West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville
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) 04/03/2025 2:45 AM CDTRecord: 17.7 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 14.5 ft Moderate Flooding 13 ft Minor Flooding 10 ft Action 6 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
- 21.5 - An electrical box near the NE corner of Woodys may need to be sandbagged.
- 20 - An electrical box at West Central Ave/IA 9 near the NE corner of the intersection with W 1st St N may need to be sandbagged.
- 19 - Electrical boxes south of vacant lot at 31 W 1st St S may need to be sandbagged.
- 18 - The Power Plant may need to sandbag the west banks.
- 17.5 - Water affects IA 9 just west of the river. IA 9 is closed to thru traffic. The Power Plant may monitor sandbagging operations on the west banks by the power plant. The parking lot west of the VFW is completely flooded. Residents at 39 W 1st St S may need to sandbag. Water overtops St. James Ave/Co Rd A34 by the bridge in Wallingford.
- 17 - The intersection of W 1st St S and W 1st Ave S is closed. Valley Dr may need to be closed. Evacuation orders may be needed for the residents in and near Valley Dr. Water overtops Co Rd N26 north of Tom and Jerry’s Bridge. Residents at 502, 503 and 608 on W 1st St S as well as residents at 206 in Valley Dr may need to sandbag their properties. An electrical box on the west side at 105 W 1st Ave N may need to be sandbagged.
- 16.5 - Road closure are expanded from Valley Dr to W 1st Ave S on W 1st St S. On W 1st St N the road closure is expanded north of Woodys parking lot to the residence at 221. Water begins affecting the parking lot west of the VFW. Water affects a residence driveway at 1660 375th Ave. An electrical box may need to be sandbagged at the southwest corner of W 1st St and W 2nd Ave S. Electrical boxes at 115 W 1st St may need to be sandbagged.
- 16 - Residents at 215 W 1st St N may need to sandbag their properties. Water affects Valley Dr. Residents may need to be notified of the road possibly being closed due to water over the road. Co Rd A33 (River View Bridge) is closed. The Power Plant may start monitoring the basement for floodwater.
- 15.5 - Road closures expand south of W 1st Ave N intersection to the residence at 215 W 1st St N. Road closures also expand to the residence south of 109 to north of Valley Dr. Residents 122 and 222 on W 1st St N may need sandbag their properties.
- 15 - An electrical box on the south property line of 303 W 1st St S may need to be sandbagged.
- 14.5 - Water affects residences along W 1st St north and south of IA 9 as well as along Valley Dr.
- 14 - The Estherville wastewater treatment plant may possibly start bypassing water on W 1st St S.
- 13.5 - Backwater from the river causes School Creek to flood Valley Dr. Road closures are expanded on W 1st St N from 109 to 209. Water begins affecting Burr Oak Rd South of Wallingford.
- 12.5 - Water affects W 1st St north and south of IA 9. W 1st St S is closed from the residence at 303 to just south of Valley Dr. W 1st St N is closed from the residence at 121 to 201 which will also cause the intersection of W 2nd Ave N and W 1st St N to be closed.
- 12 - Water affects the low areas of W 1st St south of IA 9 as well as residences on Valley Dr along School Creek.
- 11 - Water inundates Mike Mickelson Park south of IA 9.
- 10 - Extensive lowland flooding occurs particularly over the parkland areas near the river.
- 7 - Water affects Mike Mickelson Park south of IA 9 as well as North Riverside Park north of IA 9. Backwater from the river causes School Creek to affect the low areas of Valley Dr.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 9.04 ft | on 04-21-2023 |
| 2. | 7.84 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 3. | 3.80 ft | on 04-13-2021 |
| 4. | 10.78 ft | on 03-09-2020 |
| 5. | 15.24 ft | on 03-25-2019 |
| 6. | 14.89 ft | on 07-09-2018 |
| 7. | 8.01 ft | on 05-23-2017 |
| 8. | 9.95 ft | on 06-19-1994 |
| 9. | 10.10 ft | on 03-06-1994 |
| 10. | 15.38 ft | on 06-30-1993 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 9.04 ft | on 04-21-2023 |
| 2. | 7.84 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 3. | 3.80 ft | on 04-13-2021 |
