River stage
Palo, Cedar River
- River level
- 6.37 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -4.22 ft
- Recent high
- 11.51 ft
- Recent low
- 3.27 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS PLOI4
- 30-day change
- +3.03 ft
- Average
- 6.43 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 23.22 ft
In brief
The Cedar River at Palo, IA read 6.37 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 4.63 ft below action stage. That is 3.03 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge PLOI4
Water 66 °F (19 °C) · 10 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23.22 ft | 2008-06-13 |
| 2 | 18.07 ft | 2016-09-27 |
| 3 | 15.67 ft | 2013-06-01 |
| 4 | 15.30 ft | 2019-03-19 |
| 5 | 15.00 ft | 2014-06-24 |
| 6 | 14.18 ft | 2010-03-17 |
| 7 | 13.86 ft | 2020-06-25 |
| 8 | 13.56 ft | 2024-06-28 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 12.50 ft
The Chain Lakes area is affected by flood waters.
- 13.00 ft
Portions of Linn Drive in Palo are affected by flood waters.
- 13.50 ft
Chain Bridge Road accessing the boat ramp is closed.
- 14.00 ft
Dry Creek begins to back up into the City of Palo due to high water on the Cedar River.
- 14.30 ft
The boat ramp just west of the Blairs Ferry Road bridge is closed.
- 15.00 ft
The walking bridge from East Main Street to 1st Street in Palo is impacted by flood waters. Trails along the river are under water.
- 15.50 ft
Water reaches residences along Dry Creek in Palo.
- 16.50 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge deck on Blairs Ferry Road.
- 17.00 ft
Residences across the eastern part of the city of Palo are affected by flood waters.
- 17.80 ft
Water reaches Blairs Ferry Road east of 1st Street in Palo.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cedar River flooding at Palo?
No. The Cedar River at Palo is at 6.37 ft, 4.63 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Palo?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 11 ft, minor flooding 12.5 ft, moderate flooding 15.5 ft and major flooding 17 ft.
What is the highest the Cedar River has been at Palo?
The highest crest on record is 23.22 ft, on 2008-06-13.
Is the Cedar River high or low right now at Palo?
At 6.37 ft it is higher than 54% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Palo, Cedar River?
The water temperature at Palo, Cedar River is 66 °F (19.0 °C), measured 5:45 pm by USGS, which is 10 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge PLOI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05464420). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.