Pecatonica River at Darlington water level

Name: Pecatonica River at Darlington 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, Pecatonica River, Wisconsin, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.37ft Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 09:00 AM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 219 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Pecatonica River at Darlington, where the gauge shows 3.37 ft.

It is 10.13 ft below the flood stage of 13.50 ft.

It is still going down, by 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.37 ft – 4.16 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 20.71 ftJuly 16, 1950

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 13.50 ft.

What happens at each level

20.80 ft: There is major urban flooding in Darlington. The Wisconsin Power and Light substation in Darlington is flooded.
19.40 ft: There is major urban flooding in darlington. Highways 23 and 81 are flooded and closed as are some other streets in downtown Darlington. The Wisconsin Power and Light substation in Darlington is flooded.
19.00 ft: There is major urban flooding in Darlington. The Wisconsin Power and Light substation in Darlington is flooded.
18.00 ft: There is major urban flooding in Darlington.
17.00 ft: There is major urban flooding in Darlington.
16.00 ft: There is major urban flooding in Darlington. Highways 23 and 81 are flooded and closed as are some streets in downtown Darlington.
15.80 ft: Highways 23 and 81 in Darlington are flooded and closed as is Main Street. The Lafayette County Fairgrounds are flooded.
15.50 ft: There is flooding in Calamine, Wisconsin, about 5 miles upstream of Darlington. Highways 23 and 81 are flooded and closed in Darlington as is a good part of Main Street. The Lafayette County Fairgrounds are flooded.
15.00 ft: Highways 23 (Main St bridge) and 81 are flooded and closed in Darlington. A portion of Main Street in Darlington is flooded. A good part of the Lafayette County Fairgrounds is flooded.
13.90 ft: Floodwaters cover a portion of Main Street in Darlington. A part of the Lafayette County Fairgrounds is flooded.
13.50 ft: Floodwaters touch Main Street in Darlington. A part of the Lafayette County Fairgrounds has 2 to 3 feet of water over it.
13.00 ft: There is minor urban flooding in Darlington.
3.37 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	20.71 ft	July 16, 1950
2	19.80 ft	June 29, 1990
3	19.16 ft	June 30, 1969
4	18.22 ft	July 6, 1993
5	17.65 ft	February 28, 1948
6	17.60 ft	March 14, 2019
7	17.60 ft	February 21, 1937
8	17.47 ft	February 20, 1953
9	17.18 ft	January 6, 1946
10	17.16 ft	April 1, 1959

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:19 AM Sunset 06:13 PM Daylight 10 hr, 54 min First quarter 60%

Map

Other gauges on the Pecatonica River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Pecatonica River at MartintownRiver gauge, Pecatonica River	6.66 ft	Below flood stage	−0.23 ft	20 mi
Pecatonica River at FreeportRiver gauge, Pecatonica River	6.04 ft	Normal	+0.03 ft	37 mi
Pecatonica River near ShirlandRiver gauge, Pecatonica River	6.21 ft	Normal	+0.04 ft	51 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
East Branch Pecatonica River near BlanchardvilleRiver gauge, East Branch Pecatonica River	5.09 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	15 mi
Sinsinawa River near MenomineeRiver gauge, Sinsinawa River	4.77 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	23 mi
Platte River near RockvilleRiver gauge, Platte River	4.57 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	27 mi
Apple River near HanoverRiver gauge, Apple River	4.25 ft	High	−0.01 ft	30 mi
Sugar River near VeronaRiver gauge, Sugar River	43.1 cfs	Low	−1.0 cfs	35 mi
Grant River at BurtonRiver gauge, Grant River	6.16 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	36 mi
Badger Mill Creek at VeronaRiver gauge, Badger Mill Creek	9.2 cfs	Normal	−0.2 cfs	36 mi
Sugar River near BrodheadRiver gauge, Sugar River	1.50 ft	Below flood stage	−0.16 ft	37 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Pecatonica River at Darlington?

The official flood stage is 13.50 ft. The level is currently 10.13 ft below it.

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 Pecatonica River at Darlington today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 09:00 AM CDT, the water level was 3.37 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Pecatonica River at Darlington rising or falling?

Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Pecatonica River at Darlington normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Pecatonica River at Darlington?

The highest level on record is 20.71 ft on July 16, 1950.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:05432500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.67778, -90.11861 (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	3.37 ft	2026-10-19 14:00	Provisional
Flow	219 cfs	2026-10-19 14:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Pecatonica River at Darlington (usgs:05432500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/wisconsin/pecatonica-river-at-darlington

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