Raccoon River near West Des Moines water level

Name: Raccoon River near West Des Moines water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Raccoon River, Iowa, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

31.60ft Down 0.54 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 10:45 PM CDT (1 hour ago)

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The Raccoon River near West Des Moines is well above normal at 31.60 ft.

That puts it 4.60 ft above the median of 27.00 ft for mid-October, based on 26 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 27.07 ft (+4.53 ft). The record high is 47.49 ft, set on June 13, 2008.

It has dropped 0.54 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 29.51 ft and 38.13 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 27.00 ft4.60 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 25.70 ft – 31.53 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (26 years of records)
Same day last year: 27.07 ft+4.53 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 29.51 ft – 38.13 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 26.08 ft – 38.13 ft
Highest on record: 47.49 ftJune 13, 2008
Lowest on record: 25.15 ftDecember 3, 2022

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.

What happens at each level

45.60 ft: Water affects houses south of Commerce Dr.
31.60 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	47.49 ft	June 13, 2008
2	46.67 ft	June 26, 2015
3	44.13 ft	March 15, 2019
4	43.42 ft	December 15, 2015
5	41.79 ft	March 17, 2010
6	41.33 ft	February 14, 2009
7	40.89 ft	May 31, 2013
8	39.43 ft	September 1, 2014
9	38.43 ft	June 25, 2018
10	37.60 ft	May 22, 2024

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.48 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 62° 32° – Wind 13 mph

18 Sun 64° 41° – Wind 16 mph

19 Mon 67° 38° – Wind 11 mph

20 Tue 70° 47° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 73° 51° 0.00 in Wind 13 mph

22 Thu 76° 59° – Wind 9 mph

23 Fri 76° 56° – Wind 17 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:34 AM Sunset 06:26 PM Daylight 10 hr, 52 min Waxing gibbous 74%

Map

Other gauges on the Raccoon River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Raccoon River at Van MeterRiver gauge, Raccoon River	7.43 ft	Below flood stage	−0.58 ft	9 mi
Raccoon River at 63rd Street at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Raccoon River	25.58 ft	Below flood stage	−0.64 ft	4.7 mi
Raccoon River at Fleur Drive at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Raccoon River	7.09 ft	Below flood stage	−0.74 ft	8 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Walnut Creek at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Walnut Creek	3.90 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	5.8 mi
North River near NorwalkRiver gauge, North River	8.27 ft	Below flood stage	−0.14 ft	8 mi
Des Moines River below Raccoon River at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Des Moines River	16.29 ft	Below flood stage	−1.00 ft	10 mi
Des Moines River at 2nd Avenue at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Des Moines River	16.83 ft	Below flood stage	−0.39 ft	10 mi
Beaver Creek near GrimesRiver gauge, Beaver Creek	6.33 ft	Below flood stage	−0.40 ft	11 mi
Des Moines River near SaylorvilleRiver gauge, Des Moines River	4,330 cfs	High	−1,610.0 cfs	12 mi
Middle River near IndianolaRiver gauge, Middle River	8.74 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	12 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Raccoon River near West Des Moines compare with last year?

It is 4.53 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 27.07 ft.

What is a normal level for the Raccoon River near West Des Moines in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 27.00 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 25.70 ft and 31.53 ft, based on 26 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 Raccoon River near West Des Moines today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 10:45 PM CDT, the water level was 31.60 ft. Down 0.54 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Raccoon River near West Des Moines rising or falling?

Down 0.54 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.31 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Raccoon River near West Des Moines normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Raccoon River near West Des Moines?

The highest level on record is 47.49 ft on June 13, 2008. The lowest is 25.15 ft on December 3, 2022.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:05484600 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.52811, -93.78186 (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	31.60 ft	2026-10-21 03:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Raccoon River near West Des Moines (usgs:05484600). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/raccoon-river-near-west-des-moines

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