Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Arkansas River near Hutchinson water level

River gauge, Arkansas River, Kansas, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Water level

1.98ft Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
92.8 cfs
5 10 Highest onrecord 13.08 ft Minor floodstage 10.00 ft

History

23ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 2023ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20
2345ftSep 21Sep 28Oct 5Oct 13Oct 202345ftSep 21Oct 5Oct 20
35810ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage35810ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
2468ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20262468ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

At 1.98 ft, the Arkansas River near Hutchinson is below normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.89 ft, based on 38 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.90 ft below typical. It is 8.02 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.95 ft, a difference of −0.97 ft.

The level is falling, down 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.77 ft and 4.63 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 38 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
2.89 ft0.90 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.83 ft – 3.73 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (38 years of records)
Same day last year
2.95 ft−0.97 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.77 ft – 4.63 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.76 ft – 6.27 ft
Highest on record
13.08 ftMay 8, 2007

What the stage means on the water

Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 10.00 ft, still 8.02 ft away.

What happens at each level

13.00 ft
Expect most of the levee system to be overtopped. Flood waters will be widespread.
12.00 ft
Flooding overspreads pasture land along both banks to an extent of 30 feet. The river current will be swift with violent eddies in the middle channel. Water overtops the levee about 3 miles upstream from the gage site at Haven Road.
11.00 ft
Flooding overspreads surrounding pastureland adjacent to the right bank. Expect river current to be swift with violent eddies.
10.00 ft
The river begins to overflow on the right bank affecting pastureland. Expect river current to be swift with violent eddies.
9.00 ft
The river will be out of its channel but within its banks. River extends to a width of about 550 feet. The channel current will be swift.
8.00 ft
The river is within its banks but out of the main channel.
1.98 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 %.

RankLevelDate
113.08 ftMay 8, 2007
212.99 ftMay 10, 2019
312.96 ftOctober 12, 2018
412.95 ftSeptember 28, 1973
512.81 ftMay 22, 2019
612.51 ftMay 29, 2019
712.44 ftMay 27, 2007
812.33 ftJuly 23, 1993
912.02 ftApril 2, 1973
1011.81 ftOctober 13, 1973

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 73° 53° 0.03 in, 27% Wind 14 mph
21 Wed 73° 54° – Wind 11 mph
22 Thu 77° 55° – Wind 15 mph
23 Fri 76° 60° – Wind 18 mph
24 Sat 77° 61° – Wind 17 mph
25 Sun 75° 61° – Wind 15 mph
26 Mon 63° 43° 1.20 in, 31% Wind 20 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:45 AM Sunset 06:48 PM Daylight 11 hr, 3 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Other gauges on the Arkansas River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Arkansas River at Dodge CityRiver gauge, Arkansas River 6.74 ft High ±0 124 mi
Arkansas River near LarnedRiver gauge, Arkansas River 3.92 ft Normal −0.05 ft 69 mi
Arkansas River at Great BendRiver gauge, Arkansas River 0.64 ft Low −0.01 ft 61 mi
Arkansas River near NickersonRiver gauge, Arkansas River 8.96 ft Normal −0.01 ft 23 mi
Arkansas River near MaizeRiver gauge, Arkansas River 4.60 ft Low −0.01 ft 24 mi
Arkansas River at WichitaRiver gauge, Arkansas River 2.67 ft Low +0.10 ft 32 mi
Arkansas River at DerbyRiver gauge, Arkansas River 0.76 ft Very low −0.01 ft 39 mi
Arkansas River at MulvaneRiver gauge, Arkansas River 5.54 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 43 mi
Arkansas River at Arkansas CityRiver gauge, Arkansas River 3.73 ft Low −0.13 ft 75 mi
Arkansas River at RalstonRiver gauge, Arkansas River 4.11 ft Below flood stage −0.33 ft 115 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Lake Arkansas River at Highway 50 near HalsteadRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River 5.66 ft Normal ±0 14 mi
Nf Ninnescah River above Cheney ReRiver gauge, Nf Ninnescah River 5.89 ft Normal −0.02 ft 14 mi
Lake Arkansas River at Alta MillsRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River −0.69 ft Very low −0.01 ft 15 mi
Cheney Re near CheneyLake, Cheney Re 1,420.17 ft Normal ±0 15 mi
Cheney ReservoirReservoir 1,420.23 ft Normal 15 mi
Emma Creek at SedgwickRiver gauge, Emma Creek −1.93 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 18 mi
Cow Creek near HutchinsonRiver gauge, Cow Creek 1.48 ft Normal −0.02 ft 19 mi
Lake Arkansas River near SedgwickRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River 1.83 ft Very low −0.04 ft 20 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Arkansas River near Hutchinson higher than last year?

No, it is 0.97 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.95 ft.

What is flood stage for the Arkansas River near Hutchinson?

The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 8.02 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Arkansas River near Hutchinson in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.89 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.83 ft and 3.73 ft, based on 38 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 Arkansas River near Hutchinson today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 03:30 PM CDT, the water level was 1.98 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Arkansas River near Hutchinson rising or falling?

Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.09 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Arkansas River near Hutchinson normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 38 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:07143330 (Agency page)
Coordinates
37.94614, -97.77512 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 1.98 ft 2026-10-20 20:30 Provisional
Flow 92.8 cfs 2026-10-20 20:30 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: Arkansas River near Hutchinson (usgs:07143330). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/arkansas-river-near-hutchinson

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