North Dakota River Levels & Streamflow
As of Sep 26, 2026, North Dakota rivers are running at 71% of normal across 86 USGS gauges — the highest is 13,500 cfs on the Missouri River At Bismarck. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in North Dakota.
North Dakota river map
See North Dakota’s rivers on a live map
Every gauge, river and reservoir, one tap each:
- Rivers now — which are running high or low
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North Dakota river conditions today
Where rivers are running versus normal, what’s spiking and what’s coming — refreshed daily from USGS and NOAA.
Streamflow levels across North Dakota are currently 71% of normal, with the Missouri River At Bismarck reporting the highest discharge in the state at 13,500 cfs and a gauge stage of 3.87 ft.
Meanwhile, the Souris River Nr Foxholm is seeing a spike today — up 114% since yesterday and currently running near peak.
Tap any gauge below for the full hydrograph, paired weather forecast, and historical context. Use the rivers panel to jump into North Dakota's named rivers.
How North Dakota’s rivers compare to normal
Every gauge placed by its own percent of normal, and three years of the statewide trend.
Where every gauge actually sits
One dot per North Dakota streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The state average is a single line through all of it.
Percent of normal compares today's discharge with the historical average for this calendar day. Tap any dot to open that gauge.
North Dakota streamflow, three water years
Statewide percent of normal, every day since Sep 2023. The dotted line is normal.
799 daily readings from 79 reporting gauges. Percent of normal is today's statewide discharge against the historical average for the same calendar day — 100% is normal, not "good". The line breaks in 2 places where the record skips more than five days — those are gaps in reporting, not readings of zero.
North Dakota flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri River At Bismarck, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06342500 |
13,500 cfs | 3.87 ft | 62°F | 52°F | 1,623 ft | Painted Woods-Square Butte |
|
Red River Of The North At Grand Forks, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05082500 |
1,420 cfs | 15.89 ft | 62°F | 62°F | 798 ft | Sandhill-Wilson |
|
Red River Of The North At Drayton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05092000 |
1,330 cfs | 11.93 ft | · | 62°F | 768 ft | Lower Red |
|
Red River Of The North Near Thompson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05070000 |
815 cfs | 16.41 ft | · | 58°F | 804 ft | Sandhill-Wilson |
|
Red River Of The North At Halstad, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05064500 |
519 cfs | 3.31 ft | 62°F | 58°F | 838 ft | Elm-Marsh |
|
Souris River Nr Westhope, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05124000 |
396 cfs | 7.93 ft | · | 53°F | 1,410 ft | Lower Souris |
|
Red River Of The North At Wahpeton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05051500 |
325 cfs | 4.13 ft | · | 58°F | 952 ft | Bois De Sioux |
|
Red River Of The North At Hickson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05051522 |
323 cfs | 10.27 ft | 62°F | 58°F | 894 ft | Upper Red |
|
Red River Of The North At Fargo, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05054000 |
294 cfs | 14.09 ft | 64°F | 59°F | 878 ft | Upper Red |
|
Souris River Above Minot, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05117500 |
256 cfs | 5.28 ft | 50°F | 52°F | 1,564 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Souris River Nr Verendrye, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05120000 |
255 cfs | 4.63 ft | · | 48°F | 1,479 ft | Lower Souris |
|
Souris River Nr Bantry, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05122000 |
254 cfs | 4.50 ft | · | 52°F | 1,434 ft | Lower Souris |
|
Souris River Nr Foxholm, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05116000 |
220 cfs | 7.21 ft | · | 52°F | 1,572 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Souris River Nr Sherwood, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05114000 |
173 cfs | 4.39 ft | 35°F | 53°F | 1,615 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Pembina River At Neche, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05100000 |
