North Dakota River Levels & Streamflow
As of Sep 17, 2026, North Dakota rivers are running at 76% of normal across 85 USGS gauges — the highest is 17,600 cfs on the Missouri River At Bismarck. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in North Dakota.
Streamflow levels across North Dakota are currently 76% of normal, with the Missouri River At Bismarck reporting the highest discharge in the state at 17,600 cfs and a gauge stage of 5.02 ft.
Meanwhile, the Red River Of The North At Halstad is seeing a spike today — up 43% 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.
State-wide streamflow overview
The North Dakota flow picture in four data points -- where the state sits versus historical norms, what's flowing hardest, and what's spiking fastest.
Percent of normal
100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.
Highest discharge
Gauge stage 5.02 ft
Biggest 24h spike
Now 466 cfs
Network coverage
USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in North Dakota.
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 76 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 USGS streamgauges
Every USGS gauge Snoflo tracks in North Dakota. Sortable, quickly filterable. Numeric columns heat-mapped from light to deep. Tap any gauge for its full hydrograph and forecast.
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri River At Bismarck, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06342500 |
15,600 cfs | 4.46 ft | 59°F | 45°F | 1,623 ft | Painted Woods-Square Butte |
|
Red River Of The North At Drayton, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05092000 |
1,240 cfs | 11.85 ft | · | 40°F | 768 ft | Lower Red |
|
Red River Of The North At Grand Forks, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05082500 |
1,030 cfs | 15.58 ft | 63°F | 41°F | 798 ft | Sandhill-Wilson |
|
Red River Of The North Near Thompson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05070000 |
619 cfs | 16.03 ft | · | 41°F | 804 ft | Sandhill-Wilson |
|
Red River Of The North At Halstad, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05064500 |
589 cfs | 3.54 ft | 62°F | 41°F | 838 ft | Elm-Marsh |
|
Souris River Nr Westhope, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05124000 |
358 cfs | 7.79 ft | · | 37°F | 1,410 ft | Lower Souris |
|
Souris River Above Minot, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05117500 |
293 cfs | 5.43 ft | 50°F | 39°F | 1,564 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Red River Of The North At Wahpeton, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05051500 |
290 cfs | 4.00 ft | · | 50°F | 952 ft | Bois De Sioux |
|
Souris River Nr Verendrye, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05120000 |
257 cfs | 4.73 ft | · | 40°F | 1,479 ft | Lower Souris |
|
Red River Of The North At Fargo, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05054000 |
228 cfs | 13.95 ft | 66°F | 42°F | 878 ft | Upper Red |
|
Red River Of The North At Hickson, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05051522 |
221 cfs | 10.00 ft | 64°F | 43°F | 894 ft | Upper Red |
|
Souris River Nr Sherwood, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05114000 |
203 cfs | 4.88 ft | 35°F | 37°F | 1,615 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Pembina River At Neche, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05100000 |
203 cfs | 2.99 ft | · | 38°F | 833 ft | Pembina |
|
Sheyenne River At West Fargo, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059500 |
196 cfs | 5.86 ft | · | 43°F | 900 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Willow Creek Nr Willow City, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05123400 |
193 cfs | 7.75 ft | · | 38°F | 1,434 ft | Willow |
|
Sheyenne R Ab Sheyenne R Diversion Nr Horace, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059300 |
192 cfs | 13.47 ft | 61°F | 42°F | 903 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Sheyenne River Near Kindred, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059000 |
185 cfs | 3.27 ft | · | 43°F | 931 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Pembina River At Walhalla, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05099600 |
175 cfs | 1.82 ft | · | 37°F | 937 ft | Pembina |
|
Souris River Nr Bantry, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05122000 |
134 cfs | 3.30 ft | · | 39°F | 1,434 ft | Lower Souris |
|
Sheyenne River At Lisbon, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05058700 |
125 cfs | 2.94 ft | · | 50°F | 1,068 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Souris River Nr Foxholm, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05116000 |
105 cfs | 7.25 ft | · | 38°F | 1,572 ft | Upper Souris |
|
Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05058000 |
65 cfs | 23.82 ft | 66°F | 40°F | 1,223 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Heart River At Stark Bridge Nr Judson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06348300 |
63 cfs | 2.23 ft | 32°F | 42°F | 1,731 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Sheyenne River Nr Cooperstown, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05057000 |
60 cfs | 9.94 ft | 56°F | 44°F | 1,288 ft | Middle Sheyenne |
|
Heart River Nr Mandan, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06349000 |
58 cfs | 9.21 ft | 43°F | 44°F | 1,649 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Sheyenne River Nr Warwick, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056000 |
57 cfs | 2.69 ft | · | 47°F | 1,385 ft | Middle Sheyenne |
|
James River At Lamoure, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06470500 |
57 cfs | 7.22 ft | 62°F | 46°F | 1,303 ft | Upper James |
|
Forest River At Minto, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05085000 |
55 cfs | 1.57 ft | · | 40°F | 812 ft | Forest |
|
Edmore Coulee Nr Edmore, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056200 |
48 cfs | 82.13 ft | · | 37°F | 1,486 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Little Coulee Nr Leeds, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056340 |
44 cfs | 65.65 ft | · | 42°F | 1,488 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Pipestem Creek Nr Pingree, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06469400 |
32 cfs | 5.40 ft | · | 42°F | 1,509 ft | Pipestem |
|
Forest River Nr Fordville, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05084000 |
30 cfs | 1.49 ft | · | 38°F | 1,042 ft | Forest |
|
Little Missouri River Nr Watford City, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06337000 |
23 cfs | 7.11 ft | · | 45°F | 1,934 ft | Lower Little Missouri |
|
Knife River At Hazen, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06340500 |
20 cfs | · | · | 34°F | 1,724 ft | Knife |
|
Long Creek Nr Noonan, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05113600 |
20 cfs | 3.29 ft | · | 40°F | 1,858 ft | Upper Souris |
|
James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06468250 |
11 cfs | 1.02 ft | · | 42°F | 1,442 ft | James Headwaters |
|
Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06471200 |
10 cfs | 1.93 ft | · | 44°F | 1,371 ft | Elm |
|
Park River At Grafton, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05090000 |
10 cfs | 7.21 ft | · | 40°F | 822 ft | Park |
|
Cannonball River At Breien, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06354000 |
9 cfs | 1.74 ft | · | 43°F | 1,687 ft | Lower Cannonball |
|
Beaver Creek Bl Linton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06354580 |
9 cfs | 4.33 ft | · | 45°F | 1,697 ft | Beaver |
|
Apple Creek Nr Menoken, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06349500 |
9 cfs | 4.58 ft | · | 42°F | 1,657 ft | Apple |
|
Turtle River At Turtle R State Park Nr Arvilla, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05082625 |
8 cfs | 1.04 ft | · | 39°F | 963 ft | Turtle |
|
Heart R Ab Lake Tschida Nr Glen Ullin, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06345780 |
8 cfs | 2.32 ft | · | 36°F | 2,076 ft | Upper Heart |
|
White Earth River At White Earth, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06332000 |
7 cfs | · | · | 37°F | 2,078 ft | Lake Sakakawea |
|
Little Muddy River Bl Cow Creek Nr Williston, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06331000 |
6 cfs | 4.65 ft | 52°F | 42°F | 1,874 ft | Little Muddy |
|
Spring Creek At Zap, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06340000 |
6 cfs | 4.66 ft | · | 38°F | 1,827 ft | Knife |
|
James River At Jamestown, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06470000 |
6 cfs | 2.59 ft | 32°F | 42°F | 1,382 ft | Upper James |
|
Heart River Nr Richardton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06345500 |
6 cfs | 3.62 ft | · | 38°F | 2,180 ft | Upper Heart |
|
Edmore Coulee Trib Nr Webster, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056215 |
5 cfs | 68.03 ft | · | 38°F | 1,467 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06348500 |
5 cfs | 2.13 ft | · | 40°F | 1,903 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05057200 |
4 cfs | 6.19 ft | 41°F | 39°F | 1,322 ft | Middle Sheyenne |
|
Maple River Bl Mapleton, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05060100 |
4 cfs | 7.89 ft | · | 42°F | 896 ft | Maple |
|
Maple River Nr Enderlin, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059700 |
4 cfs | 1.64 ft | · | 43°F | 1,061 ft | Maple |
|
Goose River At Hillsboro, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05066500 |
4 cfs | 1.65 ft | · | 40°F | 887 ft | Goose |
|
Big Muddy Creek Near Almont, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06347500 |
2 cfs | 1.21 ft | · | 37°F | 1,867 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Little South Pembina River Nr Walhalla, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05099400 |
2 cfs | · | · | 37°F | 1,105 ft | Pembina |
|
Little Missouri River At Medora, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06336000 |
