Raccoon River (Central IA) at Van Meter
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 03/16/2025 11:47 PM CDTRecord: 26.3 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 23 ft Moderate Flooding 22 ft Minor Flooding 17 ft Action 15 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 26 - Water affects the railroad line north of Van Meter.
- 23.8 - Water is over I-80 near Van Meter.
- 23.3 - Water reaches the bottom of the I-80 bridge near Van Meter.
- 22.7 - Water is at the shoulder of the southbound I-35 exit to Iowa 5.
- 21 - Water affects the rangers residence at Walnut Woods State Park.
- 20 - Water affects Ave R just north of the river and affects several buildings in West Des Moines in Walnut Woods State Park.
- 19 - Flooding of several county roads occurs.
- 17 - Water threatens secondary bridges along US 6 east of Adel.
- 15 - Flooding occurs in the sand and gravel quarries just south of I-80.
- 13 - Overflow occurs onto much of the east bank.
- 12 - Water affects agricultural land primarily along the upstream north bank.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 10.56 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 2. | 13.09 ft | on 06-07-2022 |
| 3. | 5.18 ft | on 07-12-2021 |
| 4. | 13.46 ft | on 02-18-2020 |
| 5. | 11.68 ft | on 10-11-2019 |
| 6. | 20.08 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 7. | 14.83 ft | on 06-25-2018 |
| 8. | 13.13 ft | on 05-21-2017 |
| 9. | 15.16 ft | on 01-22-2017 |
| 10. | 19.34 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 10.56 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 2. | 13.09 ft | on 06-07-2022 |
| 3. | 5.18 ft | on 07-12-2021 |
| 4. | 13.46 ft | on 02-18-2020 |
| 5. | 11.68 ft | on 10-11-2019 |
| 6. | 20.08 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 7. | 14.83 ft | on 06-25-2018 |
| 8. | 13.13 ft | on 05-21-2017 |
| 9. | 15.16 ft | on 01-22-2017 |
| 10. | 19.34 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
| 11. | 23.09 ft | on 06-25-2015 |
| 12. | 15.76 ft | on 09-01-2014 |
| 13. | 17.28 ft | on 05-30-2013 |
| 14. | 9.01 ft | on 05-06-2012 |
| 15. | 13.82 ft | on 06-20-2011 |
| 16. | 18.43 ft | on 06-28-2010 |
| 17. | 18.49 ft | on 03-10-2010 |
| 18. | 17.19 ft | on 04-27-2009 |
| 19. | 22.67 ft | on 06-12-2008 |
| 20. | 20.24 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
| 21. | 9.47 ft | on 09-17-2006 |
| 22. | 17.08 ft | on 05-13-2005 |
| 23. | 21.59 ft | on 05-23-2004 |
| 24. | 16.51 ft | on 05-09-2003 |
| 25. | 10.08 ft | on 06-13-2002 |
| 26. | 14.25 ft | on 05-06-2001 |
| 27. | 8.00 ft | on 07-06-2000 |
| 28. | 17.97 ft | on 05-21-1999 |
| 29. | 23.29 ft | on 06-15-1998 |
| 30. | 17.04 ft | on 02-19-1997 |
