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Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21

Highest listed crest 31.30 ftFlood stage 18.0 ft55 crests since 1947

The Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21 crested at major flood stage 7 times among the 55 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1947 to 2026. The highest, 31.30 ft on July 13, 1993, was major flooding, 13.30 feet above flood stage. 17 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 9 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
31.30 ft
July 13, 1993; 428,694 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
18.0 ft
Major flooding from 25.0 ft
Crests at major
7
39th of 177 gauges in Illinois
Most recent flood crest
April 28, 2026
18.56 ft, minor flooding
Location
Adams County
Near Quincy (3.5 mi), Hannibal (13.4 mi)
Identifiers
NWS QLDI2
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, Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21
Action stage16.08Oct 2, 2019The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)18.023Apr 28, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage21.016Oct 12, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage25.07Jun 1, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

55 crests from 1947 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21, 1947 to 2026 1520253035ft Flood stage 18.0 ftMajor 25.0 ft Jun 10, 1947: 23.32 ft, moderate flooding; 317,042 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1960: 23.45 ft, moderate flooding; 319,040 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 1965: 23.89 ft, moderate flooding; 325,723 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1973: 27.70 ft, major flooding; 378,687 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1983: 23.51 ft, moderate flooding; 319,040 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1986: 24.86 ft, moderate flooding; 339,995 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 1993: 31.30 ft, major flooding; 428,694 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1996: 24.05 ft, moderate flooding; 328,122 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1998: 22.73 ft, moderate flooding; 307,849 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2001: 22.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 16, 2001: 26.55 ft, major flooding; 363,374 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2001: 18.00 ft, minor floodingJun 7, 2001: 19.70 ft, minor floodingMay 13, 2002: 20.89 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 2003: 15.61 ft, below flood stageJun 4, 2004: 20.00 ft, minor floodingAug 27, 2007: 17.50 ft, action stage; 220,590 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2008: 20.52 ft, minor flooding; 226,000 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 2008: 22.45 ft, moderate flooding; 259,000 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2008: 29.58 ft, major flooding; 476,900 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2008: 17.21 ft, action stage; 169,000 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 2009: 21.16 ft, moderate flooding; 288,019 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2009: 20.13 ft, minor flooding; 273,400 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 2009: 18.68 ft, minor flooding; 196,000 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2010: 19.07 ft, minor flooding; 203,000 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2010: 17.42 ft, action stage; 172,000 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2010: 19.05 ft, minor flooding; 203,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2010: 17.72 ft, action stage; 178,000 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2010: 21.60 ft, moderate flooding; 244,000 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 2010: 20.86 ft, minor flooding; 232,000 cubic feet per secondAug 15, 2010: 18.51 ft, minor flooding; 192,000 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 2010: 17.02 ft, action stage; 165,000 