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Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20

Highest listed crest 27.88 ftFlood stage 15.0 ft73 crests since 1947

The Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20 crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 73 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1947 to 2026. The highest, 27.88 ft on July 9, 1993, was major flooding, 12.88 feet above flood stage. 17 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 9 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
27.88 ft
July 9, 1993; 436,886 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
15.0 ft
Major flooding from 25.0 ft
Crests at major
3
69th of 173 gauges in Missouri
Most recent flood crest
April 20, 2026
16.03 ft, minor flooding
Location
Lewis County
Missouri

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20
Action stage13.016Jul 1, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)15.042Apr 20, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage20.011Oct 12, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage25.03Jun 2, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

73 crests from 1947 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20, 1947 to 2026 1015202530ft Flood stage 15.0 ftMajor 25.0 ft Jun 10, 1947: 20.00 ft, moderate flooding; 311,284 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1951: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 302,499 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1960: 20.82 ft, moderate flooding; 325,102 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1961: 16.32 ft, minor floodingMay 1, 1965: 21.42 ft, moderate flooding; 334,795 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1967: 16.30 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 1973: 24.50 ft, moderate flooding; 383,934 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1974: 19.38 ft, minor floodingApr 13, 1979: 18.49 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 1982: 17.52 ft, minor floodingApr 4, 1983: 19.20 ft, minor floodingJun 29, 1984: 16.35 ft, minor floodingMar 5, 1985: 18.00 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 1986: 20.92 ft, moderate flooding; 326,739 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1990: 18.64 ft, minor floodingJul 9, 1993: 27.88 ft, major flooding; 436,886 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 1995: 17.30 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 1998: 19.60 ft, minor flooding; 304,278 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2000: 15.40 ft, minor floodingMay 15, 2001: 23.20 ft, moderate flooding; 362,561 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2001: 16.30 ft, minor floodingMay 13, 2002: 17.10 ft, minor floodingMay 26, 2003: 14.30 ft, action stageJun 1, 2004: 17.90 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 2005: 13.20 ft, action stageApr 17, 2006: 12.46 ft, below flood stageFeb 26, 2007: 20.19 ft, moderate flooding; 313,000 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2007: 14.03 ft, action stage; 195,000 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2007: 14.90 ft, action stage; 212,000 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2007: 14.13 ft, action stage; 197,000 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 2007: 15.56 ft, minor flooding; 226,000 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2008: 19.64 ft, minor flooding; 303,000 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2008: 27.73 ft, major flooding; 564,000 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2009: 17.57 ft, minor flooding; 264,300 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2009: 16.76 ft, minor flooding; 249,050 cubic feet per secondOct 31, 2009: 15.70 ft, minor flooding; 228,000 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2010: 16.71 ft, minor flooding; 247,000 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2010: 14.50 ft, action stage; 205,000 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2010: 16.17 ft, minor flooding; 237,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2010: 14.93 ft, action stage; 212,000 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2010: 18.82 ft, minor flooding; 288,000 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 2010: 14.09 ft, action stage; 197,000 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2010: 18.33 ft, minor flooding; 278,000 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 2010: 15.11 ft, minor flooding; 216,000 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2011: 19.13 ft, minor flooding; 293,000 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2011: 16.68 ft, minor flooding; 247,000 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2011: 19.89 ft, minor flooding; 308,000 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2011: 16.52 ft, minor flooding; 243,000 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 2013: 23.19 ft, moderate floodingJun 1, 2013: 20.48 ft, moderate floodingJul 7, 2014: 23.43 ft, moderate flooding; 401,410 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2014: 14.50 ft, action stage; 204,500 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2015: 18.20 ft, minor flooding; 275,900 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2015: 14.67 ft, action stage; 207,800 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 2015: 14.36 ft, action stage; 197,200 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2015: 14.25 ft, action stage; 195,100 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 17.80 ft, minor flooding; 262,000 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2016: 14.68 ft, action stage; 208,000 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 2016: 17.07 ft, minor floodingApr 7, 2017: 14.99 ft, action stage; 214,000 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2017: 16.77 ft, minor flooding; 248,450 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2017: 16.74 ft, minor flooding; 247,900 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2018: 17.04 ft, minor flooding; 253,900 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2018: 16.68 ft, minor flooding; 239,200 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2018: 17.45 ft, minor flooding; 258,200 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2018: 21.21 ft, moderate flooding; 330,600 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2019: 27.11 ft, major flooding; 534,000 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 2019: 17.57 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 2020: 17.01 ft, minor floodingJun 8, 2020: 14.06 ft, action stageJul 1, 2022: 14.22 ft, action stageMay 5, 2023: 18.28 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2026: 16.03 ft, minor flooding; 232,300 cubic feet per second Highest, 27.88 ft, Jul 9, 1993 19501960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20 1940s: 1 1950s: 1 1960s: 4 1970s: 3 1980s: 5 1990s: 4 2000s: 12 2010s: 23 23 2020s: 3 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

