Kansas River Flow Today
As of November 6, 2026 at 1:30 AM, the Kansas River is flowing at 9,980 cfs at Desoto, KS — 806% of normal for the date and up 41% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 623 to 9,980 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Kansas River map
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Kansas 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 Desoto, the Kansas River is running 9,980 cfs — 806% of normal, up 41% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 6 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 513% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Desoto (+41%); dropping at Fort Riley (-38%) and Lecompton (-10%).
Highest against normal: Desoto at 806%. Lowest: Fort Riley at 146%.
How the Kansas 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
- Fort Riley1,038 ft 623 cfs146%
- Wamego955 ft 4,650 cfs450%
- Belvue940 ft 5,260 cfs520%
- Topeka854 ft 6,110 cfs506%
- Lecompton824 ft 9,450 cfs731%
- Desoto759 ft 9,980 cfs806%
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.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Kansas River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (513%).
Kansas River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kansas River At Fort Riley KS
Nov 6, 1:30 AM · USGS 06879100 |
623 cfs | 146% | -38% | 5.13 ft | 15.9 ft below | 1,038 ft |
|
Kansas River At Wamego KS
Nov 6, 1:30 AM · USGS 06887500 |
4,650 cfs | 450% | -1% | 5.88 ft | 13.1 ft below | 955 ft |
|
Kansas River Near Belvue KS
Nov 6, 1:30 AM · USGS 06888350 |
5,260 cfs | 520% | -6% | 12.67 ft | 7.3 ft below | 940 ft |
|
Kansas River At Topeka KS
Nov 6, 1:30 AM · USGS 06889000 |
6,110 cfs | 506% | +7% | 8.65 ft | 17.4 ft below | 854 ft |
|
Kansas River At Lecompton KS
Nov 6, 1:30 AM · USGS 06891000 |
9,450 cfs | 731% | -10% | 6.18 ft | 10.8 ft below | 824 ft |
|
Kansas River At Desoto KS
Nov 6, 1:30 AM · USGS 06892350 |
9,980 cfs | 806% | +41% | 8.26 ft | 17.7 ft below | 759 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 Kansas River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Kansas River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Kansas River
The Kansas River is around 148 miles long and runs through Kansas from Junction City to Kansas City. It was an essential water source for Native Americans and European settlers, facilitating trade and transportation. The river's hydrology has been altered by human activities such as damming and levee construction. Some of the significant reservoirs/dams on the river include the Tuttle Creek Dam, Milford Dam, and Perry Dam. These structures provide flood control, hydroelectric power, and water supply. The river is used for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and canoeing. Additionally, agriculture is a major industry on the river, with farmers using the river's water to irrigate crops. The river also plays a significant role in providing water for municipal and industrial uses.
Fishing near the Kansas River
About the Kansas River
How is the Kansas River flowing right now?
As of November 6, 2026, the Kansas River is flowing at 9,980 cfs at Desoto, KS, about 806% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 623 to 9,980 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Kansas River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Kansas River is at 513% of normal for the date. 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 Kansas River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Fort Riley (21.0 ft), Wamego (19.0 ft), Belvue (20.0 ft), Topeka (26.0 ft), Lecompton (17.0 ft), Desoto (26.0 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.