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Mississippi River at St. Paul

Highest listed crest 26.01 ftFlood stage 14.0 ft75 crests since 1894

The Mississippi River at St. Paul crested at major flood stage 16 times among the 75 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1894 to 2024. The highest, 26.01 ft on April 16, 1965, was major flooding, 12.01 feet above flood stage. 23 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 18 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
26.01 ft
April 16, 1965; 171,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
14.0 ft
Major flooding from 17.0 ft
Crests at major
16
4th of 120 gauges in Minnesota
Most recent flood crest
June 29, 2024
20.17 ft, major flooding
Location
Ramsey County
Near St. Paul (0.8 mi), West St. Paul (2.9 mi), South St. Paul (4.5 mi)

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 St. Paul
Action stage10.032May 20, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)14.011May 20, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.08Oct 2, 2010Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage17.016Jun 29, 2024Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

75 crests from 1894 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at St. Paul, 1894 to 2024 51015202530ft Flood stage 14.0 ftMajor 17.0 ft May 21, 1894: 11.80 ft, action stage; 41,200 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1903: 12.00 ft, action stage; 43,000 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 1903: 13.50 ft, action stage; 51,800 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1905: 14.80 ft, minor flooding; 59,800 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1906: 13.30 ft, action stage; 50,600 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1907: 13.30 ft, action stage; 50,600 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1908: 16.80 ft, moderate flooding; 73,000 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1909: 13.00 ft, action stage; 48,900 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1914: 12.20 ft, action stage; 40,500 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1916: 16.60 ft, moderate flooding; 73,500 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1917: 16.00 ft, moderate flooding; 68,600 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1919: 13.80 ft, action stage; 54,500 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1920: 13.60 ft, action stage; 53,100 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1922: 12.60 ft, action stage; 46,000 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1929: 13.00 ft, action stage; 45,800 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1941: 11.47 ft, action stage; 39,400 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1943: 14.46 ft, minor flooding; 58,200 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1944: 14.26 ft, minor flooding; 56,900 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1945: 13.45 ft, action stage; 53,400 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1946: 10.89 ft, action stage; 41,000 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1948: 12.10 ft, action stage; 46,900 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1949: 11.30 ft, action stage; 43,200 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1950: 10.50 ft, action stage; 43,300 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1951: 18.79 ft, major flooding; 92,800 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1952: 22.02 ft, major flooding; 125,000 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1957: 12.08 ft, action stage; 46,500 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1957: 16.68 ft, moderate flooding; 78,400 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1965: 26.01 ft, major flooding; 171,000 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1969: 24.52 ft, major flooding; 156,000 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1975: 15.67 ft, moderate flooding; 78,300 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1979: 14.80 ft, minor flooding; 75,400 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1982: 11.64 ft, action stage; 57,600 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1983: 14.70 ft, minor flooding; 58,800 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1984: 14.00 ft, minor flooding; 70,800 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1986: 16.10 ft, moderate flooding; 83,300 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1987: 18.00 ft, major flooding; 86,200 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1991: 10.60 ft, action stage; 52,200 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1993: 19.15 ft, major flooding; 104,000 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1994: 15.10 ft, moderate flooding; 77,500 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 1994: 11.93 ft, action stage; 59,100 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1995: 10.96 ft, action stage; 53,900 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1996: 10.39 ft, action stage; 50,800 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1997: 22.37 ft, major flooding; 134,000 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1998: 11.06 ft, action stage; 54,400 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1999: 12.57 ft, action stage; 62,600 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2001: 