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Grand River at Ionia

Highest listed crest 24.69 ftFlood stage 21.0 ft83 crests since 1938

The Grand River at Ionia crested above flood stage 27 times among the 83 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1938 to 2024. The highest, 24.69 ft on April 20, 2013, was moderate flooding, 3.69 feet above flood stage. 7 other gauges on the Grand River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 4 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
24.69 ft
April 20, 2013; 25,100 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
21.0 ft
Major flooding from 25.0 ft
Crests at major
0
27 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
April 7, 2023
23.02 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Ionia County
Near Ionia (0.4 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Grand River at Ionia
Action stage13.554Jan 29, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)21.014Apr 8, 2017Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage23.013Apr 7, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage25.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

83 crests from 1938 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Grand River at Ionia, 1938 to 2024 10152025ft Flood stage 21.0 ftMajor 25.0 ft Feb 14, 1938: 21.50 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 1942: 23.10 ft, moderate floodingMar 17, 1943: 22.40 ft, minor floodingApr 7, 1947: 23.60 ft, moderate floodingMar 21, 1948: 24.30 ft, moderate floodingFeb 16, 1949: 19.50 ft, action stage; 13,100 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1950: 21.78 ft, minor flooding; 20,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1951: 19.93 ft, action stage; 13,000 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1952: 19.78 ft, action stage; 14,000 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1953: 13.18 ft, below flood stage; 4,360 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1954: 17.01 ft, action stage; 7,700 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1956: 21.87 ft, minor flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1957: 18.53 ft, action stage; 9,840 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1958: 16.89 ft, action stage; 6,100 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1959: 19.64 ft, action stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1960: 23.43 ft, moderate flooding; 21,500 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 1961: 16.77 ft, action stage; 6,840 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1962: 20.67 ft, action stage; 14,600 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1963: 14.79 ft, action stage; 5,530 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1964: 11.58 ft, below flood stage; 2,980 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1965: 19.96 ft, action stage; 12,800 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1966: 14.92 ft, action stage; 5,250 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1967: 19.53 ft, action stage; 11,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1968: 20.48 ft, action stage; 13,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1969: 19.54 ft, action stage; 8,200 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1970: 18.24 ft, action stage; 9,540 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1972: 19.58 ft, action stage; 11,800 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 1973: 21.38 ft, minor flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1974: 21.00 ft, minor flooding; 14,800 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1975: 21.03 ft, minor flooding; 16,600 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1976: 23.19 ft, moderate flooding; 20,700 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1977: 13.85 ft, action stage; 4,540 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1978: 20.45 ft, action stage; 13,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1979: 19.99 ft, action stage; 11,900 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1980: 14.79 ft, action stage; 5,170 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1981: 20.14 ft, action stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1981: 23.18 ft, moderate flooding; 17,500 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1982: 22.45 ft, minor flooding; 18,200 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1983: 19.26 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1984: 16.85 ft, action stage; 7,080 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1985: 23.15 ft, moderate flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1986: 21.63 ft, minor flooding; 15,700 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1986: 23.01 ft, moderate flooding; 17,700 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1988: 18.56 ft, action stage; 9,340 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1989: 19.54 ft, action stage; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1990: 20.79 ft, action stage; 13,600 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 1990: 20.09 ft, action stage; 12,100 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1992: 18.43 ft, action stage; 9,140 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1993: 20.60 ft, action stage; 14,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1994: 20.75 ft, action stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1995: 18.06 ft, action stage; 8,840 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1996: 19.10 ft, action stageJun 20, 1996: 20.47 ft, action stage; 12,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1997: 22.04 ft, minor flooding; 17,500 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1998: 18.83 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1999: 20.29 ft, action stage; 13,200 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2000: 21.24 ft, minor flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 2001: 20.59 ft, action stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2002: 17.87 ft, action stage; 8,510 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2003: 14.57 ft, action stage; 5,050 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2004: 23.41 ft, moderate flooding; 21,300 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 2005: 20.46 ft, action stage; 13,600 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2006: 18.80 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2007: 18.12 ft, action stage; 8,940 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 2008: 18.65 ft, action stage; 9,900 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2008: 22.10 ft, minor flooding; 17,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 2009: 19.44 ft, action stageMar 15, 2010: 18.25 ft, action stage; 9,900 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2011: 20.71 ft, action stage; 14,400 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2012: 17.22 ft, action stage; 8,310 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2013: 21.79 ft, minor flooding; 16,091 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2013: 24.69 ft, moderate flooding; 25,100 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2014: 18.88 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2015: 17.37 ft, action stage; 7,840 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2016: 17.74 ft, action stage; 8,400 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2017: 22.12 ft, minor flooding; 18,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 2018: 24.40 ft, moderate flooding; 24,200 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2019: 19.89 ft, action stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2020: 23.20 ft, moderate flooding; 20,300 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2021: 19.93 ft, action stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2022: 19.94 ft, action stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2023: 23.02 ft, moderate flooding; 19,100 cubic feet per secondJan 29, 2024: 20.05 ft, action stage; 11,600 cubic feet per second Highest, 24.69 ft, Apr 20, 2013 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Grand River at Ionia 1930s: 1 1940s: 4 1950s: 2 1960s: 1 1970s: 4 1980s: 5 5 1990s: 1 2000s: 3 2010s: 4 2020s: 2 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 83 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Grand River at Ionia
1Apr 20, 201324.69+3.69Moderate25,100
2Feb 23, 201824.40+3.40Moderate24,200
3Mar 21, 194824.30+3.30Moderate—
4Apr 7, 194723.60+2.60Moderate—
5Apr 1, 196023.43+2.43Moderate21,500
6May 25, 200423.41+2.41Moderate21,300
7May 20, 202023.20+2.20Moderate20,300
8Mar 6, 197623.19+2.19Moderate20,700
9Oct 3, 198123.18+2.18Moderate17,500
10Feb 27, 198523.15+2.15Moderate20,500
11Mar 18, 194223.10+2.10Moderate—
12Apr 7, 202323.02+2.02Moderate19,100
13Oct 3, 198623.01+2.01Moderate17,700
14Mar 16, 198222.45+1.45Minor18,200
15Mar 17, 194322.40+1.40Minor—
16Apr 8, 201722.12+1.12Minor18,000
17Dec 29, 200822.10+1.10Minor17,700
18Feb 23, 199722.04+1.04Minor17,500
19May 11, 195621.87+0.87Minor19,000
20Apr 13, 201321.79+0.79Minor16,091
21Mar 29, 195021.78+0.78Minor20,700
22Mar 15, 198621.63+0.63Minor15,700
23Feb 14, 193821.50+0.50Minor—
24Jan 2, 197321.38+0.38Minor15,600
25May 20, 200021.24+0.24Minor15,500
26Apr 22, 197521.03+0.03Minor16,600
27Mar 6, 197421.000.00Minor14,800
28Mar 14, 199020.79−0.21Action13,600
29Feb 22, 199420.75−0.25Action11,200
30Apr 30, 201120.71−0.29Action14,400
31Mar 21, 196220.67−0.33Action14,600
32Apr 22, 199320.60−0.40Action14,200
33Feb 12, 200120.59−0.41Action13,900
34Feb 4, 196820.48−0.52Action13,600
35Jun 20, 199620.47−0.53Action12,700
36Jan 15, 200520.46−0.54Action13,600
37Apr 2, 197820.45−0.55Action13,000
38Apr 25, 199920.29−0.71Action13,200
39Feb 22, 198120.14−0.86Action12,200
40Nov 30, 199020.09−0.91Action12,100
41Jan 29, 202420.05−0.95Action11,600
42Mar 8, 197919.99−1.01Action11,900
43Apr 9, 196519.96−1.04Action12,800
44Feb 24, 202219.94−1.06Action12,300
45Feb 21, 195119.93−1.07Action13,000
46Jun 29, 202119.93−1.07Action12,300
47Mar 16, 201919.89−1.11Action12,600
48Apr 15, 195219.78−1.22Action14,000
49Apr 4, 195919.64−1.36Action11,200
50Apr 18, 197219.58−1.42Action11,800

