Des Moines River at Estherville, IA
USGS 05476500 · Iowa · reports gauge height
Reading Des Moines River at Estherville, IA…
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USGS 05476500 · Iowa · reports gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
No flow here now. USGS stopped publishing discharge at this gauge on Feb 22, 2011; it still reports what is shown. Flow on the same river: DES MOINES RIVER AT JACKSON, MN (USGS 05476000, 16.8 miles away).
Gauge height, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT to Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST; ranging 2.36 to 3.05 ft; latest 2.98 ft.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST | 2.98 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 PM CST | 2.98 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 PM CST | 3 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST | 2.98 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST | 2.99 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST | 2.99 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST | 3.01 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST | 3.01 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM CST | 3.02 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM CST | 3.02 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM CST | 3.02 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM CST | 3.02 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM CST | 3.01 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM CST | 3.01 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM CST | 3.05 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM CST | 3.04 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM CST | 3.04 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM CST | 3.03 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM CST | 3.03 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM CST | 3.02 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM CST | 3.02 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM CST | 3.01 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST | 3 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST | 2.99 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST | 2.98 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST | 2.98 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM CST | 2.97 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM CST | 2.96 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM CST | 2.95 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM CST | 2.93 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM CST | 2.94 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM CST | 2.91 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM CST | 2.9 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM CST | 2.89 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM CST | 2.88 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM CST | 2.86 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM CST | 2.85 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM CST | 2.83 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM CST | 2.81 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM CST | 2.79 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM CST | 2.77 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM CST | 2.74 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM CST | 2.74 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM CST | 2.72 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM CST | 2.69 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM CST | 2.67 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM CST | 2.66 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM CST | 2.64 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM CST | 2.65 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM CST | 2.65 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM CST | 2.63 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM CST | 2.63 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM CST | 2.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM CST | 2.63 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM CST | 2.59 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM CST | 2.68 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM CST | 2.54 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM CST | 2.55 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM CST | 2.54 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM CST | 2.54 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM CST | 2.55 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM CST | 2.53 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM CST | 2.55 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM CST | 2.58 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM CST | 2.58 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM CST | 2.54 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM CST | 2.55 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM CST | 2.54 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM CST | 2.58 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM CST | 2.57 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM CST | 2.55 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM CST | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM CDT | 2.56 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM CDT | 2.53 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM CDT | 2.5 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM CDT | 2.52 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM CDT | 2.53 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM CDT | 2.52 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM CDT | 2.51 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM CDT | 2.49 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM CDT | 2.48 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM CDT | 2.45 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM CDT | 2.45 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM CDT | 2.45 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM CDT | 2.41 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM CDT | 2.45 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM CDT | 2.39 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM CDT | 2.42 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM CDT | 2.43 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM CDT | 2.39 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM CDT | 2.38 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM CDT | 2.42 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM CDT | 2.38 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM CDT | 2.41 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM CDT | 2.43 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM CDT | 2.38 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM CDT | 2.36 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM CDT | 2.36 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM CDT | 2.38 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM CDT | 2.36 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM CDT | 2.39 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM CDT | 2.39 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM CDT | 2.37 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM CDT | 2.36 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM CDT | 2.36 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM CDT | 2.38 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM CDT | 2.41 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM CDT | 2.4 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM CDT | 2.42 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM CDT | 2.42 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT | 2.38 |
USGS keeps no flow statistics at this gauge, so there is no normal range for flow; the chart shows gauge height as USGS publishes it.
Map of USGS gauge 05476500 and the river around it
Where Des Moines River at Estherville, IA sits, with 2 other gauges on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Iowa DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Iowa rule, with Iowa DNR's own figure added: 68°F and 75°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: .
Steady over 24 hours (gauge height +0.00 ft). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 2.98 ft stage, 269 ft³/s at Nov 5, 7:45 PM CST (NWS gauge ESVI4; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 8:33 PM CST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.