Straight River Flow Today
As of September 29, 2026 at 2:15 AM, the Straight River is flowing at 855 cfs near Faribault, MN and down 13% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 50 to 855 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Straight River map
See the Straight 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
Straight 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 Faribault, the Straight River is running 855 cfs, down 13% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 80% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Faribault (-13%).
How the Straight 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
- Park Rapids1,411 ft 50 cfs80%
- Faribault1,069 ft 855 cfs
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 Straight River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (80%).
Straight River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Straight River Near Park Rapids MN
Oct 1, 2:30 AM · USGS 05243725 |
50 cfs | 80% | -5% | 1.25 ft | 1,411 ft |
|
Straight River Near Faribault MN
Sep 29, 2:15 AM · USGS 05353800 |
855 cfs | · | -13% | 5.80 ft | 1,069 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 Straight River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Straight River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Straight River
The Straight River is a 69-mile-long tributary of the Cannon River in southern Minnesota. The river gets its name from its relatively straight course. It has a rich history, serving as a major transportation route for Native Americans and early settlers. The river's hydrology has been affected by agricultural land use and urbanization. The Faribault Dam was built in 1902 to generate hydroelectric power, and the Cannon River Reservoir was created in 1965 to provide flood control. The river is popular for recreational activities such as fishing, canoeing, and hiking. It also supports agricultural uses such as irrigation, livestock watering, and crop irrigation.
Fishing near the Straight River
About the Straight River
How is the Straight River flowing right now?
As of September 29, 2026, the Straight River is flowing at 855 cfs near Faribault, MN. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 50 to 855 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Straight River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Straight River is at 80% 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.
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.