Rifle River Flow Today
As of October 24, 2026 at 2:30 AM, the Rifle River is flowing at 280 cfs near Sterling, MI — 118% of normal for the date and down 4% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Rifle River map
See the Rifle 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
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Rifle 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 Sterling, the Rifle River is running 280 cfs — 118% of normal, down 4% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 118% of normal).
How the Rifle 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
- Sterling639 ft 280 cfs118%
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 Rifle River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (118%).
Rifle River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rifle River Near Sterling MI
Oct 24, 2:30 AM · USGS 04142000 |
280 cfs | 118% | -4% | 1.97 ft | 4.0 ft below | 639 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.
Rifle River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Rifle River
The Rifle River is a 60-mile-long river in Michigan, USA. It flows through Ogemaw and Arenac counties and empties into Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. The river has a rich history, as it was a popular location for logging and timber transportation in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the river is a popular spot for fishing, camping, and canoeing. It is also used for agriculture and recreation, as well as hydroelectric power generation. There are several reservoirs and dams on the river, including the Secord Dam and Secord Lake, which were built in the early 20th century for hydroelectric power generation. The river is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, bass, and walleye, making it a popular destination for anglers.
Fishing near the Rifle River
About the Rifle River
How is the Rifle River flowing right now?
As of October 24, 2026, the Rifle River is flowing at 280 cfs near Sterling, MI, about 118% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Rifle River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Rifle River is at 118% 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 Rifle River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Sterling (6.0 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.