River stage
Belle Plaine, Iowa River
- River level
- 12.00 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -4.33 ft
- Recent high
- 16.46 ft
- Recent low
- 6.35 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS BPLI4
- 30-day change
- +5.58 ft
- Average
- 10.19 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 19.86 ft
In brief
The Iowa River at Belle Plaine, IA read 12.00 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 1.00 ft below action stage. That is 5.58 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge BPLI4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.86 ft | 2008-06-13 |
| 2 | 19.11 ft | 2014-07-03 |
| 3 | 18.80 ft | 2013-05-30 |
| 4 | 18.74 ft | 1993-07-11 |
| 5 | 18.22 ft | 2019-03-15 |
| 6 | 18.20 ft | 2018-09-05 |
| 7 | 18.19 ft | 2019-03-16 |
| 8 | 17.98 ft | 2020-06-23 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
Water affects 380th Street in Tama County.
- 16.00 ft
Water affects lowest yards on the south side of Chelsea.
- 17.30 ft
Water begins running over Highway 21 south of Belle Plaine.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Iowa River flooding at Belle Plaine?
No. The Iowa River at Belle Plaine is at 12.0 ft, 1.0 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Belle Plaine?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 13 ft and minor flooding 15 ft.
What is the highest the Iowa River has been at Belle Plaine?
The highest crest on record is 19.86 ft, on 2008-06-13.
Is the Iowa River high or low right now at Belle Plaine?
At 12.0 ft it is higher than 70% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge BPLI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05452500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.