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Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 5a - Winona

Highest listed crest 663.35 ftFlood stage 655.0 ft24 crests since 1943

The Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 5a - Winona crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 24 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1943 to 2024. The highest, 663.35 ft on April 19, 1965, was major flooding, 8.35 feet above flood stage. 30 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 26 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
663.35 ft
April 19, 1965
Flood stage
655.0 ft
Major flooding from 661.0 ft
Crests at major
4
34th of 120 gauges in Minnesota
Most recent flood crest
July 2, 2024
657.63 ft, minor flooding
Location
Winona County
Near Winona (2.4 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 below Lock and Dam 5a - Winona
Action stage650.01May 17, 2003The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)655.016Jul 2, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage659.03Apr 26, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage661.04Apr 17, 2001Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

24 crests from 1943 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 5a - Winona, 1943 to 2024 654656658660662664ft Flood stage 655.0 ftMajor 661.0 ft Jun 22, 1943: 656.70 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 1951: 659.26 ft, moderate floodingApr 20, 1952: 659.90 ft, moderate floodingMay 7, 1954: 658.13 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 1965: 663.35 ft, major floodingApr 6, 1967: 658.69 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 1969: 661.37 ft, major floodingMar 20, 1973: 656.08 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 1975: 658.06 ft, minor floodingApr 23, 1982: 656.08 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1983: 656.08 ft, minor floodingApr 7, 1986: 658.24 ft, minor floodingJun 26, 1993: 658.28 ft, minor floodingApr 25, 1996: 656.34 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 1997: 661.60 ft, major floodingApr 17, 2001: 661.95 ft, major floodingMay 17, 2003: 654.51 ft, action stage; 108,900 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 2010: 655.12 ft, minor flooding; 125,577 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2011: 658.17 ft, minor floodingJul 2, 2014: 657.00 ft, minor flooding; 152,033 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2019: 658.75 ft, minor flooding; 180,000 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2019: 656.55 ft, minor flooding; 144,863 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2023: 660.51 ft, moderate floodingJul 2, 2024: 657.63 ft, minor flooding Highest, 663.35 ft, Apr 19, 1965 1960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 5a - Winona 1940s: 1 1950s: 3 1960s: 3 1970s: 2 1980s: 3 1990s: 3 2000s: 1 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 2 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

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 5a - Winona
1Apr 19, 1965663.35+8.35Major—
2Apr 17, 2001661.95+6.95Major—
3Apr 11, 1997661.60+6.60Major—
4Apr 19, 1969661.37+6.37Major—
5Apr 26, 2023660.51+5.51Moderate—
6Apr 20, 1952659.90+4.90Moderate—
7Apr 18, 1951659.26+4.26Moderate—
8Apr 3, 2019658.75+3.75Minor180,000
9Apr 6, 1967658.69+3.69Minor—
10Jun 26, 1993658.28+3.28Minor—
11Apr 7, 1986658.24+3.24Minor—
12Apr 15, 2011658.17+3.17Minor—
13May 7, 1954658.13+3.13Minor—
14May 2, 1975658.06+3.06Minor—
15Jul 2, 2024657.63+2.63Minor—
16Jul 2, 2014657.00+2.00Minor152,033
17Jun 22, 1943656.70+1.70Minor—
18May 25, 2019656.55+1.55Minor144,863
19Apr 25, 1996656.34+1.34Minor—
20Mar 20, 1973656.08+1.08Minor—
21Apr 23, 1982656.08+1.08Minor—
22Mar 12, 1983656.08+1.08Minor—
23Sep 29, 2010655.12+0.12Minor125,577
24May 17, 2003654.51−0.49Action108,900

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 19, 1965: 663.35 ft here, major flooding

April 17, 2001: 661.95 ft here, major flooding

April 11, 1997: 661.60 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. 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 - Winona this gaugeMN655.0663.35 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 Winona County

Flood gauges in Winona County
Whitewater State Park Group Camp39.041.34 ft, May 16, 20170
Dakota644.0649.08 ft, Apr 21, 19650
Winona - Pool 613.020.77 ft, Apr 19, 19655
Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota City660.0667.85 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 6 - Trempealeau647.0653.02 ft, Apr 21, 19654
Lock and Dam 7 - La Crescent641.0647.38 ft, Apr 21, 19652
Elba42.045.80 ft, May 16, 20170
Beaver699.0706.00 ft, Aug 19, 20070

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WIDM5, 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.