Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Black Hawk Lake

Lake levels

Storm Lake, IA

gauge height
13.43 ft
Condition
Below average for this time of year
7-day change
+0.02 ft
30-day change
+0.18 ft
1-year change
+0.08 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey

Since yesterday
-0.01 ft
7-day change
+0.02 ft
30-day change
+0.18 ft
1-year change
+0.08 ft
Record high
15.15 ft

In brief

Storm Lake's gauge read 13.43 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 72% of October readings since 1970.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Gauge height above a local reference point; not elevation above sea level.

Lake level timeline

12.713.013.413.714.0SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 13.46LOW 13.2413.43 ft

Records and averages

Current level13.43 ft
Record high15.15 ft (1975-04-29)
Record low6.00 ft (1970-10-02)
Average of all readings13.11 ft
Data span56 years (1,640 readings)

Level schematic

5.68.110.613.015.5PUBLISHED HIGH 15.15 ft13.43 ftPUBLISHED LOW 6.00 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Storm Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Storm Lake sits at 13.43 ft, which is below average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.18 ft.

What is the water level at Storm Lake today?

The most recent reading at Storm Lake is 13.43 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Storm Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Storm Lake in our records is 15.15 ft on 1975-04-29. The lowest is 6.00 ft on 1970-10-02. Our record covers about 56 years of readings.

Is Storm Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 28% of them, which we classify as below average for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.

Why is Storm Lake changing right now?

Reservoir levels move for four main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Storm Lake has risen 0.18 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Storm Lake changed over the past year?

Storm Lake is +0.08 ft compared with this date last year (13.43 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 56 years, with a record high of 15.15 ft and a record low of 6.00 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Storm Lake's gauge read 13.43 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 72% of October readings since 1970.

From the U.S. Geological Survey, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

storm-lake-ia-water-level-history.csv

1,640 readings, Apr 24, 1970 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily from 1972, less frequent before. The longest gap since then is 18467 days, from Sep 29, 1975. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 29 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Storm Lake water level, 1970 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/ia/storm-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All Iowa lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.