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Root River (MN) near Pilot Mound

Highest listed crest 25.90 ftFlood stage 19.0 ft8 crests since 2000

The Root River (MN) near Pilot Mound crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 8 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2000 to 2026. The highest, 25.90 ft on June 1, 2000, was major flooding, 6.90 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Root River (MN) crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
25.90 ft
June 1, 2000; 26,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
19.0 ft
Major flooding from 24.0 ft
Crests at major
1
65th of 120 gauges in Minnesota
Most recent flood crest
July 3, 2026
19.40 ft, minor flooding
Location
Fillmore County
Minnesota

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Root River (MN) near Pilot Mound
Action stage16.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)19.05Jul 3, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage22.02May 21, 2013Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage24.01Jun 1, 2000Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

8 crests from 2000 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Root River (MN) near Pilot Mound, 2000 to 2026 1820222426ft Flood stage 19.0 ftMajor 24.0 ft Jun 1, 2000: 25.90 ft, major flooding; 26,000 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 2004: 23.85 ft, moderate flooding; 21,900 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 2007: 19.42 ft, minor flooding; 12,900 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2008: 20.29 ft, minor flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 2010: 19.40 ft, minor flooding; 12,900 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2013: 22.01 ft, moderate floodingSep 23, 2016: 21.40 ft, minor flooding; 16,300 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2026: 19.40 ft, minor flooding; 12,245 cubic feet per second Highest, 25.90 ft, Jun 1, 2000 200020052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Root River (MN) near Pilot Mound 2000s: 4 4 2010s: 3 2020s: 1 2000s2010s2020s
  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, Root River (MN) near Pilot Mound
1Jun 1, 200025.90+6.90Major26,000
2Sep 16, 200423.85+4.85Moderate21,900
3May 21, 201322.01+3.01Moderate—
4Sep 23, 201621.40+2.40Minor16,300
5Jun 13, 200820.29+1.29Minor14,500
6Aug 19, 200719.42+0.42Minor12,900
7Sep 25, 201019.40+0.40Minor12,900
8Jul 3, 202619.40+0.40Minor12,245

The worst floods along the Root River (MN)

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

June 1, 2000: 25.90 ft here, major flooding

  • RushfordMN · Jun 2, 2000 · 26.35 ft · Major
  • HoustonMN · Jun 2, 2000 · 17.59 ft · Moderate

September 16, 2004: 23.85 ft here, moderate flooding

  • RushfordMN · Sep 16, 2004 · 27.28 ft · Major
  • HoustonMN · Sep 17, 2004 · 16.56 ft · Minor

May 21, 2013: 22.01 ft here, moderate flooding

  • RushfordMN · May 21, 2013 · 23.03 ft · Minor
  • HoustonMN · May 21, 2013 · 16.37 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Root River (MN)

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Root River (MN)
Pilot Mound this gaugeMN19.025.90 ft, Jun 1, 20001
RushfordMN21.028.98 ft, Aug 19, 20078
HoustonMN15.019.28 ft, Mar 15, 20193

Other gauges in Fillmore County

Flood gauges in Fillmore County
Fillmore1,004.01,007.50 ft, Jul 3, 20260
Rushford21.028.98 ft, Aug 19, 20078
Carimona19.021.10 ft, May 20, 20130
Lanesboro12.019.20 ft, Mar 26, 19501
Preston937.0942.40 ft, Mar 26, 19502

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge RPMM5, 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.