West Nishnabotna River at Hancock water level
River gauge, West Nishnabotna River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 682 cfs
History
What this means
The West Nishnabotna River at Hancock is at 3.84 ft, in the normal range.
It is 10.16 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.84 ft and 4.48 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 23.52 ftJuly 10, 1993
Floating and fishing near West Nishnabotna River at Hancock
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 14.00 ft, 10.16 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 29.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge deck at the gage site.
- 24.00 ft
- Portions of Hancock west of the railroad tracks begin to flood. In addition, the top of the berm protecting the lagoons for the City of Hancock are overtopped.
- 22.00 ft
- The lowland areas of Avoca begin to flood. The degree of flooding also depends on how high the water is on the West Branch which flows along the east side of town.
- 21.00 ft
- G30 road begins to flood west of Hancock.
- 19.00 ft
- The lowland areas in Oakland, generally west of Highway 59, begin to flood.
- 18.00 ft
- Though low-lying areas of the park have already flooded, at this level the majority of the park is underwater.
- 17.00 ft
- The paved road leading from G30 to Botna Bend Park is flooded.
- 15.50 ft
- The bathroom facility at Botna Bend Park floods.
- 14.00 ft
- Low-lying areas of Botna Bend Park in Hancock begin to flood. In addition, lowland flooding along the river begins.
- 3.84 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23.52 ft | July 10, 1993 |
| 2 | 22.36 ft | March 14, 2019 |
| 3 | 22.12 ft | September 13, 1972 |
| 4 | 20.53 ft | May 6, 2007 |
| 5 | 20.44 ft | March 1, 1965 |
| 6 | 19.54 ft | March 18, 1979 |
| 7 | 19.44 ft | September 8, 1989 |
| 8 | 18.56 ft | February 19, 1971 |
| 9 | 18.47 ft | June 12, 2008 |
| 10 | 18.33 ft | June 17, 1990 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the West Nishnabotna River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Nishnabotna River at RandolphRiver gauge, West Nishnabotna River | 10.27 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 37 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Nishnabotna River near AtlanticRiver gauge, East Nishnabotna River | 4.18 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 16 mi |
| Tarkio River near ElliottRiver gauge, Tarkio River | 2.55 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 24 mi |
| East Tarkio Creek near StantonRiver gauge, East Tarkio Creek | 0.43 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 26 mi |
| East Nishnabotna River at Red OakRiver gauge, East Nishnabotna River | 8.11 ft | Below flood stage | −0.16 ft | 27 mi |
| Boyer River at LoganRiver gauge, Boyer River | 4.68 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 27 mi |
| Missouri River at OmahaRiver gauge, Missouri River | 13.61 ft | Below flood stage | +0.12 ft | 30 mi |
| Missouri River at Hwy 92 at OmahaRiver gauge, Missouri River | 13.84 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 31 mi |
| Missouri River at Hwy 370 at BellevueRiver gauge, Missouri River | 15.29 ft | Very low | +0.09 ft | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the West Nishnabotna River at Hancock?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 10.16 ft below it.
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 West Nishnabotna River at Hancock today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 01:00 PM CDT, the water level was 3.84 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is West Nishnabotna River at Hancock rising or falling?
Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of West Nishnabotna River at Hancock normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at West Nishnabotna River at Hancock?
The highest level on record is 23.52 ft on July 10, 1993.
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:06807410(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.39011, -95.37206(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 | 3.84 ft | 2026-10-20 18:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 682 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: West Nishnabotna River at Hancock (usgs:06807410). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/west-nishnabotna-river-at-hancock
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