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2011: 17.26 ft, action stage; 171,000 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2011: 22.21 ft, moderate flooding; 254,000 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2011: 19.46 ft, minor flooding; 211,000 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2011: 22.80 ft, moderate flooding; 263,000 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2011: 19.58 ft, minor flooding; 212,000 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 2013: 27.24 ft, major flooding; 406,900 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2013: 24.74 ft, moderate flooding; 351,900 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2014: 26.15 ft, major flooding; 382,150 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 21.08 ft, moderate flooding; 286,700 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 2016: 18.86 ft, minor flooding; 251,400 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2017: 17.23 ft, action stage; 221,800 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2017: 19.33 ft, minor flooding; 259,900 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2017: 18.52 ft, minor flooding; 245,100 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2018: 18.90 ft, minor flooding; 252,900 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2018: 18.47 ft, minor flooding; 244,200 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 2018: 19.62 ft, minor flooding; 265,100 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2018: 23.96 ft, moderate flooding; 336,200 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2019: 30.15 ft, major floodingOct 2, 2019: 17.29 ft, action stageOct 17, 2019: 19.16 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 2020: 18.86 ft, minor floodingMay 5, 2023: 20.37 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2026: 18.56 ft, minor flooding; 245,900 cubic feet per second Highest, 31.30 ft, Jul 13, 1993 19501960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21 1940s: 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 2 1970s: 1 1980s: 2 1990s: 3 2000s: 12 2010s: 22 22 2020s: 3 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 55 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21
1Jul 13, 199331.30+13.30Major428,694
2Jun 1, 201930.15+12.15Major—
3Jun 18, 200829.58+11.58Major476,900
4Apr 25, 197327.70+9.70Major378,687
5Apr 21, 201327.24+9.24Major406,900
6May 16, 200126.55+8.55Major363,374
7Jul 8, 201426.15+8.15Major382,150
8Oct 4, 198624.86+6.86Moderate339,995
9Jun 1, 201324.74+6.74Moderate351,900
10May 29, 199624.05+6.05Moderate328,122
11Oct 12, 201823.96+5.96Moderate336,200
12Apr 28, 196523.89+5.89Moderate325,723
13Apr 5, 198323.51+5.51Moderate319,040
14Apr 4, 196023.45+5.45Moderate319,040
15Jun 10, 194723.32+5.32Moderate317,042
16Jun 16, 201122.80+4.80Moderate263,000
17Apr 15, 199822.73+4.73Moderate307,849
18Apr 28, 200122.60+4.60Moderate—
19May 5, 200822.45+4.45Moderate259,000
20Apr 24, 201122.21+4.21Moderate254,000
21Jun 24, 201021.60+3.60Moderate244,000
22Mar 12, 200921.16+3.16Moderate288,019
23Dec 29, 201521.08+3.08Moderate286,700
24May 13, 200220.89+2.89Minor—
25Jul 21, 201020.86+2.86Minor232,000
26Apr 27, 200820.52+2.52Minor226,000
27May 5, 202320.37+2.37Minor—
28May 17, 200920.13+2.13Minor273,400
29Jun 4, 200420.00+2.00Minor—
30Jun 7, 200119.70+1.70Minor—
31Sep 9, 201819.62+1.62Minor265,100
32Jun 28, 201119.58+1.58Minor212,000
33Jun 4, 201119.46+1.46Minor211,000
34May 2, 201719.33+1.33Minor259,900
35Oct 17, 201919.16+1.16Minor—
36Mar 15, 201019.07+1.07Minor203,000
37May 15, 201019.05+1.05Minor203,000
38May 16, 201818.90+0.90Minor252,900
39Oct 7, 201618.86+0.86Minor251,400
40Apr 2, 202018.86+0.86Minor—
41Nov 1, 200918.68+0.68Minor196,000
42Apr 28, 202618.56+0.56Minor245,900
43Jun 3, 201718.52+0.52Minor245,100
44Aug 15, 201018.51+0.51Minor192,000
45Jul 5, 201818.47+0.47Minor244,200
46Jun 2, 200118.000.00Minor—
47Jun 15, 201017.72−0.28Action178,000
48Aug 27, 200717.50−0.50Action220,590
49Apr 27, 201017.42−0.58Action172,000
50Oct 2, 201917.29−0.71Action—

