Chariton River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Chariton River is flowing at 11,500 cfs near Prairie Hill, MO and up 1,195% in 24 hours. 5 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 443 to 11,500 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Chariton River map
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Chariton River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Prairie Hill, the Chariton River is running 11,500 cfs, up 1,195% since yesterday.
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Prairie Hill (+1,195%) and Novinger (+148%); dropping at Chariton (-48%).
Flood watch: Prairie Hill is at action stage (14.15 ft). Check NWS before heading out.
High water on the Chariton River
Chariton River Near Prairie Hill is at 14.15 ft — action stage (flood stage 15.0 ft).
How the Chariton River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Chariton968 ft 1,450 cfs
- Rathbun855 ft 443 cfs
- Moulton847 ft 1,380 cfs
- Novinger756 ft 5,800 cfs
- Prairie Hill646 ft 11,500 cfs
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Chariton River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chariton River Near Chariton IA
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 06903400 |
1,450 cfs | · | -48% | 14.38 ft | 5.1 ft below | 968 ft |
|
Chariton River Near Rathbun IA
Oct 2, 3:00 AM · USGS 06903900 |
443 cfs | · | 0% | 4.54 ft | · | 855 ft |
|
Chariton River Near Moulton IA
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 06904010 |
1,380 cfs | · | +29% | 25.02 ft | 11.0 ft below | 847 ft |
|
Chariton River At Livonia MO
Last reported Jul 4 · USGS 06904050 |
45 cfs | · | · | 3.43 ft | · | 785 ft |
|
Chariton River At Novinger MO
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 06904500 |
5,800 cfs | · | +148% | 10.02 ft | 10.0 ft below | 756 ft |
|
Chariton River Near Prairie Hill MO
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 06905500 |
11,500 cfs | · | +1195% | 14.15 ft | Action | 646 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Chariton River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Chariton River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Chariton River
The Chariton River is a 214-mile long river located in Iowa and Missouri in the United States. Historically, the river was used for transportation of goods and people, and was a major source of water for towns along its banks. The river has been dammed in several places to create reservoirs for flood control and recreation, including the Rathbun Lake, which is the largest lake in Iowa. The Chariton River is also an important source of water for agriculture, with irrigation systems drawing from the river to supply crops. Recreational activities on the river include boating, fishing, camping, and hiking. The hydrology of the river fluctuates seasonally, with high flows occurring in spring and low flows in summer.
About the Chariton River
How is the Chariton River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Chariton River is flowing at 11,500 cfs near Prairie Hill, MO. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 443 to 11,500 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Chariton River running high or low?
Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Chariton River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Chariton (19.5 ft), Moulton (36.0 ft), Novinger (20.0 ft), Prairie Hill (15.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.