Yahara River Flow Today
As of October 3, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Yahara River is flowing at 643 cfs near Fulton, WI — 202% of normal for the date and up 28% in 24 hours. 5 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 26 to 643 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Yahara River map
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Yahara 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 Fulton, the Yahara River is running 643 cfs — 202% of normal, up 28% since yesterday. Along the river, 5 of 5 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 192% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Madison (+169%) and Windsor (+98%); dropping at Madison (-26%).
Highest against normal: Madison at 260%. Lowest: Madison at 155%.
How the Yahara 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
- Windsor875 ft 26 cfs192%
- Madison852 ft 136 cfs155%
- Madison846 ft 113 cfs260%
- Stoughton840 ft 448 cfs178%
- Fulton797 ft 643 cfs202%
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 Yahara River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (192%).
Yahara River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yahara River At Windsor WI
Oct 3, 2:05 AM · USGS 05427718 |
26 cfs | 192% | +98% | 1.45 ft | 875 ft |
|
Yahara River At East Main Street At Madison WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05428500 |
136 cfs | 155% | -26% | 5.54 ft | 852 ft |
|
Yahara River At State Hwy 113 At Madison WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05427850 |
113 cfs | 260% | +169% | 10.33 ft | 846 ft |
|
Yahara River At Mc Farland WI
Last reported Sep 17 · USGS 05429500 |
166 cfs | · | · | 4.50 ft | 846 ft |
|
Yahara River At Forton St. Bridge At Stoughton WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05429700 |
448 cfs | 178% | +6% | 6.68 ft | 840 ft |
|
Yahara River Near Fulton WI
Oct 3, 2:00 AM · USGS 05430175 |
643 cfs | 202% | +28% | 5.27 ft | 797 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 Yahara River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Yahara River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Yahara River
The Yahara River is a 65-mile long tributary of the Rock River in southern Wisconsin. The name “Yahara” is a Native American word meaning “sparkling waters”. The river is an important source of water supply for the city of Madison and provides a habitat for many fish and wildlife species. The Yahara River has several reservoirs and dams. The most well-known of these is Lake Mendota, which is the largest of the four lakes that the Yahara River flows through. Other reservoirs include Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, and Lake Kegonsa. These reservoirs provide recreational opportunities for the local community, including fishing, boating, and swimming. The Yahara River also has agricultural uses, as it passes through many farms in the region. However, the river has experienced water quality issues due to agricultural runoff and urbanization.
Fishing near the Yahara River
About the Yahara River
How is the Yahara River flowing right now?
As of October 3, 2026, the Yahara River is flowing at 643 cfs near Fulton, WI, about 202% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 26 to 643 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Yahara River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Yahara River is at 192% 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.