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SwedenCedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo water level
River gauge, Cedar River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 8,730 cfs
- Water temperature
- 66 °F
History
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo, where the gauge shows 6.89 ft.
It is 5.61 ft below the flood stage of 12.50 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 6.00 ft – 7.01 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 66 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 23.22 ftJune 13, 2008
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 12.50 ft.
What happens at each level
- 23.22 ft
- Water reaches the box culvert on Vinton Street east of the railroad tracks in Palo.
- 21.10 ft
- Water reaches the bridge deck on 1st Street in Palo.
- 18.50 ft
- Water reaches the box culvert on West Main Street in Palo.
- 17.80 ft
- Water reaches Blairs Ferry Road east of 1st Street in Palo.
- 17.00 ft
- Residences across the eastern part of the city of Palo are affected by flood waters.
- 16.50 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge deck on Blairs Ferry Road.
- 15.50 ft
- Water reaches residences along Dry Creek in Palo.
- 15.00 ft
- The walking bridge from East Main Street to 1st Street in Palo is impacted by flood waters. Trails along the river are under water.
- 14.30 ft
- The boat ramp just west of the Blairs Ferry Road bridge is closed.
- 14.00 ft
- Dry Creek begins to back up into the City of Palo due to high water on the Cedar River.
- 13.50 ft
- Chain Bridge Road accessing the boat ramp is closed.
- 13.00 ft
- Portions of Linn Drive in Palo are affected by flood waters.
- 6.89 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 7 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23.22 ft | June 13, 2008 |
| 2 | 18.07 ft | September 27, 2016 |
| 3 | 15.67 ft | June 1, 2013 |
| 4 | 15.30 ft | March 19, 2019 |
| 5 | 15.00 ft | June 24, 2014 |
| 6 | 14.18 ft | March 17, 2010 |
| 7 | 13.86 ft | June 25, 2020 |
| 8 | 13.56 ft | June 28, 2024 |
| 9 | 12.37 ft | March 28, 2011 |
| 10 | 11.49 ft | June 28, 2015 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Cedar River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar River near AustinRiver gauge, Cedar River | 3.88 ft | Below flood stage | −0.14 ft | 124 mi |
| Cedar River at Charles CityRiver gauge, Cedar River | 3.63 ft | Below flood stage | −0.23 ft | 82 mi |
| Cedar River at WaverlyRiver gauge, Cedar River | 5.10 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 58 mi |
| Cedar River at JanesvilleRiver gauge, Cedar River | 2.91 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 53 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar FallsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 81.87 ft | Normal | −0.26 ft | 47 mi |
| Cedar River at WaterlooRiver gauge, Cedar River | 7.33 ft | Below flood stage | −0.17 ft | 41 mi |
| Cedar River at VintonRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.67 ft | Below flood stage | −0.27 ft | 14 mi |
| Cedar River at Edgewood Road at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 5.39 ft | No reference yet | +0.13 ft | 5.7 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.25 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 9 mi |
| Cedar River below Indian Creek at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 10,000 cfs | Normal | −100.0 cfs | 13 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar BluffRiver gauge, Cedar River | 8.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 31 mi |
| Cedar River near ConesvilleRiver gauge, Cedar River | 9.87 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 52 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Creek near CovingtonRiver gauge, Morgan Creek | 26.0 cfs | Very high | −0.5 cfs | 5.7 mi |
| Indian Creek at MarionRiver gauge, Indian Creek | 3.13 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 9 mi |
| Iowa River at MarengoRiver gauge, Iowa River | 11.85 ft | Below flood stage | −0.55 ft | 23 mi |
| Clear Creek near OxfordRiver gauge, Clear Creek | 2.70 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 24 mi |
| Wapsipinicon River near AnamosaRiver gauge, Wapsipinicon River | 8.80 ft | Below flood stage | −0.28 ft | 27 mi |
| Iowa River below Coralville Dam near CoralvilleRiver gauge, Iowa River | 4,970 cfs | High | −480.0 cfs | 28 mi |
| Wapsipinicon River at IndependenceRiver gauge, Wapsipinicon River | 6.40 ft | Below flood stage | −0.21 ft | 28 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo?
The official flood stage is 12.50 ft. The level is currently 5.61 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 11:15 PM CDT, the water level was 6.89 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo rising or falling?
Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.73 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo?
The highest level on record is 23.22 ft on June 13, 2008.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05464420(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.06916, -91.78518(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 6.89 ft | 2026-10-21 04:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 8,730 cfs | 2026-10-21 04:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 66 °F | 2026-10-13 17:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo (usgs:05464420). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/cedar-river-at-blairs-ferry-road-at-palo
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer