West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester water level

Name: West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, West Fork Big Blue River, Nebraska, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

3.53ft Up 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 01:00 PM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 131 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

High water at West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester: the latest reading is 3.53 ft, above normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.81 ft, based on 17 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.72 ft above typical. It is 11.47 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.58 ft, a difference of +0.95 ft.

It is on the way up, by 0.09 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. The 30-day range is 2.56 ft – 18.03 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.81 ft0.72 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.16 ft – 3.71 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.58 ft+0.95 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.56 ft – 18.03 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.41 ft – 18.03 ft
Highest on record: 24.80 ftJuly 10, 1950

Paddling and fishing conditions

Above-normal flows push fish to the edges and make wading risky. Wait for the river to drop and clear.

For reference, flood stage is 15.00 ft.

What happens at each level

30.00 ft: Water is over the bridge.
28.00 ft: Water reaches bottom of the concrete on the bridge.
25.00 ft: The low steel of the bridge at the gage site is level with flood waters which are spreading out across the flood plain throughout the reach.
22.00 ft: The county road about 500 feet north of the gage begins to flood.
18.00 ft: Though only minor flooding is occurring at the gage, upstream near Beaver Crossing more severe flooding is likely ongoing.
15.00 ft: Overflows commence along the low banks.
3.53 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: 15 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	24.80 ft	July 10, 1950
2	22.62 ft	July 1, 1986
3	21.71 ft	March 11, 1993
4	21.24 ft	June 8, 2015
5	21.17 ft	May 13, 2005
6	20.58 ft	July 22, 1990
7	20.34 ft	March 20, 1969
8	20.28 ft	March 30, 1960
9	19.96 ft	March 14, 2019
10	19.51 ft	March 25, 1987

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 71° 44° – Wind 13 mph

21 Wed 75° 53° – Wind 9 mph

22 Thu 76° 54° – Wind 14 mph

23 Fri 78° 61° – Wind 21 mph

24 Sat 76° 58° 0.04 in, 23% Wind 19 mph

25 Sun 59° 43° 0.77 in, 31% Wind 16 mph

26 Mon 43° 38° 0.80 in, 31% Wind 17 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:46 AM Sunset 06:42 PM Daylight 10 hr, 56 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Blue River near CreteRiver gauge, Big Blue River	9.63 ft	Very high	−0.19 ft	15 mi
Haines Branch at SW 56th St at LincolnRiver gauge, Haines Branch	3.12 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	20 mi
Middle Creek at SW 63rd St at LincolnRiver gauge, Middle Creek	2.83 ft	Very high	−0.08 ft	20 mi
Oak Creek at Air Park Road at LincolnRiver gauge, Oak Creek	1.26 ft	Very high	−0.05 ft	23 mi
Salt Creek at Pioneers Boulevard at LincolnRiver gauge, Salt Creek	5.56 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	24 mi
Antelope Creek at 27th Street at LincolnRiver gauge, Antelope Creek	3.50 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	26 mi
Salt Creek at Innovation Campus at LincolnRiver gauge, Salt Creek	8.75 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	26 mi
Salt Creek at 27th Street at LincolnRiver gauge, Salt Creek	2.85 ft	High	−0.05 ft	27 mi

Questions and answers

Is the West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.95 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.58 ft.

What is flood stage for the West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester?

The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 11.47 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.81 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.16 ft and 3.71 ft, based on 17 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 West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 01:00 PM CDT, the water level was 3.53 ft. Up 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester rising or falling?

Up 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.09 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 17 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:06880800 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 40.73152, -97.17777 (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	3.53 ft	2026-10-20 18:00	Provisional
Flow	131 cfs	2026-10-20 18:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: West Fork Big Blue River near Dorchester (usgs:06880800). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/west-fork-big-blue-river-near-dorchester

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