| 31. | 16.47 ft | on 05-24-1996 |
| 32. | 13.12 ft | on 05-28-1995 |
| 33. | 10.42 ft | on 03-07-1994 |
| 34. | 12.64 ft | on 02-19-1994 |
| 35. | 26.34 ft | on 07-10-1993 |
| 36. | 12.69 ft | on 09-16-1992 |
| 37. | 16.78 ft | on 04-19-1991 |
| 38. | 21.39 ft | on 06-16-1990 |
| 39. | 9.98 ft | on 09-09-1989 |
| 40. | 11.00 ft | on 03-10-1989 |
| 41. | 7.16 ft | on 06-09-1988 |
| 42. | 11.69 ft | on 02-21-1988 |
| 43. | 13.97 ft | on 08-26-1987 |
| 44. | 22.69 ft | on 07-01-1986 |
| 45. | 12.70 ft | on 02-22-1985 |
| 46. | 19.51 ft | on 04-30-1984 |
| 47. | 18.59 ft | on 07-03-1983 |
| 48. | 14.21 ft | on 06-15-1982 |
| 49. | 14.34 ft | on 02-21-1982 |
| 50. | 7.12 ft | on 07-04-1981 |
| 51. | 7.76 ft | on 06-15-1980 |
| 52. | 20.39 ft | on 03-19-1979 |
| 53. | 17.62 ft | on 03-22-1978 |
| 54. | 12.79 ft | on 08-28-1977 |
| 55. | 12.84 ft | on 05-24-1976 |
| 56. | 14.01 ft | on 06-18-1975 |
| 57. | 20.13 ft | on 05-19-1974 |
| 58. | 21.74 ft | on 07-04-1973 |
| 59. | 11.33 ft | on 09-11-1972 |
| 60. | 18.85 ft | on 02-20-1971 |
| 61. | 14.23 ft | on 05-14-1970 |
| 62. | 17.60 ft | on 03-25-1969 |
| 63. | 7.05 ft | on 06-27-1968 |
| 64. | 18.07 ft | on 06-12-1967 |
| 65. | 15.15 ft | on 06-13-1966 |
| 66. | 18.35 ft | on 04-06-1965 |
| 67. | 15.92 ft | on 06-23-1964 |
| 68. | 12.62 ft | on 04-29-1963 |
| 69. | 17.23 ft | on 03-31-1962 |
| 70. | 12.35 ft | on 03-27-1961 |
| 71. | 21.18 ft | on 04-02-1960 |
| 72. | 13.22 ft | on 06-04-1959 |
| 73. | 21.77 ft | on 07-03-1958 |
| 74. | 17.27 ft | on 06-18-1957 |
| 75. | 7.43 ft | on 09-04-1956 |
| 76. | 11.43 ft | on 04-24-1955 |
| 77. | 17.40 ft | on 06-25-1954 |
| 78. | 19.42 ft | on 06-11-1953 |
| 79. | 14.81 ft | on 04-01-1952 |
| 80. | 19.15 ft | on 03-31-1951 |
| 81. | 16.10 ft | on 06-20-1950 |
| 82. | 15.70 ft | on 03-06-1949 |
| 83. | 19.00 ft | on 03-19-1948 |
| 84. | 21.40 ft | on 06-13-1947 |
| 85. | 16.10 ft | on 09-09-1946 |
| 86. | 16.10 ft | on 06-06-1945 |
| 87. | 18.30 ft | on 05-21-1944 |
| 88. | 14.70 ft | on 08-16-1943 |
| 89. | 11.70 ft | on 05-11-1942 |
| 90. | 10.00 ft | on 06-02-1941 |
| 91. | 9.20 ft | on 07-31-1940 |
| 92. | 17.85 ft | on 03-12-1939 |
| 93. | 11.60 ft | on 06-02-1938 |
| 94. | 13.90 ft | on 03-04-1937 |
| 95. | 13.90 ft | on 03-05-1936 |
| 96. | 13.10 ft | on 03-05-1935 |
| 97. | 5.00 ft | on 04-07-1934 |
| 98. | 10.10 ft | on 04-05-1933 |
| 99. | 14.60 ft | on 11-24-1931 |
| 100. | 8.30 ft | on 06-21-1931 |
| 101. | 8.80 ft | on 05-13-1930 |
| 102. | 16.20 ft | on 03-14-1929 |
| 103. | 10.80 ft | on 08-27-1928 |
| 104. | 9.70 ft | on 02-08-1927 |
| 105. | 18.96 ft | on 09-20-1926 |
| 106. | 10.10 ft | on 08-07-1925 |
| 107. | 15.20 ft | on 06-25-1924 |
| 108. | 11.60 ft | on 03-27-1923 |
