Kansas River at Fort Riley water level
River gauge, Kansas River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 918 cfs
History
20252026
The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.10 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 07:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 09:05 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Kansas River at Fort Riley is at 5.55 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 4.99 ft, based on 39 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.56 ft above typical. It is 15.45 ft below the flood stage of 21.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.68 ft, a difference of +0.87 ft.
It has dropped 0.50 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.10 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 07:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 4.85 ft and 11.58 ft.
Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.99 ft0.56 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.42 ft – 8.65 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (39 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.68 ft+0.87 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.85 ft – 11.58 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.25 ft – 17.13 ft
- Highest on record
- 34.50 ftJuly 1, 1951
- Forecast peak
- 5.10 ftTuesday, October 20 at 07:00 AM
Floating and fishing near Kansas River at Fort Riley
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 21.00 ft, 15.45 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
- Lowland areas near the river flood.
- 5.55 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: 7 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34.50 ft | July 1, 1951 |
| 2 | 34.50 ft | July 13, 1951 |
| 3 | 27.93 ft | July 26, 1993 |
| 4 | 23.74 ft | October 14, 1973 |
| 5 | 20.82 ft | July 7, 2019 |
| 6 | 18.80 ft | May 24, 1999 |
| 7 | 18.46 ft | May 23, 1971 |
| 8 | 18.31 ft | October 7, 1967 |
| 9 | 18.21 ft | May 28, 1995 |
| 10 | 17.84 ft | June 4, 2005 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Kansas River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas River at ManhattanRiver gauge, Kansas River | 7.34 ft | Normal | −0.30 ft | 14 mi |
| Kansas River at WamegoRiver gauge, Kansas River | 9.18 ft | Very high | −0.10 ft | 26 mi |
| Kansas River near BelvueRiver gauge, Kansas River | 15.52 ft | Very high | −0.07 ft | 34 mi |
| Kansas River above Topeka Weir at TopekaRiver gauge, Kansas River | 14,200 cfs | High | −300.0 cfs | 56 mi |
| Kansas River at TopekaRiver gauge, Kansas River | 12.04 ft | Very high | −0.08 ft | 60 mi |
| Kansas River at LecomptonRiver gauge, Kansas River | 7.67 ft | Very high | −0.32 ft | 74 mi |
| Kansas River at LawrenceRiver gauge, Kansas River | −5.73 ft | Very low | −0.41 ft | 83 mi |
| Kansas River at DesotoRiver gauge, Kansas River | 9.50 ft | Very high | −0.27 ft | 97 mi |
| Kansas River near Lake QuiviraRiver gauge, Kansas River | 12.34 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 106 mi |
| Kansas River at Kansas CityRiver gauge, Kansas River | 15.12 ft | Normal | −0.31 ft | 116 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican River at Junction CityRiver gauge, Republican River | 162 cfs | Normal | −659.0 cfs | 3.6 mi |
| Milford Lake near Junction CityLake, Milford Lake | 1,145.82 ft | Very high | +0.04 ft | 7 mi |
| Kings Creek near ManhattanRiver gauge, Kings Creek | 2.6 cfs | Very high | −0.3 cfs | 10 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, ManhattanRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 3.01 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 11 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at KeatsRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 8.19 ft | High | −0.01 ft | 11 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, ManhattanRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 2.72 ft | Normal | ±0 | 12 mi |
| Chapman Creek near ChapmanRiver gauge, Chapman Creek | 4.44 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 15 mi |
| Tuttle C Lake near ManhattanLake, Tuttle C Lake | 1,084.21 ft | Very high | −1.14 ft | 16 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Kansas River at Fort Riley higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.87 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.68 ft.
What is flood stage for the Kansas River at Fort Riley?
The official flood stage is 21.00 ft. The level is currently 15.45 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Kansas River at Fort Riley in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.99 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.42 ft and 8.65 ft, based on 39 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 Fort Riley today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 AM CDT, the water level was 5.55 ft. Down 0.50 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kansas River at Fort Riley rising or falling?
Down 0.50 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 2.03 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Kansas River at Fort Riley normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 39 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:06879100(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.06166, -96.76640(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 | 5.55 ft | 2026-10-20 11:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 918 cfs | 2026-10-20 11:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kansas River at Fort Riley (usgs:06879100). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/kansas-river-at-fort-riley
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