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River report

Straight River Flow Today

As of November 11, 2026 at 1:15 AM, the Straight River is flowing at 542 cfs near Faribault, MN — 623% of normal for the date and down 14% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 44 to 542 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
2 2 reporting · upstream → down
Straight River Near Park Rapids: 74% of normalStraight River Near Faribault: 623% of normal
Typical gauge
348% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Biggest flow now
542cfs Faribault
Updated
Nov 11, 1:15 AM
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River briefing · Nov 11, 2026

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 542 cfs — 623% of normal, down 14% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 2 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 348% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Faribault (-14%).

Headwaters to mouth

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

  1. Park Rapids1,411 ft 44 cfs74%
  2. Faribault1,069 ft 542 cfs623%

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 (348%).

Typical gauge 348%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal1Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal1

Straight River flow report

2 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height Elevation
Straight River Near Park Rapids MN
Nov 11, 1:30 AM · USGS 05243725
44 cfs 74% -3% 1.21 ft 1,411 ft
Straight River Near Faribault MN
Nov 11, 1:15 AM · USGS 05353800
542 cfs 623% -14% 5.24 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.

History

Straight River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

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.

Around the river

Fishing near the Straight River

FAQ

About the Straight River

How is the Straight River flowing right now?

As of November 11, 2026, the Straight River is flowing at 542 cfs near Faribault, MN, about 623% of normal for the date. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 44 to 542 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 348% 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.

More river levels

Rivers in Minnesota

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