| 109. | 12.10 ft | on 04-11-1922 |
| 110. | 11.10 ft | on 09-20-1921 |
| 111. | 12.20 ft | on 03-14-1920 |
| 112. | 12.60 ft | on 04-24-1919 |
| 113. | 13.70 ft | on 06-06-1918 |
| 114. | 18.40 ft | on 06-07-1917 |
| 115. | 8.40 ft | on 03-16-1916 |
| 116. | 15.90 ft | on 05-29-1915 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 26.34 ft | on 07-10-1993 |
| 2. | 23.29 ft | on 06-15-1998 |
| 3. | 23.09 ft | on 06-25-2015 |
| 4. | 22.69 ft | on 07-01-1986 |
| 5. | 22.67 ft | on 06-12-2008 |
| 6. | 21.77 ft | on 07-03-1958 |
| 7. | 21.74 ft | on 07-04-1973 |
| 8. | 21.59 ft | on 05-23-2004 |
| 9. | 21.40 ft | on 06-13-1947 |
| 10. | 21.39 ft | on 06-16-1990 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 26.34 ft | on 07-10-1993 |
| 2. | 23.29 ft | on 06-15-1998 |
| 3. | 23.09 ft | on 06-25-2015 |
| 4. | 22.69 ft | on 07-01-1986 |
| 5. | 22.67 ft | on 06-12-2008 |
| 6. | 21.77 ft | on 07-03-1958 |
| 7. | 21.74 ft | on 07-04-1973 |
| 8. | 21.59 ft | on 05-23-2004 |
| 9. | 21.40 ft | on 06-13-1947 |
| 10. | 21.39 ft | on 06-16-1990 |
| 11. | 21.18 ft | on 04-02-1960 |
| 12. | 20.39 ft | on 03-19-1979 |
| 13. | 20.24 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
| 14. | 20.13 ft | on 05-19-1974 |
| 15. | 20.08 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 16. | 19.51 ft | on 04-30-1984 |
| 17. | 19.42 ft | on 06-11-1953 |
| 18. | 19.34 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
| 19. | 19.15 ft | on 03-31-1951 |
| 20. | 19.00 ft | on 03-19-1948 |
| 21. | 18.96 ft | on 09-20-1926 |
| 22. | 18.85 ft | on 02-20-1971 |
| 23. | 18.59 ft | on 07-03-1983 |
| 24. | 18.49 ft | on 03-10-2010 |
| 25. | 18.43 ft | on 06-28-2010 |
| 26. | 18.40 ft | on 06-07-1917 |
| 27. | 18.35 ft | on 04-06-1965 |
| 28. | 18.30 ft | on 05-21-1944 |
| 29. | 18.07 ft | on 06-12-1967 |
| 30. | 17.97 ft | on 05-21-1999 |
| 31. | 17.85 ft | on 03-12-1939 |
| 32. | 17.62 ft | on 03-22-1978 |
| 33. | 17.60 ft | on 03-25-1969 |
| 34. | 17.40 ft | on 06-25-1954 |
| 35. | 17.28 ft | on 05-30-2013 |
| 36. | 17.27 ft | on 06-18-1957 |
| 37. | 17.23 ft | on 03-31-1962 |
| 38. | 17.19 ft | on 04-27-2009 |
| 39. | 17.08 ft | on 05-13-2005 |
| 40. | 17.04 ft | on 02-19-1997 |
| 41. | 16.78 ft | on 04-19-1991 |
| 42. | 16.51 ft | on 05-09-2003 |
| 43. | 16.47 ft | on 05-24-1996 |
| 44. | 16.20 ft | on 03-14-1929 |
| 45. | 16.10 ft | on 09-09-1946 |
| 46. | 16.10 ft | on 06-20-1950 |
| 47. | 16.10 ft | on 06-06-1945 |
| 48. | 15.92 ft | on 06-23-1964 |
| 49. | 15.90 ft | on 05-29-1915 |
| 50. | 15.76 ft | on 09-01-2014 |
| 51. | 15.70 ft | on 03-06-1949 |
| 52. | 15.20 ft | on 06-25-1924 |
| 53. | 15.16 ft | on 01-22-2017 |
| 54. | 15.15 ft | on 06-13-1966 |
