Minnesota River Flow Today
As of October 1, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Minnesota River is flowing at 5,970 cfs near Jordan, MN — 271% of normal for the date. 7 of 8 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 14 to 5,970 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Minnesota River map
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Minnesota 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 Jordan, the Minnesota River is running 5,970 cfs — 271% of normal. Along the river, 4 of 7 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 113% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Lac Qui Parle (+17%); dropping at Ortonville (-20%) and Morton (-13%).
Highest against normal: Mankato at 291%. Lowest: Ortonville at 36%.
How the Minnesota 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
- Ortonville972 ft 14 cfs36%
- Montevideo928 ft 571 cfs113%
- Lac Qui Parle923 ft 482 cfs117%
- Morton824 ft 609 cfs91%
- New Ulm794 ft 734 cfs102%
- Mankato759 ft 5,270 cfs291%
- Jordan715 ft 5,970 cfs271%
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 Minnesota River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (113%).
Minnesota River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Minnesota River At Ortonville MN
Oct 1, 2:30 AM · USGS 05292000 |
14 cfs | 36% | -20% | 1.35 ft | · | 972 ft |
|
Minnesota River At Montevideo MN
Oct 1, 2:00 AM · USGS 05311000 |
571 cfs | 113% | +8% | 3.82 ft | 10.2 ft below | 928 ft |
|
Minnesota River Near Lac Qui Parle MN
Oct 1, 2:00 AM · USGS 05301000 |
482 cfs | 117% | +17% | 22.33 ft | · | 923 ft |
|
Minnesota River At Morton MN
Oct 1, 2:00 AM · USGS 05316580 |
609 cfs | 91% | -13% | 8.53 ft | 12.5 ft below | 824 ft |
|
Minnesota River At New Ulm MN
Oct 1, 2:45 AM · USGS 05316770 |
734 cfs | 102% | +2% | 785.93 ft | 14.1 ft below | 794 ft |
|
Minnesota River At Mankato MN
Oct 1, 2:30 AM · USGS 05325000 |
5,270 cfs | 291% | -5% | 6.50 ft | 15.5 ft below | 759 ft |
|
Minnesota River Near Jordan MN
Oct 1, 2:45 AM · USGS 05330000 |
5,970 cfs | 271% | -1% | 9.31 ft | 15.7 ft below | 715 ft |
|
Minnesota River At Fort Snelling State Park MN
Last reported Dec 7 · USGS 05330920 |
6,620 cfs | · | · | 688.05 ft | · | 692 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 Minnesota River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Minnesota River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Minnesota River
The Minnesota River is 335 miles long and flows from its source near Big Stone Lake in western Minnesota to its confluence with the Mississippi River near Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The river played a significant role in the state's history and was once a major transportation route for Native American tribes, fur traders, and early settlers. The river's hydrology has been greatly impacted by the construction of dams and reservoirs, including the Lac qui Parle Dam, Upper and Lower Sioux Agency State Parks, and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The river is also used for irrigation and provides water for agricultural practices in the surrounding region. Recreational activities along the river include fishing, boating, and hiking in the numerous state parks and wildlife refuges.
About the Minnesota River
How is the Minnesota River flowing right now?
As of October 1, 2026, the Minnesota River is flowing at 5,970 cfs near Jordan, MN, about 271% of normal for the date. Across its 8 USGS gauges, current flows range from 14 to 5,970 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Minnesota River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Minnesota River is at 113% 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 Minnesota River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Montevideo (14.0 ft), Morton (21.0 ft), New Ulm (800.0 ft), Mankato (22.0 ft), Jordan (25.0 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.