Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Mississippi River near Aitkin

Highest listed crest 22.49 ftFlood stage 13.0 ft113 crests since 1902

The Mississippi River near Aitkin crested at major flood stage 11 times among the 113 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1902 to 2024. The highest, 22.49 ft on May 20, 1950, was major flooding, 9.49 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
22.49 ft
May 20, 1950; 20,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
13.0 ft
Major flooding from 18.0 ft
Crests at major
11
8th of 120 gauges in Minnesota
Most recent flood crest
April 25, 2023
17.50 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Aitkin County
Minnesota

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Mississippi River near Aitkin
Action stage12.012Jun 29, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.029Apr 19, 2021Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.030Apr 25, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage18.011Jun 28, 2012Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

113 crests from 1902 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River near Aitkin, 1902 to 2024 510152025ft Flood stage 13.0 ftMajor 18.0 ft May 27, 1902: 16.20 ft, moderate flooding; 7,990 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1903: 15.80 ft, moderate flooding; 7,720 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 1903: 16.20 ft, moderate flooding; 7,990 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 1905: 19.50 ft, major flooding; 12,400 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1906: 18.00 ft, major flooding; 9,920 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1907: 16.20 ft, moderate flooding; 7,990 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1908: 18.20 ft, major flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondAug 15, 1909: 13.10 ft, minor flooding; 5,960 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1910: 11.20 ft, below flood stage; 4,800 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1911: 9.70 ft, below flood stage; 3,990 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 1912: 10.40 ft, below flood stage; 4,360 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 1913: 10.70 ft, below flood stage; 4,520 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1914: 15.80 ft, moderate flooding; 7,720 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1915: 14.70 ft, minor flooding; 7,000 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1916: 19.30 ft, major flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1917: 12.70 ft, action stage; 5,700 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1918: 11.40 ft, below flood stage; 4,920 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1919: 11.90 ft, below flood stage; 5,220 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1920: 15.70 ft, moderate flooding; 7,660 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1921: 15.10 ft, moderate flooding; 7,260 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1922: 15.40 ft, moderate flooding; 7,460 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1923: 10.80 ft, below flood stage; 4,580 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1924: 6.60 ft, below flood stage; 1,460 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 1924: 6.80 ft, below flood stage; 2,550 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1925: 7.10 ft, below flood stage; 2,700 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1927: 14.50 ft, minor flooding; 6,880 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1928: 14.00 ft, minor flooding; 6,550 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1929: 11.50 ft, below flood stage; 4,980 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1930: 12.60 ft, action stage; 5,640 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1931: 11.10 ft, below flood stage; 4,740 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1932: 9.70 ft, below flood stage; 3,990 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1933: 13.20 ft, minor flooding; 6,030 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1934: 7.77 ft, below flood stage; 2,990 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1935: 9.80 ft, below flood stage; 4,040 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1936: 15.00 ft, moderate flooding; 7,200 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1937: 13.70 ft, minor flooding; 6,360 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1938: 18.70 ft, major flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1939: 15.90 ft, moderate flooding; 7,780 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1940: 8.40 ft, below flood stage; 3,340 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1941: 17.70 ft, moderate flooding; 9,430 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1942: 14.30 ft, minor flooding; 6,740 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1943: 18.00 ft, major flooding; 9,920 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1944: 18.80 ft, major flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1945: 17.51 ft, moderate flooding; 9,220 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1946: 14.15 ft, minor flooding; 6,680 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1947: 15.90 ft, moderate flooding; 7,780 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1948: 18.77 ft, major flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 1949: 10.70 ft, below flood stage; 4,770 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1950: 22.49 ft, major flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1951: 16.23 ft, moderate flooding; 8,600 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1952: 17.62 ft, moderate flooding; 10,100 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 1953: 18.13 ft, major flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1954: 17.73 ft, moderate flooding; 9,480 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1955: 12.62 ft, action stage; 7,890 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1956: 14.27 ft, minor flooding; 9,850 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 1957: 13.82 ft, minor flooding; 9,340 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1958: 7.32 ft, below flood stage; 3,110 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1959: 11.90 ft, below flood stage; 7,180 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1960: 13.13 ft, minor flooding; 8,650 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1961: 10.52 ft, below flood stage; 5,980 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1962: 13.65 ft, minor flooding; 9,300 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1963: 12.37 ft, action stage; 6,860 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1964: 13.78 ft, minor flooding; 8,990 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1965: 17.44 ft, moderate flooding; 13,400 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1966: 