| 55. | 14.83 ft | on 06-25-2018 |
| 56. | 14.81 ft | on 04-01-1952 |
| 57. | 14.70 ft | on 08-16-1943 |
| 58. | 14.60 ft | on 11-24-1931 |
| 59. | 14.34 ft | on 02-21-1982 |
| 60. | 14.25 ft | on 05-06-2001 |
| 61. | 14.23 ft | on 05-14-1970 |
| 62. | 14.21 ft | on 06-15-1982 |
| 63. | 14.01 ft | on 06-18-1975 |
| 64. | 13.97 ft | on 08-26-1987 |
| 65. | 13.90 ft | on 03-04-1937 |
| 66. | 13.90 ft | on 03-05-1936 |
| 67. | 13.82 ft | on 06-20-2011 |
| 68. | 13.70 ft | on 06-06-1918 |
| 69. | 13.46 ft | on 02-18-2020 |
| 70. | 13.22 ft | on 06-04-1959 |
| 71. | 13.13 ft | on 05-21-2017 |
| 72. | 13.12 ft | on 05-28-1995 |
| 73. | 13.10 ft | on 03-05-1935 |
| 74. | 13.09 ft | on 06-07-2022 |
| 75. | 12.84 ft | on 05-24-1976 |
| 76. | 12.79 ft | on 08-28-1977 |
| 77. | 12.70 ft | on 02-22-1985 |
| 78. | 12.69 ft | on 09-16-1992 |
| 79. | 12.64 ft | on 02-19-1994 |
| 80. | 12.62 ft | on 04-29-1963 |
| 81. | 12.60 ft | on 04-24-1919 |
| 82. | 12.35 ft | on 03-27-1961 |
| 83. | 12.20 ft | on 03-14-1920 |
| 84. | 12.10 ft | on 04-11-1922 |
| 85. | 11.70 ft | on 05-11-1942 |
| 86. | 11.69 ft | on 02-21-1988 |
| 87. | 11.68 ft | on 10-11-2019 |
| 88. | 11.60 ft | on 06-02-1938 |
| 89. | 11.60 ft | on 03-27-1923 |
| 90. | 11.43 ft | on 04-24-1955 |
| 91. | 11.33 ft | on 09-11-1972 |
| 92. | 11.10 ft | on 09-20-1921 |
| 93. | 11.00 ft | on 03-10-1989 |
| 94. | 10.80 ft | on 08-27-1928 |
| 95. | 10.56 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 96. | 10.42 ft | on 03-07-1994 |
| 97. | 10.10 ft | on 08-07-1925 |
| 98. | 10.10 ft | on 04-05-1933 |
| 99. | 10.08 ft | on 06-13-2002 |
| 100. | 10.00 ft | on 06-02-1941 |
| 101. | 9.98 ft | on 09-09-1989 |
| 102. | 9.70 ft | on 02-08-1927 |
| 103. | 9.47 ft | on 09-17-2006 |
| 104. | 9.20 ft | on 07-31-1940 |
| 105. | 9.01 ft | on 05-06-2012 |
| 106. | 8.80 ft | on 05-13-1930 |
| 107. | 8.40 ft | on 03-16-1916 |
| 108. | 8.30 ft | on 06-21-1931 |
| 109. | 8.00 ft | on 07-06-2000 |
| 110. | 7.76 ft | on 06-15-1980 |
| 111. | 7.43 ft | on 09-04-1956 |
| 112. | 7.16 ft | on 06-09-1988 |
| 113. | 7.12 ft | on 07-04-1981 |
| 114. | 7.05 ft | on 06-27-1968 |
| 115. | 5.18 ft | on 07-12-2021 |
| 116. | 5.00 ft | on 04-07-1934 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 | NGVD29 |
|---|---|---|
| major Flooding | 859.49 ft | 859.49 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 858.49 ft | 858.49 ft |
| minor Flooding | 853.49 ft | 853.49 ft |
| action | 851.49 ft | 851.49 ft |
| Latest Value | 841.71 ft | 841.71 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 836.49 ft | 836.49 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Unique Local Info
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.