| 4. | 10.78 ft | on 03-09-2020 |
| 5. | 15.24 ft | on 03-25-2019 |
| 6. | 14.89 ft | on 07-09-2018 |
| 7. | 8.01 ft | on 05-23-2017 |
| 8. | 9.95 ft | on 06-19-1994 |
| 9. | 10.10 ft | on 03-06-1994 |
| 10. | 15.38 ft | on 06-30-1993 |
| 11. | 8.59 ft | on 03-07-1992 |
| 12. | 11.11 ft | on 06-11-1991 |
| 13. | 5.28 ft | on 06-19-1990 |
| 14. | 4.50 ft | on 03-29-1989 |
| 15. | 4.72 ft | on 04-28-1988 |
| 16. | 7.70 ft | on 04-02-1987 |
| 17. | 11.27 ft | on 09-28-1986 |
| 18. | 8.77 ft | on 04-30-1985 |
| 19. | 14.30 ft | on 04-14-1984 |
| 20. | 12.66 ft | on 07-06-1983 |
| 21. | 5.86 ft | on 03-23-1982 |
| 22. | 6.23 ft | on 06-15-1981 |
| 23. | 9.21 ft | on 11-09-1979 |
| 24. | 10.99 ft | on 08-27-1979 |
| 25. | 7.58 ft | on 04-24-1978 |
| 26. | 3.35 ft | on 03-19-1977 |
| 27. | 3.37 ft | on 03-12-1977 |
| 28. | 5.43 ft | on 03-13-1976 |
| 29. | 8.01 ft | on 04-26-1975 |
| 30. | 5.87 ft | on 06-10-1974 |
| 31. | 7.06 ft | on 03-14-1973 |
| 32. | 6.22 ft | on 03-19-1972 |
| 33. | 10.54 ft | on 04-01-1971 |
| 34. | 6.08 ft | on 04-08-1970 |
| 35. | 17.68 ft | on 04-12-1969 |
| 36. | 4.09 ft | on 07-28-1968 |
| 37. | 5.69 ft | on 04-04-1967 |
| 38. | 6.18 ft | on 02-10-1966 |
| 39. | 15.61 ft | on 04-10-1965 |
| 40. | 6.24 ft | on 05-07-1964 |
| 41. | 7.35 ft | on 07-19-1963 |
| 42. | 12.22 ft | on 04-06-1962 |
| 43. | 12.03 ft | on 03-25-1961 |
| 44. | 10.79 ft | on 04-05-1960 |
| 45. | 10.04 ft | on 06-01-1959 |
| 46. | 3.51 ft | on 04-07-1958 |
| 47. | 5.33 ft | on 06-24-1957 |
| 48. | 3.42 ft | on 04-04-1956 |
| 49. | 4.37 ft | on 03-12-1955 |
| 50. | 5.67 ft | on 03-19-1954 |
| 51. | 15.53 ft | on 06-08-1953 |
| 52. | 11.82 ft | on 04-06-1952 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 17.68 ft | on 04-12-1969 |
| 2. | 15.61 ft | on 04-10-1965 |
| 3. | 15.53 ft | on 06-08-1953 |
| 4. | 15.38 ft | on 06-30-1993 |
| 5. | 15.24 ft | on 03-25-2019 |
| 6. | 14.89 ft | on 07-09-2018 |
| 7. | 14.30 ft | on 04-14-1984 |
| 8. | 12.66 ft | on 07-06-1983 |
| 9. | 12.22 ft | on 04-06-1962 |
| 10. | 12.03 ft | on 03-25-1961 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 17.68 ft | on 04-12-1969 |
| 2. | 15.61 ft | on 04-10-1965 |
| 3. | 15.53 ft | on 06-08-1953 |
| 4. | 15.38 ft | on 06-30-1993 |
| 5. | 15.24 ft | on 03-25-2019 |
| 6. | 14.89 ft | on 07-09-2018 |
| 7. | 14.30 ft | on 04-14-1984 |
| 8. | 12.66 ft | on 07-06-1983 |
| 9. | 12.22 ft | on 04-06-1962 |
| 10. | 12.03 ft | on 03-25-1961 |
| 11. | 11.82 ft | on 04-06-1952 |
| 12. | 11.27 ft | on 09-28-1986 |
| 13. | 11.11 ft | on 06-11-1991 |
| 14. | 10.99 ft | on 08-27-1979 |
| 15. | 10.79 ft | on 04-05-1960 |
| 16. | 10.78 ft | on 03-09-2020 |
| 17. | 10.54 ft | on 04-01-1971 |
| 18. | 10.10 ft | on 03-06-1994 |
| 19. | 10.04 ft | on 06-01-1959 |
| 20. | 9.95 ft | on 06-19-1994 |
| 21. | 9.21 ft | on 11-09-1979 |
| 22. | 9.04 ft | on 04-21-2023 |
| 23. | 8.77 ft | on 04-30-1985 |
| 24. | 8.59 ft | on 03-07-1992 |
| 25. | 8.01 ft | on 05-23-2017 |
| 26. | 8.01 ft | on 04-26-1975 |
| 27. | 7.84 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 28. | 7.70 ft | on 04-02-1987 |
| 29. | 7.58 ft | on 04-24-1978 |
| 30. | 7.35 ft | on 07-19-1963 |
| 31. | 7.06 ft | on 03-14-1973 |
| 32. | 6.24 ft | on 05-07-1964 |
| 33. | 6.23 ft | on 06-15-1981 |
| 34. | 6.22 ft | on 03-19-1972 |
| 35. | 6.18 ft | on 02-10-1966 |
| 36. | 6.08 ft | on 04-08-1970 |
| 37. | 5.87 ft | on 06-10-1974 |
| 38. | 5.86 ft | on 03-23-1982 |
| 39. | 5.69 ft | on 04-04-1967 |
| 40. | 5.67 ft | on 03-19-1954 |
| 41. | 5.43 ft | on 03-13-1976 |
| 42. | 5.33 ft | on 06-24-1957 |
| 43. | 5.28 ft | on 06-19-1990 |
| 44. | 4.72 ft | on 04-28-1988 |
| 45. | 4.50 ft | on 03-29-1989 |
| 46. | 4.37 ft | on 03-12-1955 |
| 47. | 4.09 ft | on 07-28-1968 |
| 48. | 3.80 ft | on 04-13-2021 |
| 49. | 3.51 ft | on 04-07-1958 |
| 50. | 3.42 ft | on 04-04-1956 |
| 51. | 3.37 ft | on 03-12-1977 |
| 52. | 3.35 ft | on 03-19-1977 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 1262.12 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 1260.62 ft |
| minor Flooding | 1257.62 ft |
| action | 1253.62 ft |
| Latest Value | 1250.59 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 1247.62 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.