Rock River Flow Today
As of October 3, 2026 at 12:45 AM, the Rock River is flowing at 14,500 cfs near Joslin, IL — 276% of normal for the date and up 28% in 24 hours. 10 of 10 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 182 to 14,500 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Rock River map
See the Rock 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
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Rock 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 Joslin, the Rock River is running 14,500 cfs — 276% of normal, up 28% since yesterday. Along the river, 10 of 10 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 274% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Byron (+33%) and Watertown (+31%).
Highest against normal: Watertown at 512%. Lowest: Rock Rapids at 198%.
How the Rock 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
- Rock Rapids1,316 ft 182 cfs198%
- Rock Valley1,238 ft 812 cfs512%
- Horicon879 ft 396 cfs457%
- Watertown804 ft 1,330 cfs512%
- Afton778 ft 3,720 cfs223%
- Fort Atkinson774 ft 2,780 cfs387%
- Rockton712 ft 7,440 cfs209%
- Byron677 ft 11,500 cfs249%
- Como618 ft 13,800 cfs273%
- Joslin588 ft 14,500 cfs276%
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 Rock River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (274%).
Rock River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids IA
Oct 3, 4:15 AM · USGS 06483290 |
182 cfs | 198% | -6% | 7.72 ft | 5.3 ft below | 1,316 ft |
|
Rock River Near Rock Valley IA
Oct 3, 4:00 AM · USGS 06483500 |
812 cfs | 512% | -5% | 6.12 ft | 9.9 ft below | 1,238 ft |
|
Rock River At Horicon WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05424057 |
396 cfs | 457% | +26% | 7.12 ft | · | 879 ft |
|
Rock River At Watertown WI
Oct 2, 4:00 PM · USGS 05425500 |
1,330 cfs | 512% | +31% | 3.19 ft | · | 804 ft |
|
Rock River At Afton WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05430500 |
3,720 cfs | 223% | +3% | 6.46 ft | · | 778 ft |
|
Rock River At Robert Street At Fort Atkinson WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05427085 |
2,780 cfs | 387% | +3% | 12.47 ft | · | 774 ft |
|
Rock River At Rockton IL
Oct 3, 1:30 AM · USGS 05437500 |
7,440 cfs | 209% | +13% | 6.58 ft | 3.4 ft below | 712 ft |
|
Rock River At Byron IL
Oct 3, 1:15 AM · USGS 05440700 |
11,500 cfs | 249% | +33% | 9.10 ft | 3.9 ft below | 677 ft |
|
Rock River At Como IL
Oct 3, 1:45 AM · USGS 05443500 |
13,800 cfs | 273% | +24% | 7.77 ft | 4.7 ft below | 618 ft |
|
Rock River Near Joslin IL
Oct 3, 12:45 AM · USGS 05446500 |
14,500 cfs | 276% | +28% | 10.58 ft | 1.4 ft below | 588 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 Rock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road) | No live range | · | 500–1,500 cfs | III–IV |
Dams & reservoirs on the Rock River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Rock River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Rock River
The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River that flows through Wisconsin and Illinois. The river is approximately 299 miles long, originating in Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin, and flowing south into Illinois, where it eventually empties into the Mississippi River near Rock Island. The river has played a significant role in the history of the region, serving as a transportation route for Native American tribes and European settlers. The river is also a popular destination for recreational activities, including fishing, boating, and canoeing. Several reservoirs and dams along the river, including the Lake Koshkonong Dam and the Rockford Dam, provide hydroelectric power and flood control. The river is also used for agricultural purposes, with many farms located along its banks.
About the Rock River
How is the Rock River flowing right now?
As of October 3, 2026, the Rock River is flowing at 14,500 cfs near Joslin, IL, about 276% of normal for the date. Across its 10 USGS gauges, current flows range from 182 to 14,500 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Rock River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Rock River is at 274% 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 Rock River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Rock Rapids (13.0 ft), Rock Valley (16.0 ft), Rockton (10.0 ft), Byron (13.0 ft), Como (12.5 ft), Joslin (12.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Rock 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.