The worst floods along the Grand River

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

April 20, 2013: 24.69 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Comstock ParkMI · Apr 21, 2013 · 17.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • AdaMI · Apr 21, 2013 · 22.81 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Grand RapidsMI · Apr 21, 2013 · 21.85 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • LowellMI · Apr 21, 2013 · 19.02 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Robinson TownshipMI · Apr 19, 2013 · 17.00 ft · Moderate
  • JacksonMI · Apr 19, 2013 · 14.25 ft · Minor
  • LansingMI · Apr 21, 2013 · 11.15 ft · Minor

February 23, 2018: 24.40 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Comstock ParkMI · Feb 25, 2018 · 16.85 ft · Major
  • AdaMI · Feb 24, 2018 · 22.56 ft · Moderate
  • LowellMI · Feb 24, 2018 · 18.20 ft · Moderate
  • Robinson TownshipMI · Feb 26, 2018 · 16.08 ft · Moderate
  • LansingMI · Feb 23, 2018 · 14.62 ft · Moderate
  • Grand RapidsMI · Feb 25, 2018 · 20.67 ft · Minor
  • JacksonMI · Feb 21, 2018 · 14.03 ft · Minor
  • PortlandMI · Feb 23, 2018 · 12.62 ft · Minor
  • Eaton RapidsMI · Feb 23, 2018 · 6.20 ft · Minor

March 21, 1948: 24.30 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Grand River

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

Flood gauges on the Grand River
AdaMI20.022.81 ft, Apr 21, 20130
Comstock ParkMI12.017.80 ft, Apr 21, 201310
DimondaleMI13.013.60 ft, Apr 6, 19470
Eaton RapidsMI6.09.10 ft, Apr 6, 19471
Grand LedgeMI11.014.00 ft, Mar 26, 19040
Grand RapidsMI18.021.85 ft, Apr 21, 20130
Ionia this gaugeMI21.024.69 ft, Apr 20, 20130
JacksonMI14.015.44 ft, Jun 25, 19680
LansingMI11.015.43 ft, Apr 20, 19751
LowellMI15.019.02 ft, Apr 21, 20130
PortlandMI12.012.98 ft, Apr 21, 19750
Robinson TownshipMI13.318.30 ft, Jan 21, 20052

Other gauges in Ionia County

Flood gauges in Ionia County
Smyrna8.59.05 ft, Sep 13, 19860
Portland12.012.98 ft, Apr 21, 19750

Ionia County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Michigan

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge IONM4, 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.