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Mississippi River at Donaldsonville

Highest listed crest 36.01 ftFlood stage 27.0 ft74 crests since 1912

The Mississippi River at Donaldsonville crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 74 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1912 to 2025. The highest, 36.01 ft on May 15, 1927, was major flooding, 9.01 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
36.01 ft
May 15, 1927
Flood stage
27.0 ft
Major flooding from 34.0 ft
Crests at major
3
46th of 107 gauges in Louisiana
Most recent flood crest
April 30, 2025
30.78 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Ascension Parish
Near Gonzales (7.9 mi)
Identifiers
NWS DONL1
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 Donaldsonville
Action stage25.013Apr 3, 2011The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)27.016Apr 16, 2021Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage30.022Apr 30, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage34.03Apr 29, 1945Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

74 crests from 1912 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville, 1912 to 2025 152025303540ft Flood stage 27.0 ftMajor 34.0 ft May 10, 1912: 33.91 ft, moderate floodingMay 8, 1913: 31.55 ft, moderate floodingFeb 29, 1916: 32.81 ft, moderate floodingMay 16, 1922: 34.75 ft, major floodingMay 15, 1927: 36.01 ft, major floodingJun 10, 1929: 32.81 ft, moderate floodingFeb 27, 1937: 33.29 ft, moderate floodingMay 18, 1944: 31.41 ft, moderate floodingApr 29, 1945: 34.11 ft, major floodingMar 4, 1950: 32.41 ft, moderate floodingMay 26, 1958: 25.01 ft, action stageMar 5, 1959: 19.61 ft, below flood stageApr 25, 1960: 20.61 ft, below flood stageJun 2, 1961: 27.01 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 1962: 26.21 ft, action stageApr 5, 1963: 22.11 ft, below flood stageMay 15, 1964: 25.85 ft, action stageApr 26, 1965: 23.57 ft, below flood stageMar 3, 1966: 25.27 ft, action stageJun 2, 1967: 20.81 ft, below flood stageApr 18, 1968: 22.21 ft, below flood stageFeb 22, 1969: 24.51 ft, below flood stageMay 19, 1970: 24.31 ft, below flood stageMar 15, 1971: 22.71 ft, below flood stageDec 31, 1972: 23.01 ft, below flood stageApr 9, 1973: 31.11 ft, moderate floodingFeb 16, 1974: 29.51 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 1975: 31.92 ft, moderate floodingMar 9, 1976: 20.80 ft, below flood stageApr 22, 1977: 22.60 ft, below flood stageApr 7, 1978: 25.30 ft, action stageApr 22, 1979: 32.30 ft, moderate floodingApr 13, 1980: 28.50 ft, minor floodingJun 17, 1981: 21.50 ft, below flood stageDec 31, 1982: 27.40 ft, minor floodingMay 29, 1983: 33.30 ft, moderate floodingMay 30, 1984: 31.30 ft, moderate floodingMar 21, 1985: 28.90 ft, minor floodingDec 23, 1986: 23.70 ft, below flood stageMar 18, 1987: 25.10 ft, action stageJan 8, 1988: 23.90 ft, below flood stageMar 11, 1989: 26.44 ft, action stageJun 13, 1990: 28.00 ft, minor floodingJan 26, 1991: 30.82 ft, moderate floodingDec 30, 1992: 21.91 ft, below flood stageMay 21, 1993: 27.06 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 1994: 29.39 ft, minor floodingJun 18, 1995: 30.00 ft, moderate floodingJun 7, 1996: 26.31 ft, action stageMar 26, 1997: 32.28 ft, moderate floodingMay 19, 1998: 26.20 ft, action stageFeb 16, 1999: 27.10 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2000: 16.50 ft, below flood stageMar 11, 2001: 26.30 ft, action stageJun 6, 2002: 28.30 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2003: 25.00 ft, action stageDec 25, 2004: 24.70 ft, below flood stageFeb 2, 2005: 28.60 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 2006: 18.60 