River stage
Wapello, Iowa River
- River level
- 18.18 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -3.32 ft
- Recent high
- 23.70 ft
- Recent low
- 12.32 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS WAPI4
- 30-day change
- +5.45 ft
- Average
- 16.81 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 32.15 ft
In brief
The Iowa River at Wapello, IA read 18.18 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 0.32 ft below action stage. That is 5.45 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge WAPI4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32.15 ft | 2008-06-14 |
| 2 | 30.18 ft | 2014-07-03 |
| 3 | 29.53 ft | 1993-07-07 |
| 4 | 28.91 ft | 1990-06-19 |
| 5 | 28.63 ft | 1973-04-22 |
| 6 | 28.15 ft | 2013-04-20 |
| 7 | 28.12 ft | 1974-05-19 |
| 8 | 28.10 ft | 1993-07-08 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
Low lying areas begin taking on water.
- 21.00 ft
Agricultural land near the river is flooded and water covers most islands. Water starts rising onto secondary roads in Wapello Bottoms.
- 22.00 ft
Water affects residences near the U.S. Highway 61 bridge.
- 25.00 ft
Widespread flooding of agricultural land. Numerous secondary roads are under water.
- 27.50 ft
Water affects U.S. Highway 61 north of Wapello.
- 32.00 ft
Water affects unprotected areas of Wapello.
- 38.00 ft
Water is at the bottom of the Iowa Highway 99 bridge at Wapello.
- 41.00 ft
Water is at the bottom of the U.S. Highway 61 bridge.
- 42.00 ft
Water overtops the Wapello levee system which extends 3.5 to 5.0 mi downstream from the city.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Iowa River flooding at Wapello?
No. The Iowa River at Wapello is at 18.18 ft, 0.32 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Wapello?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 18.5 ft, minor flooding 21 ft, moderate flooding 25 ft and major flooding 27.5 ft.
What is the highest the Iowa River has been at Wapello?
The highest crest on record is 32.15 ft, on 2008-06-14.
Is the Iowa River high or low right now at Wapello?
At 18.18 ft it is higher than 61% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge WAPI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05465500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.