Kansas River at Manhattan water level
River gauge, Kansas River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The Kansas River at Manhattan is at 7.55 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
That puts it 2.24 ft above the median of 5.31 ft for mid-October, based on 29 years of readings. It is 10.45 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 5.28 ft (+2.27 ft).
It has dropped 0.09 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 5.32 ft and 14.28 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5.31 ft2.24 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.22 ft – 10.51 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (29 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5.28 ft+2.27 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5.32 ft – 14.28 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.80 ft – 15.87 ft
- Highest on record
- 40.00 ftJune 1, 1844
Floating and fishing near Kansas River at Manhattan
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 18.00 ft, 10.45 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 36.00 ft
- Flood waters reach the top of levee protecting the city of Manhattan.
- 28.00 ft
- Flood waters reach the top of the levee on the south bank of the river.
- 26.00 ft
- Hunter's Island begins to flood.
- 18.00 ft
- Low lands along the river flood.
- 7.55 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: 8 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40.00 ft | June 1, 1844 |
| 2 | 33.39 ft | July 13, 1951 |
| 3 | 29.92 ft | July 25, 1993 |
| 4 | 29.84 ft | July 15, 1951 |
| 5 | 26.76 ft | June 29, 1951 |
| 6 | 25.22 ft | June 24, 1951 |
| 7 | 23.04 ft | June 9, 1951 |
| 8 | 23.00 ft | July 20, 1950 |
| 9 | 22.68 ft | July 20, 1948 |
| 10 | 22.40 ft | June 28, 1947 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.26 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Kansas River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas River at Fort RileyRiver gauge, Kansas River | 5.81 ft | Normal | −0.27 ft | 14 mi |
| Kansas River at WamegoRiver gauge, Kansas River | 9.24 ft | Very high | −0.07 ft | 13 mi |
| Kansas River near BelvueRiver gauge, Kansas River | 15.58 ft | Very high | −0.09 ft | 22 mi |
| Kansas River above Topeka Weir at TopekaRiver gauge, Kansas River | 14,400 cfs | High | −200.0 cfs | 45 mi |
| Kansas River at TopekaRiver gauge, Kansas River | 12.10 ft | Very high | −0.10 ft | 49 mi |
| Kansas River at LecomptonRiver gauge, Kansas River | 7.76 ft | Very high | −0.28 ft | 63 mi |
| Kansas River at LawrenceRiver gauge, Kansas River | 13.64 ft | Normal | +18.89 ft | 72 mi |
| Kansas River at DesotoRiver gauge, Kansas River | 9.74 ft | Very high | −0.09 ft | 86 mi |
| Kansas River near Lake QuiviraRiver gauge, Kansas River | 12.43 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 95 mi |
| Kansas River at Kansas CityRiver gauge, Kansas River | 15.39 ft | Normal | ±0 | 104 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, ManhattanRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 2.75 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 3.1 mi |
| Big Blue River near ManhattanRiver gauge, Big Blue River | 11.29 ft | Very high | −0.12 ft | 4.4 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, ManhattanRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 3.03 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 4.8 mi |
| Kings Creek near ManhattanRiver gauge, Kings Creek | 3.0 cfs | Very high | −0.2 cfs | 5.5 mi |
| Tuttle C Lake near ManhattanLake, Tuttle C Lake | 1,084.98 ft | Very high | −1.09 ft | 6.1 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at KeatsRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 8.21 ft | High | +0.01 ft | 9 mi |
| Republican River at Junction CityRiver gauge, Republican River | 236 cfs | Normal | −570.0 cfs | 17 mi |
| Milford Lake near Junction CityLake, Milford Lake | 1,145.78 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Kansas River at Manhattan compare with last year?
It is 2.27 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.28 ft.
What is flood stage for the Kansas River at Manhattan?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 10.45 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Kansas River at Manhattan in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.22 ft and 10.51 ft, based on 29 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 Kansas River at Manhattan today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 02:45 PM CDT, the water level was 7.55 ft. Down 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kansas River at Manhattan rising or falling?
Down 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.26 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Kansas River at Manhattan normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06879820(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.17472, -96.55472(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 | 7.55 ft | 2026-10-19 19:45 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kansas River at Manhattan (usgs:06879820). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/kansas-river-at-manhattan
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