23.76 ft, major flooding; 143,000 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2001: 23.20 ft, major flooding; 142,000 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2001: 14.30 ft, minor flooding; 72,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2002: 9.03 ft, below flood stage; 43,400 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2003: 8.14 ft, below flood stage; 38,600 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2004: 9.73 ft, below flood stage; 47,200 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2005: 9.77 ft, below flood stage; 47,400 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2006: 12.27 ft, action stage; 60,900 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2007: 10.06 ft, action stage; 49,000 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2008: 9.80 ft, below flood stage; 47,600 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2009: 12.52 ft, action stage; 62,300 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2010: 18.38 ft, major flooding; 98,300 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 2010: 16.70 ft, moderate flooding; 87,200 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2011: 19.02 ft, major flooding; 103,000 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2011: 18.71 ft, major flooding; 101,000 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2012: 13.09 ft, action stage; 60,913 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2013: 14.05 ft, minor flooding; 71,008 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2014: 20.13 ft, major flooding; 115,292 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2015: 7.55 ft, below flood stage; 35,900 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 2016: 9.96 ft, below flood stage; 49,500 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2017: 10.59 ft, action stage; 53,000 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2018: 14.38 ft, minor flooding; 75,400 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2018: 13.66 ft, action stage; 70,500 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2019: 20.19 ft, major flooding; 116,000 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2020: 14.41 ft, minor flooding; 75,600 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 2021: 7.70 ft, below flood stage; 36,700 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2022: 13.32 ft, action stage; 69,000 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2023: 18.13 ft, major flooding; 99,300 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2023: 14.93 ft, minor flooding; 78,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2024: 20.17 ft, major flooding; 116,000 cubic feet per second Highest, 26.01 ft, Apr 16, 1965 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at St. Paul 1890s: 0 1900s: 2 1910s: 2 1920s: 0 1930s: 0 1940s: 2 1950s: 3 1960s: 2 1970s: 2 1980s: 4 1990s: 3 2000s: 3 2010s: 8 8 2020s: 4 1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 75 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at St. Paul
1Apr 16, 196526.01+12.01Major171,000
2Apr 15, 196924.52+10.52Major156,000
3Apr 18, 200123.76+9.76Major143,000
4Apr 30, 200123.20+9.20Major142,000
5Apr 13, 199722.37+8.37Major134,000
6Apr 16, 195222.02+8.02Major125,000
7Mar 31, 201920.19+6.19Major116,000
8Jun 29, 202420.17+6.17Major116,000
9Jun 26, 201420.13+6.13Major115,292
10Jun 26, 199319.15+5.15Major104,000
11Mar 29, 201119.02+5.02Major103,000
12Apr 16, 195118.79+4.79Major92,800
13Apr 10, 201118.71+4.71Major101,000
14Mar 24, 201018.38+4.38Major98,300
15Apr 26, 202318.13+4.13Major99,300
16Apr 6, 198718.00+4.00Major86,200
17Jun 2, 190816.80+2.80Moderate73,000
18Oct 2, 201016.70+2.70Moderate87,200
19Jun 29, 195716.68+2.68Moderate78,400
20Apr 6, 191616.60+2.60Moderate73,500
21May 16, 198616.10+2.10Moderate83,300
22Apr 8, 191716.00+2.00Moderate68,600
23May 4, 197515.67+1.67Moderate78,300
24Apr 10, 199415.10+1.10Moderate77,500
25May 20, 202314.93+0.93Minor78,800
26Jul 11, 190514.80+0.80Minor59,800
27Apr 26, 197914.80+0.80Minor75,400
28May 6, 198314.70+0.70Minor58,800
29Apr 7, 194314.46+0.46Minor58,200
30Apr 6, 202014.41+0.41Minor75,600
31May 1, 201814.38+0.38Minor75,400
32Jun 23, 200114.30+0.30Minor72,800
33Jun 21, 194414.26+0.26Minor56,900
34Jul 1, 201314.05+0.05Minor71,008
35Jun 26, 198414.000.00Minor70,800
36Apr 22, 191913.80−0.20Action54,500
37Jul 1, 201813.66−0.34Action70,500
38Mar 29, 192013.60−0.40Action53,100
39Oct 14, 190313.50−0.50Action51,800
40Mar 23, 194513.45−0.55Action53,400
41May 20, 202213.32−0.68Action69,000
42Jun 12, 190613.30−0.70Action50,600
43Apr 4, 190713.30−0.70Action50,600
44Jun 3, 201213.09−0.91Action60,913
45Apr 4, 190913.00−1.00Action48,900
46Mar 23, 192913.00−1.00Action45,800
47Apr 13, 192212.60−1.40Action46,000
48May 20, 199912.57−1.43Action62,600
49Mar 31, 200912.52−1.48Action62,300
50Apr 13, 200612.27−1.73Action60,900

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.

April 16, 1965: 26.01 ft here, major flooding

April 15, 1969: 24.52 ft here, major flooding

April 18, 2001: 23.76 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 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. Paul this gaugeMN14.026.01 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

Ramsey County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Minnesota

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge STPM5, 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.