169 cfs | 2.74 ft | · | 56°F | 833 ft | Pembina |
|
Pembina River At Walhalla, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05099600 |
149 cfs | 1.71 ft | · | 52°F | 937 ft | Pembina |
|
Sheyenne River At West Fargo, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059500 |
141 cfs | 5.30 ft | · | 61°F | 900 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Sheyenne R Ab Sheyenne R Diversion Nr Horace, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059300 |
127 cfs | 12.67 ft | 61°F | 61°F | 903 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Sheyenne River Near Kindred, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059000 |
120 cfs | 2.87 ft | · | 58°F | 931 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Willow Creek Nr Willow City, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05123400 |
106 cfs | 6.56 ft | · | 52°F | 1,434 ft | Willow |
|
Sheyenne River At Lisbon, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05058700 |
78 cfs | 2.71 ft | · | 59°F | 1,068 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Heart River Nr Mandan, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06349000 |
75 cfs | 9.34 ft | 43°F | 51°F | 1,649 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Heart River At Stark Bridge Nr Judson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06348300 |
60 cfs | 2.20 ft | 32°F | 47°F | 1,731 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Sheyenne River Nr Cooperstown, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05057000 |
50 cfs | 9.90 ft | 60°F | 63°F | 1,288 ft | Middle Sheyenne |
|
Pipestem Creek Nr Pingree, Nd
5 days ago · USGS 06469400 |
46 cfs | 5.52 ft | · | 53°F | 1,509 ft | Pipestem |
|
James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal, Nd
5 days ago · USGS 06468250 |
42 cfs | 1.84 ft | · | 53°F | 1,442 ft | James Headwaters |
|
James River At Lamoure, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06470500 |
41 cfs | 7.08 ft | 62°F | 61°F | 1,303 ft | Upper James |
|
Little Coulee Nr Leeds, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056340 |
40 cfs | 65.57 ft | · | 46°F | 1,488 ft | Devils Lake |
|
James River At Jamestown, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06470000 |
37 cfs | 3.25 ft | 32°F | 53°F | 1,382 ft | Upper James |
|
Forest River At Minto, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05085000 |
34 cfs | 1.45 ft | · | 62°F | 812 ft | Forest |
|
Forest River Nr Fordville, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05084000 |
27 cfs | 1.58 ft | · | 62°F | 1,042 ft | Forest |
|
Knife River At Hazen, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06340500 |
24 cfs | · | · | 45°F | 1,724 ft | Knife |
|
Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05058000 |
23 cfs | 23.29 ft | 64°F | 61°F | 1,223 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Long Creek Nr Noonan, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05113600 |
22 cfs | 3.35 ft | · | 55°F | 1,858 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Sheyenne River Nr Warwick, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056000 |
20 cfs | 2.27 ft | · | 59°F | 1,385 ft | Middle Sheyenne |
|
Beaver Creek Bl Linton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06354580 |
19 cfs | 4.49 ft | · | 55°F | 1,697 ft | Beaver |
|
Little Missouri River At Marmarth, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06335500 |
15 cfs | · | · | 51°F | 2,691 ft | Middle Little Missouri |
|
Heart River Nr Richardton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06345500 |
13 cfs | 3.89 ft | · | 49°F | 2,180 ft | Upper Heart |
|
Apple Creek Nr Menoken, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06349500 |
12 cfs | 4.71 ft | · | 52°F | 1,657 ft | Apple |
|
Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson, Nd
4 days ago · USGS 06348500 |
12 cfs | 2.17 ft | · | 46°F | 1,903 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06471200 |
12 cfs | 1.99 ft | · | 61°F | 1,371 ft | Elm |
|
Spring Creek At Zap, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06340000 |
11 cfs | 4.78 ft | · | 48°F | 1,827 ft | Knife |
|
Cannonball River At Breien, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06354000 |
11 cfs | 1.76 ft | · | 48°F | 1,687 ft | Lower Cannonball |
|
Edmore Coulee Trib Nr Webster, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056215 |
