Little Missouri River Flow Today
As of October 10, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Little Missouri River is flowing at 15 cfs at Medora, ND — 16% of normal for the date and down 7% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 5 to 15 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Little Missouri River map
See the Little Missouri River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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Little Missouri 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 Medora, the Little Missouri River is running 15 cfs — 16% of normal, down 7% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 15% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Watford City (+79%).
Paddlers: 0 of 3 runs on the Little Missouri River with a live range are in range, 3 too low.
How the Little Missouri 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
- Marmarth2,691 ft 5.8 cfs13%
- Medora2,253 ft 15 cfs16%
- Watford City1,934 ft 7.5 cfs9%
- Langley715 ft 5 cfs38%
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 Little Missouri River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (15%).
Little Missouri River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Missouri River At Marmarth ND
Oct 10, 2:00 AM · USGS 06335500 |
5.8 cfs | 13% | -7% | 0.71 ft | 17.3 ft below | 2,691 ft |
|
Little Missouri River At Medora ND
Oct 10, 2:00 AM · USGS 06336000 |
15 cfs | 16% | -7% | 1.17 ft | 13.8 ft below | 2,253 ft |
|
Little Missouri River Near Watford City ND
Oct 10, 2:30 AM · USGS 06337000 |
7.5 cfs | 9% | +79% | 6.90 ft | 13.1 ft below | 1,934 ft |
|
Little Missouri River Near Langley AR
Oct 10, 2:00 AM · USGS 07360200 |
5 cfs | 38% | 0% | 3.10 ft | · | 715 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.
Paddle runs on the Little Missouri River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sec 30, T3S, R27W To Sec 19, T4S, R24W Gauge: Langley |
Too low | 5 cfs | 41–569 cfs typical | II–III |
| Southern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park Gauge: Medora |
Too low | 15 cfs | 17–272 cfs typical | II–III |
| Southern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park Gauge: Medora |
Too low | 15 cfs | 17–272 cfs typical | II–III |
Little Missouri River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Little Missouri River
The Little Missouri River is a tributary of the Missouri River that stretches 560 miles through Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The river was named by French trappers who explored the region in the 18th century. The river's hydrology is characterized by a wide range of flow rates, from low during dry periods to intense flash flooding during rainy seasons. The Carter Lake Dam in Wyoming and a series of four dams in North Dakota, including the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, manage the river's flow for agricultural and recreational purposes. The river's scenic beauty and diverse wildlife attract tourists for activities like fishing, camping, and hiking. The Little Missouri River is also a source of irrigation for crops such as wheat and soybeans.
Fishing near the Little Missouri River
About the Little Missouri River
How is the Little Missouri River flowing right now?
As of October 10, 2026, the Little Missouri River is flowing at 15 cfs at Medora, ND, about 16% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 5 to 15 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Little Missouri River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Little Missouri River is at 15% 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 Little Missouri River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Marmarth (18.0 ft), Medora (15.0 ft), Watford City (20.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Little Missouri River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
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.