Wisconsin River Flow Today
As of October 23, 2026 at 3:00 AM, the Wisconsin River is flowing at 5,990 cfs at Muscoda, WI — 89% of normal for the date and up 8% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 278 to 5,990 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Wisconsin River map
See the Wisconsin 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
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Wisconsin 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 Muscoda, the Wisconsin River is running 5,990 cfs — 89% of normal, up 8% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 6 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 53% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Merrill (+26%); dropping at Wisconsin Dells (-36%).
Highest against normal: Muscoda at 89%. Lowest: Wisconsin Rapids at 43%.
How the Wisconsin 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
- Lake Tomahawk1,582 ft 278 cfs47%
- Merrill1,232 ft 966 cfs50%
- Rothschild1,138 ft 1,660 cfs55%
- Wisconsin Rapids971 ft 1,370 cfs43%
- Wisconsin Dells810 ft 2,820 cfs55%
- Muscoda672 ft 5,990 cfs89%
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 Wisconsin River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (53%).
Wisconsin River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Near Lake Tomahawk WI
Oct 23, 3:00 AM · USGS 05391000 |
278 cfs | 47% | -2% | 0.92 ft | · | 1,582 ft |
|
Wisconsin River At Merrill WI
Oct 23, 3:00 AM · USGS 05395000 |
966 cfs | 50% | +26% | 3.94 ft | · | 1,232 ft |
|
Wisconsin River At Rothschild WI
Oct 23, 2:00 AM · USGS 05398000 |
1,660 cfs | 55% | +3% | 13.32 ft | · | 1,138 ft |
|
Wisconsin River At Wisconsin Rapids WI
Oct 23, 2:00 AM · USGS 05400760 |
1,370 cfs | 43% | -2% | 2.75 ft | · | 971 ft |
|
Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells WI
Oct 23, 3:00 AM · USGS 05404000 |
2,820 cfs | 55% | -36% | 2.06 ft | · | 810 ft |
|
Wisconsin River At Muscoda WI
Oct 23, 3:00 AM · USGS 05407000 |
5,990 cfs | 89% | +8% | 1.44 ft | 7.6 ft below | 672 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 Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock | No live range | · | 814–4,019 cfs typical | · |
| Lone Rock
To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers Gauge: Muscoda |
No live range | 5,990 cfs | 25–358 cfs typical | II–III |
| The Big Green River To The River'S Mouth At The Mississippi River | No live range | · | 422–7,259 cfs typical | III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Wisconsin River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Wisconsin River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Wisconsin River
The Wisconsin River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River, stretching over 430 miles from its source in northern Wisconsin to its confluence with the Mississippi River. The river has a rich history, once serving as a major transportation route for fur traders and loggers. Today, the river plays an important role in Wisconsin's economy, supporting hydroelectric power, agriculture, and recreation. The river is home to several large reservoirs, including Lake Wisconsin, Petenwell Lake, and Castle Rock Lake, which are used for power generation and flood control. The river is also a popular destination for fishing, boating, and camping. Agricultural uses of the river include irrigation for crops and livestock watering. The hydrology of the Wisconsin River is closely monitored to ensure sustainable use and protection of this valuable resource.
Fishing near the Wisconsin River
About the Wisconsin River
How is the Wisconsin River flowing right now?
As of October 23, 2026, the Wisconsin River is flowing at 5,990 cfs at Muscoda, WI, about 89% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 278 to 5,990 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Wisconsin River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Wisconsin River is at 53% 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 Wisconsin River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Muscoda (9.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Wisconsin 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.