10 cfs | 66.89 ft | · | 48°F | 1,467 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Goose River At Hillsboro, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05066500 |
9 cfs | 1.72 ft | · | 61°F | 887 ft | Goose |
|
Little Missouri River Nr Watford City, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06337000 |
7 cfs | 6.89 ft | · | 52°F | 1,934 ft | Lower Little Missouri |
|
Turtle River At Turtle R State Park Nr Arvilla, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05082625 |
7 cfs | · | · | 61°F | 963 ft | Turtle |
|
Park River At Grafton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05090000 |
6 cfs | 7.17 ft | · | 62°F | 822 ft | Park |
|
Little Muddy River Bl Cow Creek Nr Williston, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06331000 |
6 cfs | 4.64 ft | 52°F | 54°F | 1,874 ft | Little Muddy |
|
Little Missouri River At Medora, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06336000 |
6 cfs | 1.01 ft | 38°F | 50°F | 2,253 ft | Middle Little Missouri |
|
Knife River Nr Golden Valley, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06339500 |
5 cfs | 3.88 ft | · | 48°F | 1,854 ft | Knife |
|
Edmore Coulee Nr Edmore, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056200 |
4 cfs | 79.75 ft | · | 48°F | 1,486 ft | Devils Lake |
|
White Earth River At White Earth, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06332000 |
4 cfs | · | · | 50°F | 2,078 ft | Lake Sakakawea |
|
Maple River Bl Mapleton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05060100 |
4 cfs | 8.22 ft | · | 58°F | 896 ft | Maple |
|
Wild Rice River Nr Abercrombie, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05053000 |
4 cfs | 9.92 ft | · | 58°F | 923 ft | Western Wild Rice |
|
Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05057200 |
4 cfs | 6.16 ft | 41°F | 58°F | 1,322 ft | Middle Sheyenne |
|
Maple River Nr Enderlin, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059700 |
4 cfs | 1.67 ft | · | 59°F | 1,061 ft | Maple |
|
Sheyenne River Diversion At West Fargo, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059480 |
3 cfs | 7.09 ft | · | 61°F | 905 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Cannonball River At Regent, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06350000 |
3 cfs | 4.69 ft | · | 46°F | 2,436 ft | Upper Cannonball |
|
Starkweather Coulee Nr Webster, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056239 |
3 cfs | 2.27 ft | · | 45°F | 1,454 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Big Muddy Creek Near Almont, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06347500 |
3 cfs | 1.24 ft | · | 45°F | 1,867 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Heart River Nr South Heart, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06343000 |
2 cfs | 2.93 ft | · | 49°F | 2,452 ft | Upper Heart |
|
Cedar Creek Nr Haynes, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06352000 |
2 cfs | 4.05 ft | · | 46°F | 2,480 ft | Cedar |
|
Little South Pembina River Nr Walhalla, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05099400 |
2 cfs | · | · | 52°F | 1,105 ft | Pembina |
|
Square Butte Creek Below Center, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06342260 |
1 cfs | 1.07 ft | · | 50°F | 1,865 ft | Painted Woods-Square Butte |
|
Hay Creek At Main Avenue In Bismarck, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06349600 |
1 cfs | 5.31 ft | · | 52°F | 1,657 ft | Apple |
|
Cannonball River Nr Raleigh, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06351200 |
1 cfs | 1.60 ft | · | 46°F | 1,863 ft | Upper Cannonball |
|
Antelope Creek Nr Carson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06347000 |
1 cfs | 4.49 ft | · | 43°F | 1,970 ft | Lower Heart |
|
James River Nr Grace City, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06468170 |
1 cfs | 3.92 ft | · | 56°F | 1,464 ft | James Headwaters |
|
Cedar Creek Nr Raleigh, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06353000 |
1 cfs | · | · | 47°F | 1,884 ft | Cedar |
|
Mauvais Coulee Nr Cando, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056100 |
0 cfs | 35.06 ft | · | 47°F | 1,452 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Mauvais Coulee Trib No. 3 Nr Cando, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056060 |
