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South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River at Oronoco

Highest listed crest 953.91 ftFlood stage 949.0 ft15 crests since 2012

The South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River at Oronoco crested above flood stage 8 times among the 15 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2012 to 2024. The highest, 953.91 ft on June 28, 2019, was minor flooding, 4.91 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
953.91 ft
June 28, 2019
Flood stage
949.0 ft
No major stage set
Crests at major
0
8 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 22, 2024
951.41 ft, minor flooding
Location
Olmsted County
Near Rochester (10.6 mi)
Identifiers
NWS OCOM5
No USGS station

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River at Oronoco
Action stage946.04Mar 6, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)949.08Jun 22, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat

Every listed crest

15 crests from 2012 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River at Oronoco, 2012 to 2024 942944946948950952954ft Flood stage 949.0 ft Nov 17, 2012: 943.50 ft, below flood stageMar 31, 2013: 950.45 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2013: 949.12 ft, minor floodingJun 18, 2014: 952.54 ft, minor floodingDec 15, 2015: 946.28 ft, action stageAug 12, 2016: 950.32 ft, minor floodingSep 23, 2016: 951.65 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2017: 945.60 ft, below flood stageSep 6, 2018: 946.67 ft, action stageJun 28, 2019: 953.91 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 2020: 945.73 ft, below flood stageMay 24, 2021: 946.11 ft, action stageMar 6, 2022: 946.18 ft, action stageApr 1, 2023: 949.07 ft, minor floodingJun 22, 2024: 951.41 ft, minor flooding Highest, 953.91 ft, Jun 28, 2019 201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River at Oronoco 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 2 2010s2020s
  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, South Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River at Oronoco
1Jun 28, 2019953.91+4.91Minor—
2Jun 18, 2014952.54+3.54Minor—
3Sep 23, 2016951.65+2.65Minor—
4Jun 22, 2024951.41+2.41Minor—
5Mar 31, 2013950.45+1.45Minor—
6Aug 12, 2016950.32+1.32Minor—
7May 7, 2013949.12+0.12Minor—
8Apr 1, 2023949.07+0.07Minor—
9Sep 6, 2018946.67−2.33Action—
10Dec 15, 2015946.28−2.72Action—
11Mar 6, 2022946.18−2.82Action—
12May 24, 2021946.11−2.89Action—
13May 18, 2020945.73−3.27Below flood stage—
14Apr 20, 2017945.60−3.40Below flood stage—
15Nov 17, 2012943.50−5.50Below flood stage—

Other gauges in Olmsted County

Flood gauges in Olmsted County
Rochester13.016.54 ft, Aug 19, 20070
Rochester49.049.68 ft, Jun 16, 20140
Whitewater State Park13.519.13 ft, Aug 19, 20071
Pine Island17.023.45 ft, Sep 23, 20102
Oronoco 1W951.0954.96 ft, Jun 28, 20190
Rochester14.020.77 ft, Sep 21, 19861

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge OCOM5, 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.