13.58 ft, minor flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1969: 17.28 ft, moderate flooding; 14,400 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1970: 13.39 ft, minor flooding; 9,380 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1971: 15.92 ft, moderate flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1972: 14.70 ft, minor flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1973: 12.19 ft, action stage; 6,980 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1974: 15.57 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1975: 17.95 ft, moderate flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1976: 12.72 ft, action stage; 7,150 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 1978: 13.18 ft, minor flooding; 8,840 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1979: 17.12 ft, moderate flooding; 13,300 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1981: 10.60 ft, below flood stage; 6,100 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1982: 15.97 ft, moderate flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1984: 13.30 ft, minor flooding; 9,020 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1985: 14.02 ft, minor flooding; 9,370 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1986: 15.28 ft, moderate flooding; 10,700 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1987: 10.63 ft, below flood stage; 6,120 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1989: 13.29 ft, minor flooding; 8,810 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1991: 11.95 ft, below flood stage; 7,430 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1992: 10.33 ft, below flood stage; 5,840 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1993: 14.30 ft, minor flooding; 9,780 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1994: 12.67 ft, action stage; 7,960 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1996: 15.79 ft, moderate flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1997: 16.26 ft, moderate flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1998: 10.81 ft, below flood stage; 6,250 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1999: 14.06 ft, minor flooding; 9,690 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1999: 10.66 ft, below flood stage; 6,010 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2001: 17.74 ft, moderate flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2002: 12.27 ft, action stage; 7,610 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 2003: 8.47 ft, below flood stage; 4,080 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2004: 9.22 ft, below flood stage; 4,770 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2005: 13.10 ft, minor flooding; 8,420 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2006: 11.54 ft, below flood stage; 7,020 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2007: 8.47 ft, below flood stage; 4,060 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2008: 13.85 ft, minor flooding; 9,430 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2010: 9.51 ft, below flood stage; 5,010 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2011: 12.34 ft, action stage; 7,830 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2012: 18.61 ft, major flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2013: 13.34 ft, minor flooding; 8,880 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2014: 14.59 ft, minor flooding; 10,200 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2015: 12.26 ft, action stage; 7,750 cubic feet per secondJul 15, 2016: 14.17 ft, minor flooding; 9,550 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 2017: 13.02 ft, minor flooding; 8,570 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2018: 12.59 ft, action stage; 8,090 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2020: 15.38 ft, moderate flooding; 11,300 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2021: 13.39 ft, minor flooding; 8,640 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2022: 15.24 ft, moderate flooding; 11,100 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2023: 17.50 ft, moderate flooding; 14,100 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2024: 12.98 ft, action stage; 8,410 cubic feet per second Highest, 22.49 ft, May 20, 1950 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River near Aitkin 1900s: 8 8 1910s: 3 1920s: 5 1930s: 5 1940s: 8 1950s: 7 1960s: 6 1970s: 7 1980s: 5 1990s: 4 2000s: 3 2010s: 5 2020s: 4 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 113 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River near Aitkin
1May 20, 195022.49+9.49Major20,000
2Jul 6, 190519.50+6.50Major12,400
3Apr 29, 191619.30+6.30Major12,000
4Jun 9, 194418.80+5.80Major12,600
5Apr 27, 194818.77+5.77Major12,000
6May 12, 193818.70+5.70Major12,000
7Jun 28, 201218.61+5.61Major15,600
8Jun 15, 190818.20+5.20Major10,300
9Aug 14, 195318.13+5.13Major10,800
10Apr 26, 190618.00+5.00Major9,920
11Jun 20, 194318.00+5.00Major9,920
12May 3, 197517.95+4.95Moderate14,500
13Apr 28, 200117.74+4.74Moderate14,200
14May 6, 195417.73+4.73Moderate9,480
15Apr 22, 194117.70+4.70Moderate9,430
16Apr 15, 195217.62+4.62Moderate10,100
17Mar 26, 194517.51+4.51Moderate9,220
18Apr 25, 202317.50+4.50Moderate14,100
19Apr 26, 196517.44+4.44Moderate13,400
20Apr 23, 196917.28+4.28Moderate14,400
21Apr 26, 197917.12+4.12Moderate13,300
22Apr 16, 199716.26+3.26Moderate12,000
23May 8, 195116.23+3.23Moderate8,600
24May 27, 190216.20+3.20Moderate7,990
25Oct 14, 190316.20+3.20Moderate7,990
26Apr 6, 190716.20+3.20Moderate7,990
27Apr 24, 198215.97+2.97Moderate12,200
28Apr 23, 197115.92+2.92Moderate12,200
29Apr 7, 193915.90+2.90Moderate7,780
30May 7, 194715.90+2.90Moderate7,780
31May 17, 190315.80+2.80Moderate7,720
32Jun 11, 191415.80+2.80Moderate7,720
33May 1, 199615.79+2.79Moderate11,800
34Jul 1, 192015.70+2.70Moderate7,660
35Apr 27, 197415.57+2.57Moderate11,000
36Apr 16, 192215.40+2.40Moderate7,460
37Apr 12, 202015.38+2.38Moderate11,300
38May 16, 198615.28+2.28Moderate10,700
39May 18, 202215.24+2.24Moderate11,100
40Jun 10, 192115.10+2.10Moderate7,260
41May 12, 193615.00+2.00Moderate7,200
42Jun 30, 191514.70+1.70Minor7,000
43Apr 24, 197214.70+1.70Minor10,500
44May 14, 201414.59+1.59Minor10,200
45Apr 25, 192714.50+1.50Minor6,880
46May 21, 194214.30+1.30Minor6,740
47Jul 10, 199314.30+1.30Minor9,780
48Apr 17, 195614.27+1.27Minor9,850
49Jul 15, 201614.17+1.17Minor9,550
50Apr 10, 194614.15+1.15Minor6,680

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 20, 1950: 22.49 ft here, major flooding

July 6, 1905: 19.50 ft here, major flooding

  • St. PaulMN · Jul 11, 1905 · 14.80 ft · Minor

April 29, 1916: 19.30 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 - 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
Aitkin this gaugeMN13.022.49 ft, May 20, 195011
Arkansas CityAR37.059.20 ft, Apr 21, 192715
GreenvilleAR48.065.40 ft, Apr 21, 192718

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ATKM5, 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.