River stage
Houston, Root River
- River level
- 3.94 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.30 ft
- Recent high
- 15.36 ft
- Recent low
- 3.47 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS HOUM5
- 30-day change
- +0.47 ft
- Average
- 4.87 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 19.28 ft
In brief
The Root River at Houston, MN read 3.94 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 8.06 ft below action stage. That is 0.47 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge HOUM5
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.28 ft | 2019-03-15 |
| 2 | 18.32 ft | 1965-03-02 |
| 3 | 18.15 ft | 2007-08-19 |
| 4 | 17.59 ft | 2000-06-02 |
| 5 | 17.01 ft | 2016-09-24 |
| 6 | 16.57 ft | 2024-06-24 |
| 7 | 16.56 ft | 1950-03-27 |
| 8 | 16.56 ft | 2004-09-17 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 15.00 ft
Minor lowland flooding occurs.
- 20.00 ft
The water may overtop the protective levee.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Root River flooding at Houston?
No. The Root River at Houston is at 3.94 ft, 8.06 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Houston?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 12 ft, minor flooding 15 ft, moderate flooding 17 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the Root River has been at Houston?
The highest crest on record is 19.28 ft, on 2019-03-15.
Is the Root River high or low right now at Houston?
At 3.94 ft it is higher than 41% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge HOUM5); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05385000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.