River stage
Aitkin, Mississippi River
- River level
- 2.26 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.47 ft
- Recent high
- 5.79 ft
- Recent low
- 1.26 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS ATKM5
- 30-day change
- +0.51 ft
- Average
- 2.30 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 22.49 ft
In brief
The Mississippi River at Aitkin, MN read 2.26 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 9.74 ft below action stage. That is 0.51 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge ATKM5
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.49 ft | 1950-05-20 |
| 2 | 19.50 ft | 1905-07-06 |
| 3 | 19.30 ft | 1916-04-29 |
| 4 | 18.80 ft | 1944-06-09 |
| 5 | 18.77 ft | 1948-04-27 |
| 6 | 18.70 ft | 1938-05-12 |
| 7 | 18.61 ft | 2012-06-28 |
| 8 | 18.20 ft | 1908-06-15 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
The boat ramp at Aitkin city park floods. A few driveways become covered with water in the Cedarbrook area. Minor flooding of farmland occurs in the Cedarbrook community.
- 15.00 ft
A few homes become surrounded by water in the Cedarbrook neighborhood near Eagle Rd. The Aitkin city park becomes flooded.
- 17.00 ft
Pumping begins at the wastewater treatment plant. Sandbagging begins at Aitkin city transformer. Water tops the levees on the North side of Aitkin.
- 18.00 ft
The Aitkin sewage plant becomes inoperative.
- 19.00 ft
The transformer station needs emergency protection.
- 20.50 ft
Portions of Highway 169 northeast of Aitkin become impassable.
- 21.00 ft
The power plant at Aitkin needs emergency protection.
- 23.50 ft
The power and water plants in Aitkin become inoperative.
- 25.00 ft
The transformer station becomes inoperable.
- 26.00 ft
The BNSF Railroad track becomes impassable.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mississippi River flooding at Aitkin?
No. The Mississippi River at Aitkin is at 2.26 ft, 9.74 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Aitkin?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 12 ft, minor flooding 13 ft, moderate flooding 15 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the Mississippi River has been at Aitkin?
The highest crest on record is 22.49 ft, on 1950-05-20.
Is the Mississippi River high or low right now at Aitkin?
At 2.26 ft it is higher than 57% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge ATKM5); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05227500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.