Little Platte River Flow Today
As of October 3, 2026 at 4:30 AM, the Little Platte River is flowing at 36 cfs at Smithville, MO — 359% of normal for the date and down 93% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 34 to 36 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Little Platte River map
See the Little Platte River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Little Platte 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 Smithville, the Little Platte River is running 36 cfs — 359% of normal, down 93% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 359% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Smithville (-93%) and Plattsburg (-92%).
How the Little Platte 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
- Plattsburg921 ft 34 cfs
- Smithville792 ft 36 cfs359%
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 Platte River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (359%).
Little Platte River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Platte River Near Plattsburg MO
Oct 3, 4:30 AM · USGS 06821080 |
34 cfs | · | -92% | 8.57 ft | · | 921 ft |
|
Little Platte River At Smithville MO
Oct 3, 4:30 AM · USGS 06821150 |
36 cfs | 359% | -93% | 12.54 ft | 14.5 ft below | 792 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 Little Platte River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Little Platte River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Little Platte River
The Little Platte River is a tributary of the Platte River located in Missouri. It flows for approximately 65 miles through Platte County and Clay County. The river has a long history, having been used by Native Americans and early settlers for transportation and agriculture. Today, the Little Platte River is primarily used for irrigation and as a source of drinking water for nearby communities. The Smithville Lake and the Little Platte Park Lake Reservoirs are two major dams located on the river, providing flood control and recreational activities such as fishing and boating. The river also supports a variety of wildlife, including several species of fish, birds, and mammals.
Fishing near the Little Platte River
About the Little Platte River
How is the Little Platte River flowing right now?
As of October 3, 2026, the Little Platte River is flowing at 36 cfs at Smithville, MO, about 359% of normal for the date. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 34 to 36 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Little Platte River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Little Platte River is at 359% 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 Platte River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Smithville (27.0 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.