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SwedenCedar River at Waverly water level
River gauge, Cedar River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 2,080 cfs
- Water temperature
- 53 °F
History
What this means
The Cedar River at Waverly is at 5.14 ft, in the normal range.
It is 6.86 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 4.87 ft and 5.15 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 53 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 19.33 ftJune 10, 2008
Floating and fishing near Cedar River at Waverly
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 6.86 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 17.00 ft
- Widespread flooding occurs in the northwest...southwest and southeast parts of Waverly. Water also affects Bremer Ave.
- 15.00 ft
- Water affects northwest parts of Waverly between Bremer Ave and 5th Ave NW...and between the Cedar River and 6th St NW. Water also affects portions of 3rd St SE and 4th St SE near the southeast Elementary School.
- 13.00 ft
- Water affects Cedar Lane and 7th Ave SE near 1st St SW.
- 12.00 ft
- Water affects 1st St NW by Kohlmann Park.
- 11.50 ft
- Water affects lowlands of city parks in Waverly as well as the low parts of 1st St NW by Kohlmann Park.
- 10.50 ft
- Water affects a campground along Cedar Ln NE.
- 5.14 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.33 ft | June 10, 2008 |
| 2 | 13.34 ft | September 24, 2016 |
| 3 | 13.16 ft | September 18, 2004 |
| 4 | 13.13 ft | May 22, 2013 |
| 5 | 12.95 ft | April 14, 2001 |
| 6 | 12.78 ft | September 23, 2016 |
| 7 | 11.53 ft | March 14, 2010 |
| 8 | 11.53 ft | August 30, 2021 |
| 9 | 10.49 ft | March 17, 2019 |
| 10 | 10.33 ft | June 21, 2014 |
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 | 4.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.15 ft | 67 mi |
| Cedar River at Charles CityRiver gauge, Cedar River | 3.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 25 mi |
| Cedar River at JanesvilleRiver gauge, Cedar River | 3.07 ft | Below flood stage | +0.32 ft | 6.1 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar FallsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 82.31 ft | Normal | +0.16 ft | 14 mi |
| Cedar River at WaterlooRiver gauge, Cedar River | 7.55 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 18 mi |
| Cedar River at VintonRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.95 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 45 mi |
| Cedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at PaloRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.99 ft | Below flood stage | +0.15 ft | 58 mi |
| Cedar River at Edgewood Road at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 5.43 ft | No reference yet | +0.10 ft | 64 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 6.28 ft | Below flood stage | +0.16 ft | 67 mi |
| Cedar River below Indian Creek at Cedar RapidsRiver gauge, Cedar River | 10,100 cfs | Normal | +530 cfs | 70 mi |
| Cedar River at Cedar BluffRiver gauge, Cedar River | 8.77 ft | Below flood stage | +0.30 ft | 88 mi |
| Cedar River near ConesvilleRiver gauge, Cedar River | 9.68 ft | Below flood stage | +0.25 ft | 110 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Rock River at Shell RockRiver gauge, Shell Rock River | 8.93 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 6.0 mi |
| West Fork Cedar River at FinchfordRiver gauge, West Fork Cedar River | 8.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.13 ft | 8 mi |
| Wapsipinicon River near TripoliRiver gauge, Wapsipinicon River | 9.41 ft | Below flood stage | −0.15 ft | 13 mi |
| Beaver Creek at New HartfordRiver gauge, Beaver Creek | 5.47 ft | Below flood stage | −0.58 ft | 14 mi |
| Little Cedar River near IoniaRiver gauge, Little Cedar River | 4.42 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 21 mi |
| Little Wapsipinicon River near OranRiver gauge, Little Wapsipinicon River | 83.44 ft | Below flood stage | −0.45 ft | 22 mi |
| Black Hawk Creek at HudsonRiver gauge, Black Hawk Creek | 9.41 ft | Below flood stage | −0.60 ft | 23 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Cedar River at Waverly?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 6.86 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 Waverly today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 05:15 AM CDT, the water level was 5.14 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Cedar River at Waverly rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Cedar River at Waverly 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 Waverly?
The highest level on record is 19.33 ft on June 10, 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:05458300(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.73722, -92.47009(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 | 5.14 ft | 2026-10-19 10:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2,080 cfs | 2026-10-19 10:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 53 °F | 2026-10-19 10:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Cedar River at Waverly (usgs:05458300). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/cedar-river-at-waverly
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