0 cfs | 2.18 ft | · | 48°F | 1,466 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Bear Creek Nr Oakes, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06470800 |
0 cfs | 5.35 ft | · | 59°F | 1,298 ft | Upper James |
|
Knife River At Manning, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06339100 |
0 cfs | 5.74 ft | · | 51°F | 2,168 ft | Knife |
|
Bear Den Creek Nr Mandaree, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06332515 |
0 cfs | 6.20 ft | · | 47°F | 1,954 ft | Lake Sakakawea |
|
Tongue River At Akra, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05101000 |
0 cfs | 6.32 ft | · | 56°F | 974 ft | Pembina |
|
Deep River Nr Upham, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05123510 |
0 cfs | 6.11 ft | · | 52°F | 1,439 ft | Deep |
|
Deep Creek Nr Amidon, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06335750 |
0 cfs | 11.34 ft | · | 49°F | 2,469 ft | Middle Little Missouri |
|
Beaver Creek Nr Trotters, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06336600 |
0 cfs | 1.23 ft | · | 51°F | 2,383 ft | Beaver |
|
Wild Rice River Nr Rutland, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05051600 |
0 cfs | · | · | 59°F | 1,203 ft | Western Wild Rice |
|
Antelope Creek At Dwight, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05052500 |
0 cfs | 21.03 ft | · | 58°F | 930 ft | Western Wild Rice |
|
Goose River Near Portland, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05065500 |
0 cfs | 9.01 ft | · | 61°F | 987 ft | Goose |
|
Rush River At Amenia, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05060500 |
0 cfs | 9.38 ft | · | 61°F | 948 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Deepwater Creek At Mouth Nr Raub, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06332770 |
0 cfs | 5.55 ft | · | 53°F | 1,859 ft | Lake Sakakawea |
|
Heart R Ab Lake Tschida Nr Glen Ullin, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06345780 |
0 cfs | · | · | 45°F | 2,076 ft | Upper Heart |
|
Green River Nr New Hradec, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06344600 |
0 cfs | 4.99 ft | · | 50°F | 2,527 ft | Upper Heart |
About North Dakota streamflow
What are river levels like in North Dakota right now?
As of September 26, 2026, North Dakota rivers are running at 71% of normal across 86 USGS streamgauges, and the Missouri River At Bismarck is reporting the highest discharge at 13,500 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which North Dakota river is running highest right now?
As of September 26, 2026, the highest discharge in North Dakota is 13,500 cfs on the Missouri River At Bismarck. See the sortable gauge table for the full statewide ranking.
Are North Dakota rivers high or low right now?
Compare the statewide percent-of-normal on this page: above 100% means North Dakota rivers are running higher than the seasonal average for the date, below 100% means lower (a dry spell or drought). Each gauge also shows its own percent of median.
Where does the North Dakota streamflow data come from?
The U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System. USGS streamgauges report continuously (every 15 minutes) and the data is the canonical real-time record for U.S. rivers. Snoflo pulls the latest readings and joins them to a 7-day NOAA weather forecast for each station.
What is cfs?
Cubic feet per second — the standard unit for streamflow. One cfs is about 7.5 gallons per second. Small creeks run at single-digit cfs; the Mississippi at hundreds of thousands.
What does Gauge Height mean?
The water level at the gauge in feet above the reference datum. Used together with discharge to track river state. Flood stage and runnable levels are typically expressed in gauge height (e.g., "flood at 16 ft").
How fresh is the North Dakota data?
USGS streamgauges report every 15 minutes; Snoflo re-pulls throughout the day. The AI briefing regenerates daily.
Can I get a flow alert for a North Dakota gauge?
Yes. Save any USGS gauge as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a discharge or stage threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 2,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Is this a substitute for an NWS flood warning?
No. Snoflo is informational. For flood life-safety decisions always follow guidance from your local NWS forecast office and state emergency management. Snoflo data is one input among several.