 2,180 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1990: 19.07 ft, moderate flooding; 8,770 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1991: 18.05 ft, minor flooding; 8,090 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1992: 14.92 ft, below flood stage; 4,200 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1993: 21.53 ft, major flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1994: 14.46 ft, below flood stage; 3,860 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 1995: 15.28 ft, action stage; 4,040 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1996: 18.23 ft, minor flooding; 8,280 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1997: 14.59 ft, below flood stage; 3,940 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1998: 18.68 ft, minor flooding; 8,340 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1999: 16.42 ft, action stage; 6,070 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2000: 13.60 ft, below flood stage; 3,440 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2001: 14.51 ft, below flood stageJun 13, 2001: 14.41 ft, below flood stage; 4,090 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2002: 13.09 ft, below flood stage; 3,100 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2003: 15.61 ft, action stage; 4,920 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2004: 18.38 ft, minor flooding; 8,470 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2005: 15.78 ft, action stage; 4,590 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 2006: 14.95 ft, below flood stage; 4,600 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2007: 19.02 ft, moderate flooding; 7,880 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 2008: 20.25 ft, moderate flooding; 10,900 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2009: 16.80 ft, action stage; 6,480 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 2010: 23.85 ft, major flooding; 24,000 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2011: 14.33 ft, below flood stage; 4,080 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2012: 10.66 ft, below flood stage; 1,730 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2013: 18.54 ft, minor flooding; 8,530 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2014: 18.90 ft, minor flooding; 9,020 cubic feet per secondSep 1, 2015: 18.16 ft, minor flooding; 8,030 cubic feet per secondDec 17, 2015: 18.71 ft, minor flooding; 7,470 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2017: 14.05 ft, below flood stageMay 20, 2017: 14.01 ft, below flood stage; 3,750 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2018: 18.07 ft, minor flooding; 7,500 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2019: 18.80 ft, minor flooding; 8,820 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2020: 14.53 ft, below flood stage; 4,030 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2021: 9.19 ft, below flood stage; 898 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2022: 15.67 ft, action stage; 4,750 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2024: 16.42 ft, action stage; 5,370 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 2025: 15.80 ft, action stage; 4,860 cubic feet per second Highest, 23.85 ft, Aug 14, 2010 1990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Skunk River at Colfax 1980s: 0 1990s: 5 2000s: 3 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 0 1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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

Highest listed crests, South Skunk River at Colfax
1Aug 14, 201023.85+5.85Major24,000
2Jul 12, 199321.53+3.53Major14,200
3Jun 14, 200820.25+2.25Moderate10,900
4Jun 20, 199019.07+1.07Moderate8,770
5Apr 28, 200719.02+1.02Moderate7,880
6Jul 3, 201418.90+0.90Minor9,020
7Mar 16, 201918.80+0.80Minor8,820
8Dec 17, 201518.71+0.71Minor7,470
9Jun 20, 199818.68+0.68Minor8,340
10May 30, 201318.54+0.54Minor8,530
11May 24, 200418.38+0.38Minor8,470
12Jun 19, 199618.23+0.23Minor8,280
13Sep 1, 201518.16+0.16Minor8,030
14Jul 2, 201818.07+0.07Minor7,500
15Jun 6, 199118.05+0.05Minor8,090
16Aug 27, 198717.35−0.65Action6,850
17Jul 1, 198617.15−0.85Action6,530
18Apr 28, 200916.80−1.20Action6,480
19Jun 12, 199916.42−1.58Action6,070
20May 22, 202416.42−1.58Action5,370
21Jul 31, 202515.80−2.20Action4,860
22May 14, 200515.78−2.22Action4,590
23Jun 16, 202215.67−2.33Action4,750
24Jul 10, 200315.61−2.39Action4,920
25May 10, 199515.28−2.72Action4,040
26Sep 12, 200614.95−3.05Below flood stage4,600
27Jul 25, 199214.92−3.08Below flood stage4,200
28Feb 19, 199714.59−3.41Below flood stage3,940
29May 27, 202014.53−3.47Below flood stage4,030
30Mar 15, 200114.51−3.49Below flood stage—
31Jun 24, 199414.46−3.54Below flood stage3,860
32Jun 13, 200114.41−3.59Below flood stage4,090
33Jun 10, 201114.33−3.67Below flood stage4,080
34May 2, 201714.05−3.95Below flood stage—
35May 20, 201714.01−3.99Below flood stage3,750
36May 31, 200013.60−4.40Below flood stage3,440
37May 12, 200213.09−4.91Below flood stage3,100
38Mar 10, 198912.85−5.15Below flood stage—
39May 25, 198911.98−6.02Below flood stage2,180
40Apr 15, 201210.66−7.34Below flood stage1,730
41Nov 30, 198710.27−7.73Below flood stage1,130
42Mar 26, 20219.19−8.81Below flood stage898

The worst floods along the South Skunk River

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

August 14, 2010: 23.85 ft here, major flooding

July 12, 1993: 21.53 ft here, major flooding

  • Ames US 30IA · Jul 9, 1993 · 25.53 ft · Major
  • OskaloosaIA · Jul 15, 1993 · 24.78 ft · Minor

June 14, 2008: 20.25 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the South Skunk River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the South Skunk River
Ames W Riverside RdIA12.520.89 ft, Jun 17, 199610
Ames US 30IA21.526.72 ft, Aug 11, 20106
Colfax this gaugeIA18.023.85 ft, Aug 14, 20102
OskaloosaIA24.526.40 ft, Aug 16, 20100

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CFXI4, 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.