River stage
St. Joseph, Missouri River
- River level
- 7.87 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -2.66 ft
- Recent high
- 20.09 ft
- Recent low
- 5.38 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS SJSM7
- 30-day change
- +1.26 ft
- Average
- 7.73 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 32.07 ft
In brief
The Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO read 7.87 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 6.13 ft below action stage. That is 1.26 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge SJSM7
Water 70 °F (21 °C) · 9 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32.07 ft | 2019-03-22 |
| 2 | 32.07 ft | 1993-07-26 |
| 3 | 29.97 ft | 2011-06-28 |
| 4 | 27.20 ft | 1881-04-29 |
| 5 | 26.82 ft | 1952-04-22 |
| 6 | 26.17 ft | 2010-06-25 |
| 7 | 25.78 ft | 1979-03-03 |
| 8 | 25.63 ft | 1973-10-13 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 17.00 ft
Lowland flooding upstream and downstream from St. Joseph occurs.
- 19.00 ft
Backwater from the Missouri River floods property along the Nodaway river at Nodaway, Missouri.
- 21.00 ft
Riverfront Park in St. Joseph begins to flood.
- 24.00 ft
A residential area in northwest St. Joseph begins to flood.
- 30.00 ft
St. Joseph public works building on 3rd Street floods.
- 31.50 ft
The levee system will likely be overtopped, causing flooding in the town of Elwood and the eastern edge of Wathena.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Missouri River flooding at St. Joseph?
No. The Missouri River at St. Joseph is at 7.87 ft, 6.13 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at St. Joseph?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 14 ft, minor flooding 17 ft, moderate flooding 21 ft and major flooding 27 ft.
What is the highest the Missouri River has been at St. Joseph?
The highest crest on record is 32.07 ft, on 2019-03-22.
Is the Missouri River high or low right now at St. Joseph?
At 7.87 ft it is higher than 63% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at St. Joseph, Missouri River?
The water temperature at St. Joseph, Missouri River is 70 °F (20.9 °C), measured 7:00 pm by USGS, which is 9 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has held steady over the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge SJSM7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06818000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.