The worst floods along the Mississippi River

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

July 13, 1993: 31.30 ft here, major flooding

  • QuincyIL · Jul 13, 1993 · 32.13 ft · Major · its highest
  • HannibalMO · Jul 15, 1993 · 31.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • LaGrangeMO · Jul 13, 1993 · 30.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • Gregory LandingMO · Jul 9, 1993 · 28.49 ft · Major · its highest
  • Canton Lock and Dam 20MO · Jul 9, 1993 · 27.88 ft · Major · its highest
  • KeokukIA · Jul 10, 1993 · 27.58 ft · Major · its highest
  • New BostonIL · Jul 9, 1993 · 25.90 ft · Major · its highest
  • MuscatineIA · Jul 9, 1993 · 25.61 ft · Major · its highest
  • BurlingtonIL · Jul 10, 1993 · 25.10 ft · Major
  • KeithsburgIA · Jul 9, 1993 · 24.15 ft · Major

June 1, 2019: 30.15 ft here, major flooding

June 18, 2008: 29.58 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Mississippi River

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

Flood gauges on the Mississippi River
TiptonvilleMO37.048.35 ft, May 5, 20112
Alma - Pool 5MN672.0672.13 ft, Apr 16, 20010
AltonIL21.039.55 ft, Aug 1, 19937
Baton RougeLA35.047.28 ft, May 15, 192731
BellevueIL17.023.51 ft, Apr 26, 196511
BrainerdMN16.017.61 ft, Jun 28, 20120
BrownsvilleMN635.0640.20 ft, Apr 22, 19650
BurlingtonIL15.025.73 ft, Jun 17, 200836
CamancheIA17.024.65 ft, Apr 28, 196520
Canton Lock and Dam 20MO15.027.88 ft, Jul 9, 19933
Cape GirardeauMO32.048.86 ft, Jan 2, 201615
CaruthersvilleMO32.047.61 ft, May 7, 20112
ChesterIL27.049.74 ft, Aug 7, 19939
Clarksville Lock and Dam 24MO25.037.73 ft, Jul 29, 199310
ClaytonIA620.0627.28 ft, Apr 24, 19650
DakotaMN644.0649.08 ft, Apr 21, 19650
DonaldsonvilleLA27.036.01 ft, May 15, 19273
Dubuque (LD11)IA16.025.69 ft, Apr 26, 196513
Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA17.026.81 ft, Apr 26, 196518
Fort RipleyMN10.514.15 ft, Apr 8, 19970
Fridley abv 37th Ave NEMN16.020.00 ft, Apr 17, 19656
FultonIL16.024.75 ft, Apr 28, 196513
GladstoneIL10.022.46 ft, Jun 17, 200824
GraftonIL20.038.17 ft, Aug 1, 199315
Gregory LandingMO15.028.49 ft, Jul 9, 19934
HannibalMO17.031.80 ft, Jul 15, 199310
HelenaAR44.060.21 ft, Feb 12, 19374
HerculaneumMO26.029.79 ft, Jul 10, 20240
HickmanKY34.054.29 ft, May 2, 20113
Hwy 169 at ChamplinMN12.017.96 ft, Apr 12, 19653
Hwy 610 in Brooklyn ParkMN12.019.53 ft, Apr 17, 19654
Illinois CityIA15.024.10 ft, Jul 9, 199321
KeithsburgIA14.024.49 ft, Jun 17, 200822
KeokukIA16.027.58 ft, Jul 10, 199324
La Crosse - Pool 8WI12.017.89 ft, Apr 22, 19654
LaGrangeMO17.030.00 ft, Jul 13, 19934
Lake CityWI16.022.18 ft, Apr 19, 19653
Lansing - Pool 9IA17.022.50 ft, Apr 24, 19651
LeClaireIA11.017.75 ft, Apr 28, 196516
LouisianaMO15.028.40 ft, Jul 28, 19934
McGregorIA16.025.38 ft, Apr 24, 19653
Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamIL21.042.72 ft, Aug 1, 19938
MemphisTN34.048.70 ft, Feb 10, 19372
MuscatineIA16.025.61 ft, Jul 9, 199321
NatchezMS48.061.95 ft, May 19, 20116
New BostonIL15.025.90 ft, Jul 9, 199322
New MadridMO34.048.35 ft, May 6, 20114
New OrleansLA17.021.27 ft, Apr 25, 19225
OsceolaAR28.050.90 ft, Feb 7, 193742
QuincyIL19.032.13 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Quincy Lock and Dam 21 this gaugeIL18.031.30 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Red River LandingLA48.063.39 ft, May 18, 20110
Red WingMN14.020.70 ft, Apr 18, 19659
ReserveLA22.026.00 ft, Jun 11, 19291
Rock IslandIL15.022.70 ft, May 2, 201920
Saverton Lock and Dam 22MO16.029.58 ft, Jul 25, 19939
St. CloudMN9.011.44 ft, Apr 8, 19971
St. LouisMO30.049.58 ft, Aug 1, 19939
St. PaulMN14.026.01 ft, Apr 16, 196516
ThebesIL33.047.74 ft, Jan 2, 201612
Tunica Mhoon LandingMS30.053.20 ft, Feb 10, 19375
VicksburgLA43.057.10 ft, May 19, 201112
Wabasha - Pool 4MN12.020.05 ft, Apr 19, 19657
Winfield Lock and Dam 25MO26.039.62 ft, Aug 1, 19939
Winona - Pool 6MN13.020.77 ft, Apr 19, 19655
Lock and Dam 10 - GuttenbergIA15.023.65 ft, Apr 24, 19652
Lock and Dam 2 - HastingsMN15.025.90 ft, Apr 17, 196512
Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN680.5687.77 ft, Apr 19, 19658
Lock and Dam 4 - AlmaWI16.019.78 ft, Apr 19, 19652
Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN660.0667.85 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN655.0663.35 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN647.0653.02 ft, Apr 21, 19654
Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN641.0647.38 ft, Apr 21, 19652
Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI631.0638.40 ft, Apr 22, 19653
Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI625.0633.16 ft, Apr 24, 19653
AitkinMN13.022.49 ft, May 20, 195011
Arkansas CityAR37.059.20 ft, Apr 21, 192715
GreenvilleAR48.065.40 ft, Apr 21, 192718

Other gauges in Adams County

Flood gauges in Adams County
Quincy19.032.13 ft, Jul 13, 19937

Adams County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Illinois

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge QLDI2, 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.