Missouri River North 5A at Buford water level
River gauge, Missouri River North 5A, North Dakota, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The Missouri River North 5A at Buford is at 7.28 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
That puts it 0.53 ft below the median of 7.81 ft for mid-October, based on 35 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 8.01 ft (−0.73 ft).
It has risen 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 6.69 ft and 8.04 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 35 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 7.81 ft0.53 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.77 ft – 9.57 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (35 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 8.01 ft−0.73 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 6.69 ft – 8.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5.82 ft – 13.33 ft
Floating and fishing near Missouri River North 5A at Buford
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River North 5 at NohlyRiver gauge, Missouri River North 5 | 63.88 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 5.1 mi |
| Yellowstone River North 2 near CartwrightRiver gauge, Yellowstone River North 2 | 62.90 ft | Very low | −0.06 ft | 9 mi |
| Missouri River North 4 near NohlyRiver gauge, Missouri River North 4 | 10.73 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 9 mi |
| Yellowstone River North 1 near FairviewRiver gauge, Yellowstone River North 1 | 8.79 ft | Very low | +0.03 ft | 13 mi |
| Missouri River near WillistonRiver gauge, Missouri River | 13.18 ft | Normal | +0.09 ft | 15 mi |
| Missouri River North 9 at WillistonRiver gauge, Missouri River North 9 | 23.10 ft | Normal | +0.31 ft | 20 mi |
| Yellowstone River near Sidney MTRiver gauge, Yellowstone River | 2.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 23 mi |
| Missouri River near Culbertson MTRiver gauge, Missouri River | 3.37 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 24 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Missouri River North 5A at Buford compare with last year?
It is 0.73 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 8.01 ft.
What is a normal level for the Missouri River North 5A at Buford in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 7.81 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.77 ft and 9.57 ft, based on 35 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 North 5A at Buford today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 04:15 PM MDT, the water level was 7.28 ft. Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Missouri River North 5A at Buford rising or falling?
Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.40 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Missouri River North 5A at Buford normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 35 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:06329640(Agency page)- Coordinates
47.98556, -103.98528(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 | 7.28 ft | 2026-10-19 22:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Missouri River North 5A at Buford (usgs:06329640). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-dakota/missouri-river-north-5a-at-buford
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