Advertisement
River report

Yellow Medicine River Flow Today

As of October 14, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Yellow Medicine River is flowing at 15 cfs near Granite Falls, MN — 45% of normal for the date and up 19% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
1 1 reporting · upstream → down
Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls: 45% of normal
Typical gauge
45% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Biggest flow now
15cfs Granite Falls
Updated
Oct 14, 2:45 AM
Live river map

Yellow Medicine River map

Open full map →
Premium

See the Yellow Medicine 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

✓ Free for 7 days  ·  ✓ Cancel anytime

River briefing · Oct 14, 2026

Yellow Medicine 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 Granite Falls, the Yellow Medicine River is running 15 cfs — 45% of normal, up 19% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 45% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Granite Falls (+19%).

Headwaters to mouth

How the Yellow Medicine 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. Granite Falls986 ft 15 cfs45%

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 Yellow Medicine River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (45%).

Typical gauge 45%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal1Below normal0Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal0

Yellow Medicine River flow report

1 gauge
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height Elevation
Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls MN
Oct 14, 2:45 AM · USGS 05313500
15 cfs 45% +19% 2.83 ft 986 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

Yellow Medicine 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).

About this river

Yellow Medicine River

The Yellow Medicine River is a tributary of the Minnesota River that flows through southwestern Minnesota. The river is approximately 90 miles long and has a watershed area of 1,050 square miles. The river's name is derived from the Dakota word for the plant goldenrod, which is common along its banks. The river has a unique history, as it was once an important transportation route for Native American tribes and early settlers. Today, the river is used for agricultural purposes, with over 80% of the land in the watershed being used for farming. There are several dams and reservoirs along the Yellow Medicine River, including the Granite Falls Dam and Reservoir, which is used for hydroelectric power generation and recreation. The river is popular for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing, and offers scenic views of the surrounding prairie landscape.

FAQ

About the Yellow Medicine River

How is the Yellow Medicine River flowing right now?

As of October 14, 2026, the Yellow Medicine River is flowing at 15 cfs near Granite Falls, MN, about 45% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Yellow Medicine River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Yellow Medicine River is at 45% 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