Root River At Racine flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Root River At Racine is flowing at 16 cfs with a gage height of 2.33 ft, holding steady over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #04087240, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Root River At Racine at a glance
How Root River At Racine is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Root River At Racine is flowing at 16 cfs, with the water sitting 2.33 ft at the gage. Flow has held roughly steady over the past 24 hours.
This is USGS gauge #04087240 in Wisconsin. Over the past 10 days the average has been 23 cfs, peaking at 36 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Root River At Racine is expected to hold near today's 16 cfs, toward roughly 15 cfs by 2026-07-18 (likely range 3-68 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 Wisconsin 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.
Root River At Racine
The river is primarily fed by groundwater and precipitation. There are several small tributaries that contribute to the river's flow, but no major dams. The river experiences seasonal fluctuations with higher flows in the spring due to snowmelt and precipitation. During the summer months, the flow decreases due to lower precipitation and increased evaporation. Interestingly, the river has been the focus of restoration efforts to improve water quality and fish habitats.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Root River At Racine's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Root River At Racine | 16 cfs |
| Pike River Near Racine | 11 cfs |
| Root River Canal Near Franklin | 8 cfs |
| Root River Near Franklin | 12 cfs |
| Oak Creek At South Milwaukee | 3 cfs |
| Wilson Park Creek @ Gmia Outfall #7 @ Milwaukee | 0 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Root River At Racine. 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 |
|---|---|
| Water Pollution Control Plant | 0 in |
| Sewage Disposal Plant | 0 in |
| Big Bend | 0 in |
| Lindenhurst 0.7 Nnw | 0 in |
| Brookfield | 0 in |
| Lake Villa 1.1 Ssw | 0 in |
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 Root River At Racine in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Root River At Racine crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Root River At Racine
Where does the streamflow data for Root River At Racine come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 04087240. 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 Root River At Racine 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 Root River At Racine report
Create your free account to track this river — and everything else you love on the water.
- Flow alerts — get pinged the moment this river hits your range
- Save favorites — every river, lake & snowpack in one place
- Full history & forecasts — plus the free iPhone app