River stage
Dorchester, Upper Iowa River
- River level
- 7.62 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.30 ft
- Recent high
- 12.65 ft
- Recent low
- 6.99 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS DCHI4
- 30-day change
- +0.63 ft
- Average
- 8.00 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 24.30 ft
In brief
The Upper Iowa River at Dorchester, IA read 7.62 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.38 ft below action stage. That is 0.63 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge DCHI4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.30 ft | 2016-08-25 |
| 2 | 22.46 ft | 2008-06-09 |
| 3 | 22.20 ft | 1948-02-28 |
| 4 | 21.80 ft | 1941-05-30 |
| 5 | 20.89 ft | 1937-03-05 |
| 6 | 20.02 ft | 2013-06-23 |
| 7 | 20.00 ft | 1993-08-17 |
| 8 | 19.34 ft | 1950-03-07 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 14.00 ft
Lowland agricultural areas begin to flood.
- 15.00 ft
Significant agricultural flooding begins.
- 22.00 ft
Iowa Highway 76 south of Dorchester may be threatened by flood waters.
- 24.00 ft
Iowa Highway 76 is overtopped just north of the gage site.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Upper Iowa River flooding at Dorchester?
No. The Upper Iowa River at Dorchester is at 7.62 ft, 3.38 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Dorchester?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 11 ft, minor flooding 14 ft, moderate flooding 17 ft and major flooding 19 ft.
What is the highest the Upper Iowa River has been at Dorchester?
The highest crest on record is 24.3 ft, on 2016-08-25.
Is the Upper Iowa River high or low right now at Dorchester?
At 7.62 ft it is higher than 47% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge DCHI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05388250). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.