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South Fork Root River near Houston

Highest listed crest 14.90 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft27 crests since 1960

The South Fork Root River near Houston crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 27 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1960 to 2026. The highest, 14.90 ft on June 2, 2000, was major flooding, 4.90 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
14.90 ft
June 2, 2000; 13,800 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 14.0 ft
Crests at major
3
42nd of 120 gauges in Minnesota
Most recent flood crest
July 3, 2026
13.73 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Houston County
Minnesota

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Fork Root River near Houston
Action stage9.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.013Mar 31, 2013Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.011Jul 3, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage14.03Jun 9, 2008Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

27 crests from 1960 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Fork Root River near Houston, 1960 to 2026 101112131415ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 14.0 ft Mar 28, 1960: 12.30 ft, moderate flooding; 5,270 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1961: 12.87 ft, moderate flooding; 6,980 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1962: 13.35 ft, moderate flooding; 8,420 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1963: 11.37 ft, minor flooding; 3,160 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1965: 13.64 ft, moderate flooding; 6,530 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1967: 12.53 ft, moderate flooding; 5,960 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1974: 13.81 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1976: 14.75 ft, major flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1978: 13.79 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1980: 13.08 ft, moderate flooding; 8,020 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1981: 12.01 ft, moderate flooding; 4,280 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1985: 11.32 ft, minor flooding; 5,280 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 1990: 10.96 ft, minor flooding; 2,150 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1992: 10.09 ft, minor flooding; 2,720 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1993: 11.21 ft, minor flooding; 3,470 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1994: 10.72 ft, minor flooding; 3,100 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1996: 10.06 ft, minor flooding; 2,700 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1998: 10.98 ft, minor flooding; 3,300 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2000: 14.90 ft, major flooding; 13,800 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2004: 11.53 ft, minor flooding; 3,640 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2004: 10.46 ft, minor flooding; 2,923 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2005: 10.68 ft, minor flooding; 2,860 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 2007: 11.58 ft, minor flooding; 3,700 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2008: 14.35 ft, major flooding; 10,900 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2013: 11.98 ft, minor flooding; 4,165 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2016: 13.21 ft, moderate flooding; 6,810 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2026: 13.73 ft, moderate flooding; 9,299 cubic feet per second Highest, 14.90 ft, Jun 2, 2000 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Fork Root River near Houston 1960s: 6 6 1970s: 3 1980s: 3 1990s: 6 2000s: 6 2010s: 2 2020s: 1 1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 Fork Root River near Houston
1Jun 2, 200014.90+4.90Major13,800
2Mar 12, 197614.75+4.75Major10,800
3Jun 9, 200814.35+4.35Major10,900
4Jun 21, 197413.81+3.81Moderate11,000
5Jul 1, 197813.79+3.79Moderate11,000
6Jul 3, 202613.73+3.73Moderate9,299
7Mar 2, 196513.64+3.64Moderate6,530
8Mar 29, 196213.35+3.35Moderate8,420
9Sep 23, 201613.21+3.21Moderate6,810
10Mar 17, 198013.08+3.08Moderate8,020
11Mar 26, 196112.87+2.87Moderate6,980
12Mar 11, 196712.53+2.53Moderate5,960
13Mar 28, 196012.30+2.30Moderate5,270
14Jul 12, 198112.01+2.01Moderate4,280
15Mar 31, 201311.98+1.98Minor4,165
16Aug 27, 200711.58+1.58Minor3,700
17Mar 6, 200411.53+1.53Minor3,640
18Mar 17, 196311.37+1.37Minor3,160
19Mar 11, 198511.32+1.32Minor5,280
20Apr 1, 199311.21+1.21Minor3,470
21Jun 28, 199810.98+0.98Minor3,300
22Aug 26, 199010.96+0.96Minor2,150
23Mar 6, 199410.72+0.72Minor3,100
24Feb 7, 200510.68+0.68Minor2,860
25Jun 10, 200410.46+0.46Minor2,923
26Mar 4, 199210.09+0.09Minor2,720
27Mar 25, 199610.06+0.06Minor2,700

Other gauges in Houston County

Flood gauges in Houston County
Freeburg13.020.26 ft, Jun 8, 20087
Brownsville635.0640.20 ft, Apr 22, 19650
Houston15.019.28 ft, Mar 15, 20193
Mound Prairie665.0680.70 ft, Oct 1, 20191

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HUSM5, 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.