Tobacco River Flow Today
As of October 15, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Tobacco River is flowing at 193 cfs at Beaverton, MI — 57% of normal for the date and up 16% in 24 hours. 1 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days. ❤ Favorite
Tobacco River map
See the Tobacco 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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Tobacco 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 Beaverton, the Tobacco River is running 193 cfs — 57% of normal, up 16% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 57% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Beaverton (+16%).
How the Tobacco 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
- Beaverton715 ft 193 cfs57%
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 Tobacco River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (57%).
Tobacco River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tobacco River Near Eureka Mount MT
Last reported Nov 2 · USGS 12301300 |
388 cfs | · | · | 3.10 ft | · | 2,524 ft |
|
Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton MI
Oct 15, 2:00 AM · USGS 04152500 |
193 cfs | 57% | +16% | 2.39 ft | 9.6 ft below | 715 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.
Tobacco 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).
Maximum streamflow by year
Tobacco River
The Tobacco River is located in the state of Michigan and is approximately 98 miles long. The river is named after the Native American tribe that once lived in the area. It flows into the Saginaw River and eventually into Lake Huron. The watershed of the river is approximately 1,050 square miles.
There are three main reservoirs along the Tobacco River: the Secord Dam, the Smallwood Dam, and the Sanford Dam. The dams were constructed in the early 20th century primarily for hydroelectric power generation. The Tobacco River is also used for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The river supports a variety of fish species including brown and rainbow trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass. The surrounding area is also used for agricultural purposes, including crop production and livestock grazing. The Tobacco River has a rich history and continues to play an important role in the economy and ecology of the region.
Fishing near the Tobacco River
About the Tobacco River
How is the Tobacco River flowing right now?
As of October 15, 2026, the Tobacco River is flowing at 193 cfs at Beaverton, MI, about 57% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Tobacco River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Tobacco River is at 57% 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 Tobacco River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Beaverton (12.0 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.