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SwedenSouth Skunk River near Oskaloosa water level
River gauge, South Skunk River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 3,420 cfs
History
What this means
The South Skunk River near Oskaloosa is at 14.28 ft, in the normal range.
It is 10.22 ft below the flood stage of 24.50 ft.
It has dropped 0.77 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 14.28 ft and 17.23 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
- 26.40 ftAugust 16, 2010
Floating and fishing near South Skunk River near Oskaloosa
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 24.50 ft, 10.22 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 30.00 ft
- Water affects US 63.
- 25.00 ft
- Water affects the Oskaloosa water plant levee with water into maintenance bay floor.
- 24.50 ft
- Water threatens Iowa 92 east of Oskaloosa.
- 23.20 ft
- Water affects Hwy T14 north of Pella...just south of the Marion-Jasper County line.
- 23.00 ft
- Water affects secondary roads near US 63 and Iowa 92.
- 21.00 ft
- Widespread flooding of agricultural and lowland areas occurs.
- 17.00 ft
- Water affects agricultural land.
- 15.00 ft
- Water affects the park on the south bank near the US 63 bridge.
- 14.28 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 | 26.40 ft | August 16, 2010 |
| 2 | 25.80 ft | May 1, 1944 |
| 3 | 24.78 ft | July 15, 1993 |
| 4 | 24.61 ft | June 12, 2008 |
| 5 | 23.34 ft | July 7, 2014 |
| 6 | 23.33 ft | July 6, 2014 |
| 7 | 23.29 ft | May 24, 2024 |
| 8 | 23.28 ft | June 2, 2013 |
| 9 | 23.05 ft | June 23, 1990 |
| 10 | 22.84 ft | June 24, 1998 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the South Skunk River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Skunk River near AmesRiver gauge, South Skunk River | 5.05 ft | Below flood stage | −0.23 ft | 70 mi |
| South Skunk River below Ioway Creek near AmesRiver gauge, South Skunk River | 13.04 ft | Below flood stage | −0.54 ft | 66 mi |
| South Skunk River at ColfaxRiver gauge, South Skunk River | 10.97 ft | Below flood stage | −0.40 ft | 38 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River near TracyRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 7.60 ft | Below flood stage | −0.57 ft | 12 mi |
| Des Moines River at EddyvilleRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 56.02 ft | Very high | −0.59 ft | 14 mi |
| Cedar Creek near BusseyRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | 5.13 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 16 mi |
| Des Moines River near PellaRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 16,800 cfs | High | −1,800.0 cfs | 17 mi |
| English Creek near KnoxvilleRiver gauge, English Creek | 8.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| North Skunk River near SigourneyRiver gauge, North Skunk River | 7.33 ft | Below flood stage | −0.20 ft | 24 mi |
| Des Moines River at OttumwaRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 7.21 ft | Below flood stage | −0.33 ft | 27 mi |
| Des Moines River near SwanRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 14,500 cfs | High | −2,500.0 cfs | 33 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the South Skunk River near Oskaloosa?
The official flood stage is 24.50 ft. The level is currently 10.22 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 South Skunk River near Oskaloosa today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 04:30 AM CDT, the water level was 14.28 ft. Down 0.77 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is South Skunk River near Oskaloosa rising or falling?
Down 0.77 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.27 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of South Skunk River near Oskaloosa normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at South Skunk River near Oskaloosa?
The highest level on record is 26.40 ft on August 16, 2010.
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:05471500(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.35570, -92.65736(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 | 14.28 ft | 2026-10-21 09:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 3,420 cfs | 2026-10-21 09:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: South Skunk River near Oskaloosa (usgs:05471500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/south-skunk-river-near-oskaloosa
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