Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe water level
River gauge, Pilot Creek, Iowa, United States
Right now
Very high for late October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe is well above normal at 3.55 ft.
That puts it 1.43 ft above the median of 2.12 ft for late October, based on 17 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 2.35 ft (+1.20 ft). The record high is 10.56 ft, set on July 8, 1998.
It has dropped 0.19 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.06 ft and 5.41 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.12 ft1.43 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.56 ft – 3.41 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.35 ft+1.20 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.06 ft – 5.41 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.66 ft – 5.89 ft
- Highest on record
- 10.56 ftJuly 8, 1998
Flood levels and safety
Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.
Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.56 ft | July 8, 1998 |
| 2 | 9.71 ft | August 22, 2007 |
| 3 | 9.28 ft | May 29, 1995 |
| 4 | 8.50 ft | March 22, 2001 |
| 5 | 7.43 ft | August 6, 1996 |
| 6 | 5.66 ft | July 11, 2000 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.91 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River at HumboldtRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 4.38 ft | Below flood stage | −0.12 ft | 14 mi |
| East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota CityRiver gauge, East Fork Des Moines River | 9.54 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 15 mi |
| Lizard Creek near Fort DodgeRiver gauge, Lizard Creek | 5.97 ft | Very high | −0.15 ft | 22 mi |
| East Fork Des Moines River near AlgonaRiver gauge, East Fork Des Moines River | 7.94 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 22 mi |
| Des Moines River at Fort DodgeRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 4.92 ft | Below flood stage | −0.12 ft | 24 mi |
| Des Moines River at EmmetsburgRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 1.19 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 25 mi |
| Boone River near GoldfieldRiver gauge, Boone River | 130 cfs | Normal | −13.0 cfs | 27 mi |
| Willow Creek near CornellRiver gauge, Willow Creek | 82.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 37 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe compare with last year?
It is 1.20 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.35 ft.
What is a normal level for Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe in late October?
The median for late October is 2.12 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.56 ft and 3.41 ft, based on 17 years of records.
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 Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 01:15 AM CDT, the water level was 3.55 ft. Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe rising or falling?
Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.49 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe normal?
Very high for late October. Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe?
The highest level on record is 10.56 ft on July 8, 1998.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05476735(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.80575, -94.46264(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 | 3.55 ft | 2026-10-21 06:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Pilot Creek at County Hwy P15 near Rolfe (usgs:05476735). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/pilot-creek-at-county-hwy-p15-near-rolfe
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