River stage
Bluffton, Upper Iowa River
- River level
- 3.71 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.21 ft
- Recent high
- 11.40 ft
- Recent low
- 3.24 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS BLFI4
- 30-day change
- +0.47 ft
- Average
- 4.21 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 15.49 ft
In brief
The Upper Iowa River at Bluffton, IA read 3.71 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 6.29 ft below action stage. That is 0.47 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge BLFI4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.49 ft | 2008-06-09 |
| 2 | 14.41 ft | 2016-08-24 |
| 3 | 14.11 ft | 2018-06-10 |
| 4 | 13.56 ft | 2013-06-23 |
| 5 | 13.14 ft | 2024-06-24 |
| 6 | 12.66 ft | 2007-08-22 |
| 7 | 12.56 ft | 2026-07-10 |
| 8 | 12.55 ft | 2021-08-29 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 10.00 ft
Low-lying areas near the river in Bluffton begin to inundate as water leaves the riverbanks.
- 12.00 ft
River is significantly outside of its banks impacting both Bluffton Canoe Landings. Campgrounds along the river in Bluffton are underwater.
- 14.00 ft
Severe property damage is occurring in Bluffton at this level. Water goes over 244th Avenue near Bluffton's Lower Access Canoe Landing.
- 16.00 ft
Water is higher than the flood of record in 2008. Nearly the entire valley in the Bluffton Area is under water.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Upper Iowa River flooding at Bluffton?
No. The Upper Iowa River at Bluffton is at 3.71 ft, 6.29 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Bluffton?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 10 ft, minor flooding 12 ft, moderate flooding 13 ft and major flooding 15 ft.
What is the highest the Upper Iowa River has been at Bluffton?
The highest crest on record is 15.49 ft, on 2008-06-09.
Is the Upper Iowa River high or low right now at Bluffton?
At 3.71 ft it is higher than 46% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge BLFI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05387440). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.