Winnebago River Flow Today
As of October 1, 2026 at 2:30 AM, the Winnebago River is flowing at 317 cfs at Mason City, IA — 348% of normal for the date and down 4% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Winnebago River map
See the Winnebago 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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Winnebago 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 Mason City, the Winnebago River is running 317 cfs — 348% of normal, down 4% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 348% of normal).
How the Winnebago 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
- Mason City1,101 ft 317 cfs348%
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 Winnebago River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (348%).
Winnebago River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Winnebago River At Mason City IA
Oct 1, 2:30 AM · USGS 05459500 |
317 cfs | 348% | -4% | 5.44 ft | 4.6 ft below | 1,101 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 Winnebago River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Winnebago 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).
Winnebago River
The Winnebago River is a 94-mile long river located in Iowa, United States. It was named after the Native American tribe of the same name, who lived in the area before European settlement. The river begins near Lake Mills and flows through Mason City before joining the Shell Rock River. It has a drainage area of 1,040 square miles and a mean annual flow of 1,290 cubic feet per second. There are three reservoirs on the river, including the Crystal Lake Dam, which was constructed in 1921 for flood control and recreational purposes. The river is used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping, and is also important for agriculture, providing irrigation and drinking water for the surrounding communities.
Fishing near the Winnebago River
About the Winnebago River
How is the Winnebago River flowing right now?
As of October 1, 2026, the Winnebago River is flowing at 317 cfs at Mason City, IA, about 348% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Winnebago River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Winnebago 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.
What is flood stage on the Winnebago River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Mason City (10.0 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.