River stage
Decorah, Upper Iowa River
- River level
- 2.20 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.21 ft
- Recent high
- 7.75 ft
- Recent low
- 1.72 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS DEHI4
- 30-day change
- +0.48 ft
- Average
- 2.54 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 17.90 ft
In brief
The Upper Iowa River at Decorah, IA read 2.20 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 6.80 ft below action stage. That is 0.48 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge DEHI4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.90 ft | 2008-06-09 |
| 2 | 14.35 ft | 1993-08-17 |
| 3 | 13.68 ft | 2016-08-24 |
| 4 | 13.08 ft | 1961-03-27 |
| 5 | 12.31 ft | 2000-06-01 |
| 6 | 11.87 ft | 2018-06-10 |
| 7 | 11.67 ft | 2013-06-23 |
| 8 | 11.35 ft | 1969-06-30 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 9.00 ft
Agricultural flooding occurs outside of the town of Decorah.
- 10.00 ft
City begins to set up pumping operations in high risk areas across town.
- 12.00 ft
Residential areas are threatened on the west edge of Decorah just before the levee protecting the town begins. City begins to initiate sandbagging operations. Luther College Dike Road is closed.
- 13.00 ft
Residential flooding on the west side of town is possible. Street and storm sewer flooding on the east side of town south of the levee can cause basement flooding if flood stage is exceeded for an extended period of time.
- 14.00 ft
Major flooding may occur outside the areas protected by the levee. Ice Cave Road is closed.
- 14.50 ft
Northern road to Freeport is closed.
- 15.00 ft
Sandbagging operations begin in Freeport. Pulpit Rock Campground are evacuated. Homes along Valley View Drive south are evacuated. Homes along Riverview Drive north of 5th Street are threatened.
- 16.00 ft
Valley View Drive is closed.
- 16.50 ft
Pole Line Road is closed as well as Highway 52 at Pole Line Road. Downstream community of Freeport begins evacuating.
- 17.00 ft
Exterior lanes along College Drive Bridge are closed. Homes along Riverview Drive north of 5th Street begin to inundate.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Upper Iowa River flooding at Decorah?
No. The Upper Iowa River at Decorah is at 2.2 ft, 6.8 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Decorah?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 9 ft, minor flooding 12 ft, moderate flooding 13 ft and major flooding 14 ft.
What is the highest the Upper Iowa River has been at Decorah?
The highest crest on record is 17.9 ft, on 2008-06-09.
Is the Upper Iowa River high or low right now at Decorah?
At 2.2 ft it is higher than 45% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge DEHI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05387500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.