Rathbun Lake water level · IA
Wind forecast, gusts, and gage height for small-craft sailing at Rathbun Lake (Rathbun Lake Near Rathbun).
Gage height recorded at USGS gauge 06903880, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.
906.26ft
recorded Nov 4, 6:45 AM
+0.43ft
rising
+0.58ft
rising
905.68–906.26ft
lowest to highest
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft) | Δ day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4● | 906.26 | ↑ 0.34 |
| Nov 3 | 905.92 | ↑ 0.15 |
| Nov 2 | 905.77 | 0 |
| Nov 1 | 905.77 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 31 | 905.76 | ↑ 0.05 |
| Oct 30 | 905.71 | ↑ 0.03 |
| Oct 29 | 905.68 | 0 |
| Oct 28 | 905.68 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 27 | 905.70 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 26 | 905.72 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 25 | 905.73 | 0 |
| Oct 24 | 905.73 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 23 | 905.74 | ↓ 0.05 |
| Oct 22 | 905.79 | — |
Readings fetched Nov 4, 7:12 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.
Rathbun Lake water level questions
- What is the water level at Rathbun Lake today?
- 906.26 ft, recorded Nov 4, 6:45 AM at USGS gauge 06903880. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
- Is Rathbun Lake rising or falling?
- rising — 0.58 ft over the last 7 days.
- How does this compare to normal for Rathbun Lake?
- Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 905.68 ft to 906.26 ft; today's reading sits near the top of that range.
- Where does the water level data for Rathbun Lake come from?
- USGS gauge 06903880 (Rathbun Lake Near Rathbun), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
- What is the water temperature at Rathbun Lake?
- This gauge has no live water-temperature sensor — the fishing tab shows a seasonal estimate based on air temperature.
Gage height history
Gage height · USGS gauge 06903880
Reading the chart. This gauge reports gage height — the depth of water above the sensor reference point, not absolute elevation. Trends matter more than the absolute number: a falling trend means shrinking launch depth.
Water levels respond to dam operations, irrigation drawdown, snowmelt, and recent rainfall. For launch decisions, combine the trend here with the wind forecast — low water plus strong wind makes steep, tired ramps.
About this lake
- Location
- 40.8235°, -92.8944°
- USGS gauge
- 06903880
- Water temp sensor
- Yes
Water level data comes from the USGS gauge above; wind is modeled for the lake’s coordinates by Open-Meteo. Always confirm conditions locally before launching — shorelines, ramps, and trees can all change what you feel on the water. Midwest lakes are dominated by pre-frontal south winds that build through the day, then swing northwest sharply behind a cold front — the shift can arrive in minutes and double the gusts, especially on east–west basins.
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