ft, below flood stageJan 28, 2007: 22.90 ft, below flood stageApr 22, 2008: 31.50 ft, moderate floodingMay 31, 2009: 29.95 ft, minor floodingFeb 16, 2010: 25.71 ft, action stageApr 3, 2011: 25.17 ft, action stageMay 18, 2011: 32.53 ft, moderate floodingJul 30, 2015: 28.06 ft, minor floodingJan 17, 2016: 31.77 ft, moderate floodingMar 21, 2016: 28.02 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 2017: 29.85 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 2018: 31.98 ft, moderate floodingMar 19, 2019: 32.07 ft, moderate floodingApr 16, 2020: 32.44 ft, moderate floodingApr 16, 2021: 28.18 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2025: 30.78 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 36.01 ft, May 15, 1927 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Donaldsonville 1910s: 3 1920s: 3 1930s: 1 1940s: 2 1950s: 1 1960s: 1 1970s: 4 1980s: 5 1990s: 7 7 2000s: 4 2010s: 7 2020s: 3 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 74 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Donaldsonville
1May 15, 192736.01+9.01Major—
2May 16, 192234.75+7.75Major—
3Apr 29, 194534.11+7.11Major—
4May 10, 191233.91+6.91Moderate—
5May 29, 198333.30+6.30Moderate—
6Feb 27, 193733.29+6.29Moderate—
7Feb 29, 191632.81+5.81Moderate—
8Jun 10, 192932.81+5.81Moderate—
9May 18, 201132.53+5.53Moderate—
10Apr 16, 202032.44+5.44Moderate—
11Mar 4, 195032.41+5.41Moderate—
12Apr 22, 197932.30+5.30Moderate—
13Mar 26, 199732.28+5.28Moderate—
14Mar 19, 201932.07+5.07Moderate—
15Mar 19, 201831.98+4.98Moderate—
16Apr 14, 197531.92+4.92Moderate—
17Jan 17, 201631.77+4.77Moderate—
18May 8, 191331.55+4.55Moderate—
19Apr 22, 200831.50+4.50Moderate—
20May 18, 194431.41+4.41Moderate—
21May 30, 198431.30+4.30Moderate—
22Apr 9, 197331.11+4.11Moderate—
23Jan 26, 199130.82+3.82Moderate—
24Apr 30, 202530.78+3.78Moderate—
25Jun 18, 199530.00+3.00Moderate—
26May 31, 200929.95+2.95Minor—
27May 25, 201729.85+2.85Minor—
28Feb 16, 197429.51+2.51Minor—
29May 9, 199429.39+2.39Minor—
30Mar 21, 198528.90+1.90Minor—
31Feb 2, 200528.60+1.60Minor—
32Apr 13, 198028.50+1.50Minor—
33Jun 6, 200228.30+1.30Minor—
34Apr 16, 202128.18+1.18Minor—
35Jul 30, 201528.06+1.06Minor—
36Mar 21, 201628.02+1.02Minor—
37Jun 13, 199028.00+1.00Minor—
38Dec 31, 198227.40+0.40Minor—
39Feb 16, 199927.10+0.10Minor—
40May 21, 199327.06+0.06Minor—
41Jun 2, 196127.01+0.01Minor—
42Mar 11, 198926.44−0.56Action—
43Jun 7, 199626.31−0.69Action—
44Mar 11, 200126.30−0.70Action—
45Apr 17, 196226.21−0.79Action—
46May 19, 199826.20−0.80Action—
47May 15, 196425.85−1.15Action—
48Feb 16, 201025.71−1.29Action—
49Apr 7, 197825.30−1.70Action—
50Mar 3, 196625.27−1.73Action—

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.

May 15, 1927: 36.01 ft here, major flooding

May 16, 1922: 34.75 ft here, major flooding

April 29, 1945: 34.11 ft here, major flooding

  • Baton RougeLA · Apr 29, 1945 · 45.18 ft · Major
  • Red River LandingLA · Apr 29, 1945 · 59.89 ft · Moderate
  • NatchezMS · Apr 29, 1945 · 55.20 ft · Moderate
  • VicksburgLA · Apr 27, 1945 · 49.80 ft · Moderate
  • ReserveLA · Apr 28, 1945 · 25.90 ft · Moderate
  • New OrleansLA · May 1, 1945 · 19.78 ft · Moderate

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
Donaldsonville this gaugeLA27.036.01 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 21IL18.031.30 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 Ascension Parish

Flood gauges in Ascension Parish
Bayou Manchac near Little Prairie10.021.49 ft, Aug 15, 20164

Ascension Parish: every hazard · River floods across the country · Louisiana

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DONL1, 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.