Cedar River at Vinton water level
River gauge, Cedar River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 8,390 cfs
- Water temperature
- 57 °F
History
What this means
The Cedar River at Vinton is at 7.00 ft, in the normal range.
It is 8.00 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft.
It has risen 0.26 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 8.00 ft of room before flood stage. In the last month it has stayed between 6.09 ft and 7.00 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 57 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 24.70 ftJune 12, 2008
Floating and fishing near Cedar River at Vinton
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 15.00 ft, 8.00 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
- Several blocks near 1st, 2nd, 3rd streets, Riverside Drive and 6th Ave are under water in Vinton affecting homes and businesses. Hinkle Creek backs up closing access over the creek via W 3rd and W 4th Streets. Several homes and businesses are inundated by water from Hinkle Creek.
- 19.50 ft
- Water is at the bottom of the Iowa State Highway 150 bridge.
- 19.00 ft
- Highway 150 is under water in Vinton and the bridge over the Cedar River is closed.
- 18.00 ft
- Water affects the lowest parts of Riverside Drive, and portions of East 2nd Street and North 3rd Avenue in Vinton.
- 17.50 ft
- Flood protection measures such as road closures and sandbagging begin. Water affects the intersections of East 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue and North 3rd Avenue and East 3rd Street in Vinton.
- 15.00 ft
- Agricultural and low land flooding is ongoing. Water affects much of 22nd Avenue Road northwest of Vinton.
- 13.00 ft
- Water affects the lowest part of 22nd Avenue Road northwest of Vinton.
- 12.50 ft
- Water affects the lowest part of 22nd Avenue Road northwest of Vinton.
- 10.00 ft
- Water affects low lying agricultural land north of Vinton. Water is flowing through the overflow channel north of the main channel on Highway 150.
- 8.50 ft
- Flow may begin into the overflow channel north of the main channel on Highway 150.
- 7.00 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: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.70 ft | June 12, 2008 |
| 2 | 21.80 ft | September 26, 2016 |
| 3 | 19.30 ft | March 30, 1961 |
| 4 | 19.20 ft | April 4, 1993 |
| 5 | 18.59 ft | June 1, 2013 |
| 6 | 18.40 ft | May 26, 2004 |
| 7 | 18.05 ft | April 9, 1965 |
| 8 | 18.00 ft | July 24, 1999 |
| 9 | 17.81 ft | June 23, 2014 |
| 10 | 17.72 ft | March 17, 2019 |
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 | 4.25 ft | Below flood stage | −0.12 ft | 112 mi |
| Cedar River at Charles CityRiver gauge, Cedar River | 4.07 ft | Below flood stage | +0.10 ft | 70 mi |
| Cedar River at WaverlyRiver gauge, Cedar River | 5.11 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 45 mi |
| Cedar River at JanesvilleRiver gauge, Cedar River | 2.87 ft | Below flood stage | +0.20 ft | 40 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar FallsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 82.20 ft | Normal | +0.23 ft | 33 mi |
| Cedar River at WaterlooRiver gauge, Cedar River | 7.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 27 mi |
| Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at PaloRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.96 ft | Below flood stage | +0.37 ft | 14 mi |
| Cedar River at Edgewood Road at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 5.35 ft | No reference yet | +0.15 ft | 20 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.22 ft | Below flood stage | +0.28 ft | 23 mi |
| Cedar River below Indian Creek at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 9,780 cfs | Normal | +700 cfs | 27 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar BluffRiver gauge, Cedar River | 8.56 ft | Below flood stage | +0.34 ft | 45 mi |
| Cedar River near ConesvilleRiver gauge, Cedar River | 9.46 ft | Below flood stage | +0.24 ft | 65 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek near DysartRiver gauge, Wolf Creek | 4.17 ft | Below flood stage | −0.25 ft | 15 mi |
| Morgan Creek near CovingtonRiver gauge, Morgan Creek | 29.2 cfs | Very high | −0.6 cfs | 18 mi |
| Salt Creek near ElberonRiver gauge, Salt Creek | 7.86 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 21 mi |
| Wapsipinicon River at IndependenceRiver gauge, Wapsipinicon River | 6.84 ft | Below flood stage | −0.13 ft | 21 mi |
| Indian Creek at MarionRiver gauge, Indian Creek | 3.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 23 mi |
| Iowa River at MarengoRiver gauge, Iowa River | 12.65 ft | Below flood stage | +1.04 ft | 25 mi |
| Iowa River near Belle PlaineRiver gauge, Iowa River | 12.87 ft | Below flood stage | +0.46 ft | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Cedar River at Vinton?
The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 8.00 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 Vinton today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 02:15 PM CDT, the water level was 7.00 ft. Up 0.26 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Cedar River at Vinton rising or falling?
Up 0.26 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Cedar River at Vinton 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 Vinton?
The highest level on record is 24.70 ft on June 12, 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:05464315(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.17083, -92.02379(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 | 7.00 ft | 2026-10-18 19:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 8,390 cfs | 2026-10-18 19:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 57 °F | 2026-10-18 19:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Cedar River at Vinton (usgs:05464315). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/cedar-river-at-vinton
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