Missouri River at Washburn water level
River gauge, Missouri River, North Dakota, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
Low water at Missouri River at Washburn: the gauge reads 7.82 ft, far below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 10.74 ft, based on 61 years of readings, so the river stage is 2.92 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 8.12 ft, a difference of −0.30 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.12 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 7.73 ft – 8.23 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 61 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 10.74 ft2.92 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 8.30 ft – 16.22 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (61 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 8.12 ft−0.30 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 7.73 ft – 8.23 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 7.79 ft – 13.93 ft
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Missouri River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River near WillistonRiver gauge, Missouri River | 13.13 ft | Normal | +0.05 ft | 137 mi |
| Missouri River above StantonRiver gauge, Missouri River | 61.08 ft | Very low | −0.18 ft | 16 mi |
| Missouri River near StantonRiver gauge, Missouri River | 6.83 ft | Very low | −0.06 ft | 14 mi |
| Missouri River near HenslerRiver gauge, Missouri River | 11.71 ft | Very low | −0.11 ft | 7 mi |
| Missouri River at PriceRiver gauge, Missouri River | 16.95 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 15 mi |
| Missouri River above MandanRiver gauge, Missouri River | 11.36 ft | No reference yet | +0.04 ft | 31 mi |
| Missouri River at BismarckRiver gauge, Missouri River | 3.80 ft | Normal | +0.04 ft | 34 mi |
| Missouri River below MandanRiver gauge, Missouri River | 18.75 ft | Very low | +0.05 ft | 38 mi |
| Missouri River near SchmidtRiver gauge, Missouri River | 11.94 ft | Low | +0.08 ft | 46 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Butte Creek below CenterRiver gauge, Square Butte Creek | 1.06 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 18 mi |
| Audubon Lake North DakotaReservoir | 1,846.35 ft | High | 25 mi | |
| Knife River at HazenRiver gauge, Knife River | 0.84 ft | Low | ±0 | 27 mi |
| Heart River near MandanRiver gauge, Heart River | 8.87 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 32 mi |
| Drain on Wachter Ave at BismarckRiver gauge, Drain on Wachter Ave | 26.18 ft | Low | ±0 | 37 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Missouri River at Washburn higher than last year?
No, it is 0.30 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 8.12 ft.
What is a normal level for the Missouri River at Washburn in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 10.74 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 8.30 ft and 16.22 ft, based on 61 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Missouri River at Washburn today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 09:15 AM MDT, the water level was 7.82 ft. Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Missouri River at Washburn rising or falling?
Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.12 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Missouri River at Washburn normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 61 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06341000(Agency page)- Coordinates
47.28889, -101.03750(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 7.82 ft | 2026-10-19 15:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Missouri River at Washburn (usgs:06341000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-dakota/missouri-river-at-washburn
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer