Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen water level

Name: Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen 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, Smoky Hill River, Kansas, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

2.86ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 04:00 PM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 4.0 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

The Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen is well above normal at 2.86 ft.

That puts it 0.75 ft above the median of 2.11 ft for mid-October, based on 32 years of readings. It is 8.14 ft below the flood stage of 11.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.52 ft (+0.34 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.17 ft and 5.43 ft.

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

Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.11 ft0.75 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.62 ft – 2.79 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.52 ft+0.34 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.17 ft – 5.43 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.16 ft – 8.82 ft
Highest on record: 17.60 ftJuly 21, 1993

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

What happens at each level

17.00 ft: Prepare for major flooding along the Smoky Hill River from Schoenchen throughout southeastern Ellis County. Extensive flooding of lowlands will occur, with floodwaters of six feet or more possible near the main river channel.
14.00 ft: Expect moderate flooding of three feet or more along the Smoky Hill River from Schoenchen through the southeastern portion of Ellis County. Some county roads adjacent to the river will be impassable due to rising waters.
13.00 ft: Expect minor flooding of two feet or more along the Smoky Hill River from Schoenchen through the southeastern portions of Ellis County, as the river moves further out onto the floodplain. Some county roads in close proximity to the river may become impassible as rising waters cover the roads.
11.00 ft: Expect minor overflows along the Smoky Hill River in the vicinity of Schoenchen, as lowland flooding of pasturelands initiates immediately adjacent to the river.
2.86 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	17.60 ft	July 21, 1993
2	13.57 ft	April 14, 1987
3	12.42 ft	June 1, 2007
4	12.22 ft	May 22, 2019
5	11.42 ft	October 10, 2018
6	10.59 ft	August 25, 2019
7	10.52 ft	August 24, 2010
8	10.51 ft	January 11, 2003
9	10.45 ft	April 17, 2016
10	10.32 ft	November 16, 1996

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

19 Mon 72° 47° – Wind 14 mph

20 Tue 72° 48° 0.02 in Wind 16 mph

21 Wed 78° 57° 0.11 in Wind 14 mph

22 Thu 83° 59° – Wind 17 mph

23 Fri 79° 65° – Wind 25 mph

24 Sat 74° 63° 0.09 in, 37% Wind 21 mph

25 Sun 69° 56° – Wind 11 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:51 AM Sunset 06:55 PM Daylight 11 hr, 4 min First quarter 62%

Map

Other gauges on the Smoky Hill River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Smoky Hill River at ElkaderRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	4.62 ft	Very high	−0.01 ft	85 mi
Smoky Hill River near ArnoldRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	0.23 ft	Low	+0.01 ft	40 mi
Smoky Hill River near SchoenchenRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	3.09 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	3.0 mi
Smoky Hill River at PfeiferRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	9.7 cfs	Normal	−0.5 cfs	7 mi
Smoky Hill River near RussellRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	4.20 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	24 mi
Smoky Hill River at EllsworthRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	1.76 ft	Normal	−0.05 ft	57 mi
Smoky Hill River near LangleyRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	3.68 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	73 mi
Smoky Hill River at LindsborgRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	7.33 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	88 mi
Smoky Hill River near MentorRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	4.42 ft	Normal	±0	93 mi
Smoky Hill River at New CambriaRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	5.95 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	98 mi
Smoky Hill River at EnterpriseRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	7.43 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	118 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Creek near HaysRiver gauge, Big Creek	4.66 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	10 mi
Walnut Creek at NekomaRiver gauge, Walnut Creek	6.59 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	18 mi
Walnut Creek at AlbertRiver gauge, Walnut Creek	2.59 ft	Low	−0.02 ft	23 mi
Cedar Bluff Re near EllisLake, Cedar Bluff Re	2,118.68 ft	Very low	±0	24 mi
Big Creek near EllisRiver gauge, Big Creek	1.9 cfs	Normal	+0.5 cfs	24 mi
Saline River near RussellRiver gauge, Saline River	4.50 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	29 mi
Paradise Creek near ParadiseRiver gauge, Paradise Creek	8.39 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	34 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen compare with last year?

It is 0.34 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.52 ft.

What is flood stage for the Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen?

The official flood stage is 11.00 ft. The level is currently 8.14 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.11 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.62 ft and 2.79 ft, based on 32 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 Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 04:00 PM CDT, the water level was 2.86 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.18 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:06862850 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 38.71223, -99.29232 (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	2.86 ft	2026-10-19 21:00	Provisional
Flow	4.0 cfs	2026-10-19 21:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen (usgs:06862850). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/smoky-hill-river-below-schoenchen

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