The 50 highest of 73 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20
1Jul 9, 199327.88+12.88Major436,886
2Jun 18, 200827.73+12.73Major564,000
3Jun 2, 201927.11+12.11Major534,000
4Apr 24, 197324.50+9.50Moderate383,934
5Jul 7, 201423.43+8.43Moderate401,410
6May 15, 200123.20+8.20Moderate362,561
7Apr 21, 201323.19+8.19Moderate—
8May 1, 196521.42+6.42Moderate334,795
9Oct 12, 201821.21+6.21Moderate330,600
10Oct 4, 198620.92+5.92Moderate326,739
11Apr 3, 196020.82+5.82Moderate325,102
12Jun 1, 201320.48+5.48Moderate—
13Feb 26, 200720.19+5.19Moderate313,000
14Jun 10, 194720.00+5.00Moderate311,284
15Jun 16, 201119.89+4.89Minor308,000
16May 4, 200819.64+4.64Minor303,000
17Apr 15, 199819.60+4.60Minor304,278
18May 12, 195119.50+4.50Minor302,499
19May 21, 197419.38+4.38Minor—
20Apr 4, 198319.20+4.20Minor—
21Apr 24, 201119.13+4.13Minor293,000
22Jun 23, 201018.82+3.82Minor288,000
23Jun 22, 199018.64+3.64Minor—
24Apr 13, 197918.49+3.49Minor—
25Jul 30, 201018.33+3.33Minor278,000
26May 5, 202318.28+3.28Minor—
27Jun 27, 201518.20+3.20Minor275,900
28Mar 5, 198518.00+3.00Minor—
29Jun 1, 200417.90+2.90Minor—
30Dec 29, 201517.80+2.80Minor262,000
31Mar 11, 200917.57+2.57Minor264,300
32Oct 17, 201917.57+2.57Minor—
33Apr 18, 198217.52+2.52Minor—
34Sep 10, 201817.45+2.45Minor258,200
35May 25, 199517.30+2.30Minor—
36May 13, 200217.10+2.10Minor—
37Oct 6, 201617.07+2.07Minor—
38May 15, 201817.04+2.04Minor253,900
39Apr 1, 202017.01+2.01Minor—
40May 3, 201716.77+1.77Minor248,450
41May 17, 200916.76+1.76Minor249,050
42Jun 3, 201716.74+1.74Minor247,900
43Mar 23, 201016.71+1.71Minor247,000
44May 27, 201116.68+1.68Minor247,000
45Jul 3, 201816.68+1.68Minor239,200
46Jun 28, 201116.52+1.52Minor243,000
47Jun 29, 198416.35+1.35Minor—
48Apr 6, 196116.32+1.32Minor—
49Apr 16, 196716.30+1.30Minor—
50Jun 7, 200116.30+1.30Minor—

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.

July 9, 1993: 27.88 ft here, major flooding

  • QuincyIL · Jul 13, 1993 · 32.13 ft · Major · its highest
  • HannibalMO · Jul 15, 1993 · 31.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • Quincy Lock and Dam 21IL · Jul 13, 1993 · 31.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • LaGrangeMO · Jul 13, 1993 · 30.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • Gregory LandingMO · Jul 9, 1993 · 28.49 ft · Major · its highest
  • KeokukIA · Jul 10, 1993 · 27.58 ft · Major · its highest
  • New BostonIL · Jul 9, 1993 · 25.90 ft · Major · its highest
  • MuscatineIA · Jul 9, 1993 · 25.61 ft · Major · its highest
  • BurlingtonIL · Jul 10, 1993 · 25.10 ft · Major
  • KeithsburgIA · Jul 9, 1993 · 24.15 ft · Major

June 18, 2008: 27.73 ft here, major flooding

June 2, 2019: 27.11 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 20 this gaugeMO15.027.88 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
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 Lewis County

Flood gauges in Lewis County
Ewing12.026.38 ft, Jun 27, 20155
LaGrange17.030.00 ft, Jul 13, 19934
Ewing11.025.50 ft, Jun 28, 20157

Lewis County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Missouri

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CANM7, 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.