Mississippi River Stages Rise in Iowa Near Quad Cities Amid Heavy Rainfall
What happened
The Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt, Iowa, is currently at major flood stage, measured at 13.11 feet. This stage is 1.2 feet below the river’s record flood stage of 14.3 feet, which was set in July 2014. The Mississippi River stage at Lock and Dam 15 was 11.36 feet as of noon on Tuesday, having risen from 4.18 feet on September 7. The river was projected to reach 12 feet by Wednesday morning.
From kwqc.com
Why it matters
The high river stages are being driven by tropical moisture from the Gulf combined with an uptick in storm frequency. Widespread rainfall totals have ranged from 3 to more than 6 inches across the area, leading to impacts on roads, homes, and businesses in the region.
From kwqc.com
Who's involved
- Mississippi RiverMajor river system whose operational status affects the Quad Cities region.
- IowaState of Iowa where the river stages are being monitored.
- Quad CitiesRegion whose viability relies on the operational status of the Mississippi River.
- DavenportCity whose development contributes to the identity of the Quad Cities area.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Deere & CompanySpeculative
Deere & Company could face supply chain disruptions due to localized flooding in the Quad Cities region.
- Missouri Department of TransportationSpeculative
Missouri Department of Transportation might experience increased operational difficulty and costs due to high water levels.
Keep exploring
The entities involved
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Mississippi River
primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States
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Iowa
state of the United States of America
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Quad Cities
region of five cities in the US states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport and Bettendorf in SE Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in NW Illinois
Nothing else this week.
Related events
- The National Weather Service issued a general weather report for Iowa.
- River flooding caused damage in North Sioux City, which is located in South Dakota, while the river also flows through Iowa.
- NWS reported heavy rainfall totals in the Quad Cities region of Illinois on September 21, 2026.
- The Illinois River joins the Mississippi River system, with the Missouri River providing significant flow and Moline hosting a Corn Belt Ports meeting.
- Monitors the river basin for severe weather threats.