2 cfs | · | 38°F | 44°F | 2,253 ft | Middle Little Missouri |
|
Cannonball River At Regent, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06350000 |
2 cfs | 4.53 ft | · | 40°F | 2,436 ft | Upper Cannonball |
|
Knife River Nr Golden Valley, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06339500 |
2 cfs | 3.66 ft | · | 36°F | 1,854 ft | Knife |
|
Little Missouri River At Marmarth, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06335500 |
2 cfs | · | · | 44°F | 2,691 ft | Middle Little Missouri |
|
Square Butte Creek Below Center, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06342260 |
1 cfs | 1.08 ft | · | 38°F | 1,865 ft | Painted Woods-Square Butte |
|
Hay Creek At Main Avenue In Bismarck, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06349600 |
1 cfs | 5.36 ft | · | 44°F | 1,657 ft | Apple |
|
Mauvais Coulee Nr Cando, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05056100 |
1 cfs | 35.22 ft | · | 37°F | 1,452 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Sheyenne River Diversion At West Fargo, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05059480 |
1 cfs | 6.72 ft | · | 43°F | 905 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Cannonball River Nr Raleigh, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06351200 |
1 cfs | 1.62 ft | · | 41°F | 1,863 ft | Upper Cannonball |
|
James River Nr Grace City, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06468170 |
1 cfs | 3.94 ft | · | 42°F | 1,464 ft | James Headwaters |
|
Mauvais Coulee Trib No. 3 Nr Cando, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05056060 |
1 cfs | 2.36 ft | · | 36°F | 1,466 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Wild Rice River Nr Abercrombie, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05053000 |
0 cfs | 9.66 ft | · | 43°F | 923 ft | Western Wild Rice |
|
Antelope Creek Nr Carson, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06347000 |
0 cfs | 4.43 ft | · | 35°F | 1,970 ft | Lower Heart |
|
Starkweather Coulee Nr Webster, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05056239 |
0 cfs | 2.44 ft | · | 37°F | 1,454 ft | Devils Lake |
|
Cedar Creek Nr Haynes, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06352000 |
0 cfs | 3.87 ft | · | 42°F | 2,480 ft | Cedar |
|
Cedar Creek Nr Raleigh, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06353000 |
0 cfs | · | · | 41°F | 1,884 ft | Cedar |
|
Bear Creek Nr Oakes, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06470800 |
0 cfs | 5.34 ft | · | 43°F | 1,298 ft | Upper James |
|
Tongue River At Akra, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05101000 |
0 cfs | 6.33 ft | · | 39°F | 974 ft | Pembina |
|
Deep River Nr Upham, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05123510 |
0 cfs | 6.20 ft | · | 38°F | 1,439 ft | Deep |
|
Knife River At Manning, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06339100 |
0 cfs | 5.70 ft | · | 39°F | 2,168 ft | Knife |
|
Wild Rice River Nr Rutland, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05051600 |
0 cfs | · | · | 46°F | 1,203 ft | Western Wild Rice |
|
Antelope Creek At Dwight, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05052500 |
0 cfs | 21.08 ft | · | 44°F | 930 ft | Western Wild Rice |
|
Goose River Near Portland, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 05065500 |
0 cfs | 9.11 ft | · | 39°F | 987 ft | Goose |
|
Rush River At Amenia, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 05060500 |
0 cfs | 10.07 ft | · | 41°F | 948 ft | Lower Sheyenne |
|
Deepwater Creek At Mouth Nr Raub, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06332770 |
0 cfs | 5.58 ft | · | 39°F | 1,859 ft | Lake Sakakawea |
|
Deep Creek Nr Amidon, Nd
23 hours ago · USGS 06335750 |
0 cfs | 11.06 ft | · | 48°F | 2,469 ft | Middle Little Missouri |
|
Beaver Creek Nr Trotters, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06336600 |
0 cfs | 1.21 ft | · | 41°F | 2,383 ft | Beaver |
|
Heart River Nr South Heart, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06343000 |
0 cfs | 2.67 ft | · | 43°F | 2,452 ft | Upper Heart |
|
Green River Nr New Hradec, Nd
1 day ago · USGS 06344600 |
0 cfs | 5.02 ft | · | 43°F | 2,527 ft | Upper Heart |
See every North Dakota gauge ranked against normal.
- Percentile rank & % of median for all 85 gauges
- 15-day PULSE forecast on every gauge
- Custom flow alerts & full daily history
About North Dakota streamflow
What are river levels like in North Dakota right now?
As of September 17, 2026, North Dakota rivers are running at 76% of normal across 85 USGS streamgauges, and the Missouri River At Bismarck is reporting the highest discharge at 17,600 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which North Dakota river is running highest right now?
As of September 17, 2026, the highest discharge in North Dakota is 17,600 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.
Streamflow in every state
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