Mississippi River At St. Cloud flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Mississippi River At St. Cloud is flowing at 5,460 cfs with a gage height of 5.18 ft, holding steady over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #05270700, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Mississippi River At St. Cloud at a glance
How Mississippi River At St. Cloud is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Mississippi River At St. Cloud is flowing at 5,460 cfs, with the water sitting 5.18 ft at the gage. Flow has held roughly steady over the past 24 hours.
This is USGS gauge #05270700 in Minnesota. Over the past 10 days the average has been 4,788 cfs, peaking at 5,700 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Mississippi River At St. Cloud is expected to hold near today's 5460 cfs, toward roughly 5281 cfs by 2026-07-18 (likely range 2228-12520 cfs) -- running well below the seasonal normal.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Minnesota flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Mississippi River At St. Cloud
Cloud, MN streamgauge is a vital source of freshwater for the region. The river's flow is affected by the contributions of several tributaries, including the Sauk and Clearwater Rivers. Additionally, the Sartell Dam, located downstream of St. Cloud, can have an impact on river flow. Seasonally, the river experiences higher flows in the spring due to snowmelt and lower flows in the summer and fall. Quirky and interesting facts include the Mississippi River being the third-largest watershed in the world, and its headwaters are located in Itasca State Park, approximately 200 miles north of St. Cloud.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Mississippi River At St. Cloud's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,460 cfs |
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 426 cfs |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 5,070 cfs |
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 174 cfs |
| Crow River At Rockford | 1,330 cfs |
| Rum River Near St. Francis | 865 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Mississippi River At St. Cloud. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Collegeville St John | 0 in |
| Kimball 3n | 0 in |
| Melrose | 0 in |
| Fort Ripley 0.8 N | 0 in |
| Long Prairie | 0 in |
Plan a trip
Reservoirs, boat launches, river runs, and fishing spots within driving distance of Mississippi River At St. Cloud.
Boat launches
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River runs
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River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track Mississippi River At St. Cloud in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Mississippi River At St. Cloud crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Mississippi River At St. Cloud
Where does the streamflow data for Mississippi River At St. Cloud come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 05270700. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when Mississippi River At St. Cloud rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free Mississippi River At St. Cloud report
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