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SwedenRock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids water level
River gauge, Rock River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 87.1 cfs
History
What this means
The gauge at Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids reads 7.20 ft, a normal level.
It is 5.80 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 7.20 ft and 7.28 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 28.65 ftJune 22, 2024
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 13.00 ft, still 5.80 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 28.00 ft
- Water reaches as far as Greene St on the west side of the river and the bridge on Hwy 9 in Rock Rapids is in danger of being overtopped.
- 27.00 ft
- Significant flooding will be ongoing in Rock Rapids and water reaches as far Pearl St on the east side of the river and Tama St on the west side. Hwy 75 south of Rock Rapids may also become impassable.
- 26.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on Hwy 9.
- 22.00 ft
- The race track in Rock Rapids begins to flood as does N Boone St if water backs up Moon Creek
- 19.00 ft
- The highest banks on the right side of the river will be overtopped with water beginning to encroach into the edges of Rock Rapids structures nearest the river.
- 16.00 ft
- The higher banks on the left side become overtopped and more significant agriculture flooding begins.
- 15.00 ft
- Much of the campground at Island Park in Rock Rapids is flooded.
- 13.00 ft
- The lower banks become overtopped, including the lower lying areas of the Island Park Campground
- 7.20 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 | 28.65 ft | June 22, 2024 |
| 2 | 26.98 ft | June 17, 2014 |
| 3 | 22.25 ft | September 25, 2010 |
| 4 | 21.54 ft | September 14, 2019 |
| 5 | 20.80 ft | June 22, 2018 |
| 6 | 19.79 ft | March 15, 2007 |
| 7 | 19.78 ft | March 14, 2019 |
| 8 | 17.81 ft | April 8, 2006 |
| 9 | 16.49 ft | June 6, 2008 |
| 10 | 15.66 ft | March 22, 2011 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Rock River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock River near Rock ValleyRiver gauge, Rock River | 5.23 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 16 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burr Oak Creek near PerkinsRiver gauge, Burr Oak Creek | 10.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 12 mi |
| Split Rock Creek at CorsonRiver gauge, Split Rock Creek | 1.83 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 24 mi |
| Little Floyd River near SanbornRiver gauge, Little Floyd River | 83.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 28 mi |
| Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.05 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 29 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 1.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 30 mi |
| Big Sioux River near HawardenRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 12.00 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 30 mi |
| Silver Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Silver Creek | 0.91 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 31 mi |
| Floyd River at AltonRiver gauge, Floyd River | 5.86 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 5.80 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 Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 11:15 AM CDT, the water level was 7.20 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids?
The highest level on record is 28.65 ft on June 22, 2024.
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:06483290(Agency page)- Coordinates
43.42314, -96.16492(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 | 7.20 ft | 2026-10-20 16:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 87.1 cfs | 2026-10-20 16:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids (usgs:06483290). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/rock-river-below-tom-creek-at-rock-rapids
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