North Platte River Flow Today
As of October 5, 2026 at 1:45 AM, the North Platte River is flowing at 528 cfs at Orin, WY — 83% of normal for the date and up 3% in 24 hours. 3 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 17 to 528 cfs. ❤ Favorite
North Platte River map
See the North Platte 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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North 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 Orin, the North Platte River is running 528 cfs — 83% of normal, up 3% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 3 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 39% of normal).
Highest against normal: Orin at 83%. Lowest: Whalen Diversion Dam at 34%.
Paddlers: 0 of 4 runs on the North Platte River with a live range are in range, 4 too low.
How the North 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
- Northgate7,823 ft 41 cfs39%
- Orin4,651 ft 528 cfs83%
- Whalen Diversion Dam4,265 ft 17 cfs34%
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 North Platte River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (39%).
North Platte River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Platte River Near Northgate CO
Oct 5, 1:45 AM · USGS 06620000 |
41 cfs | 39% | -4% | 2.33 ft | 5.7 ft below | 7,823 ft |
|
North Platte River At Orin WY
Oct 5, 1:45 AM · USGS 06652000 |
528 cfs | 83% | +3% | 3.42 ft | 4.6 ft below | 4,651 ft |
|
North Platte River Below Glendo Reservoir WY
Last reported Jun 18 · USGS 06652800 |
5,710 cfs | · | · | 8.94 ft | · | 4,503 ft |
|
North Platte River Below Whalen Diversion Dam WY
Oct 5, 2:00 AM · USGS 06657000 |
17 cfs | 34% | 0% | 4.47 ft | · | 4,265 ft |
|
North Platte River At Wyoming-nebraska State Line WY
Last reported Dec 18 · USGS 06674500 |
193 cfs | · | · | 2.24 ft | flood 5.5 ft | 4,032 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 North Platte 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Gauge: Northgate |
Too low | 41 cfs | 400–3,000 cfs | IV–V |
| Co/Wy Stateline To Douglas Creek Gauge: Northgate |
Too low | 41 cfs | 400–3,000 cfs | · |
| Northgate Canyon Gauge: Northgate |
Too low | 41 cfs | 500–3,000 cfs | III– TO III+ |
| South Sec Line, Sec 2, T11N, R80W To Co/Wy Stateline Gauge: Northgate |
Too low | 41 cfs | 400–3,000 cfs | · |
| Big Creek | No live range | · | 19–397 cfs typical | III–IV |
| Confluence Withdouglas Creek To Bennett Peak | No live range | · | 400–3,000 cfs | III–V |
| North Platte River | No live range | · | 400–3,000 cfs | II–III |
| North Platte River | No live range | · | 400–3,000 cfs | II–III |
| North Platte River | No live range | · | 400–3,000 cfs | II–III |
| North Platte River | No live range | · | 150–100,000 cfs | II–III |
| North Platte River | No live range | · | 400–3,000 cfs | II–III |
| North Platte River | No live range | · | 400–3,000 cfs | II–III |
| Western Boundary Of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument To Eastern Boundary Of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Gauge: Wyoming-nebraska State Line |
No live range | · | 105–315 cfs typical | III–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the North Platte River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
North Platte River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River, spanning over 700 miles in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. Historically, the river served as a major transportation route for early fur traders and pioneers. Today, it is used for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation, with several dams and reservoirs along its length, including the Seminoe, Pathfinder, and Alcova Reservoirs. The river also supports recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping, with sections designated as Wild and Scenic. Agriculture also relies heavily on the river, with extensive irrigation systems supporting crops such as sugar beets, corn, and wheat. Despite its many uses, the river faces challenges such as low water flows and pollution, requiring careful management and conservation efforts.
Fishing near the North Platte River
About the North Platte River
How is the North Platte River flowing right now?
As of October 5, 2026, the North Platte River is flowing at 528 cfs at Orin, WY, about 83% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 17 to 528 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the North Platte River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the North Platte River is at 39% 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 North Platte River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Northgate (8.0 ft), Orin (8.0 ft), Wyoming-nebraska State Line (5.5 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the North Platte 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.