Yellow River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Yellow River is flowing at 1,290 cfs at Ion, IA and up 552% in 24 hours. 11 of 11 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 35 to 1,290 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Yellow River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Yellow 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 Ion, the Yellow River is running 1,290 cfs, up 552% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 10 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 75% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Ion (+552%) and Plymouth (+74%).
Highest against normal: Plymouth at 473%. Lowest: Milton at 10%.
How the Yellow 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
- Babcock1,024 ft 35 cfs99%
- Necedah907 ft 249 cfs192%
- Plymouth781 ft 322 cfs473%
- Ga 124727 ft 43 cfs77%
- Pleasant Hill Rd704 ft 47 cfs64%
- Knox694 ft 354 cfs238%
- Ion681 ft 1,290 cfs
- Gees Mill Road657 ft 60 cfs73%
- Oak Grove85 ft 112 cfs37%
- Milligan51 ft 196 cfs52%
- Milton3 ft 151 cfs10%
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 River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (75%).
Yellow River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yellow River At Babcock WI
Oct 2, 3:00 AM · USGS 05402000 |
35 cfs | 99% | +54% | 2.13 ft | · | 1,024 ft |
|
Yellow River At Necedah WI
Oct 2, 3:00 AM · USGS 05403000 |
249 cfs | 192% | -6% | 9.61 ft | · | 907 ft |
|
Yellow River At Plymouth IN
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 05516500 |
322 cfs | 473% | +74% | 5.99 ft | 7.0 ft below | 781 ft |
|
Yellow River At Ga 124 GA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 02207120 |
43 cfs | 77% | -2% | 2.71 ft | 12.3 ft below | 727 ft |
|
Yellow River At Pleasant Hill Rd GA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 02207220 |
47 cfs | 64% | -6% | 1.00 ft | 12.0 ft below | 704 ft |
|
Yellow River At Knox IN
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 05517000 |
354 cfs | 238% | +12% | 5.47 ft | 4.5 ft below | 694 ft |
|
Yellow River At Ion IA
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 05389000 |
1,290 cfs | · | +552% | 8.24 ft | · | 681 ft |
|
Yellow River At Gees Mill Road GA
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 02207335 |
60 cfs | 73% | -8% | 1.07 ft | 9.9 ft below | 657 ft |
|
Yellow River Near Oak Grove FL
Oct 2, 2:15 AM · USGS 02367900 |
112 cfs | 37% | 0% | 79.78 ft | · | 85 ft |
|
Yellow River At Milligan FL
Oct 2, 2:00 AM · USGS 02368000 |
196 cfs | 52% | +9% | 0.68 ft | 11.3 ft below | 51 ft |
|
Yellow River Near Milton FL
Oct 2, 2:30 AM · USGS 02369600 |
151 cfs | 10% | +66% | 38.65 ft | · | 3 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 Yellow River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Yellow River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Yellow River
The Yellow River, also known as the Huang He, is the second-longest river in China, stretching over 5,464 km. It has played a significant role in Chinese history, often referred to as the "cradle of Chinese civilization." The river is renowned for its yellow color, caused by the high levels of silt and sediment in the water. However, this sedimentation has also caused devastating floods throughout history. To mitigate this, China has constructed several dams and reservoirs, including the Xiaolangdi Dam and the Sanmenxia Dam. These structures provide hydroelectric power and aid in flood control. Additionally, the river is a crucial source of irrigation for agriculture, supporting millions of people who live along its banks. Recreational activities, such as boating and fishing, are also popular in the Yellow River.
About the Yellow River
How is the Yellow River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Yellow River is flowing at 1,290 cfs at Ion, IA. Across its 11 USGS gauges, current flows range from 35 to 1,290 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Yellow River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Yellow River is at 75% 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 Yellow River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Plymouth (13.0 ft), Ga 124 (15.0 ft), Pleasant Hill Rd (13.0 ft), Knox (10.0 ft), Gees Mill Road (11.0 ft), Milligan (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.