North Branch Estero River at Estero water level
River gauge, North Branch Estero River, Florida, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 12.3 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at North Branch Estero River at Estero, where the gauge shows 7.94 ft.
That puts it 0.37 ft below the median of 8.31 ft for mid-October, based on 39 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 7.18 ft (+0.76 ft).
It is on the way up, by 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 7.81 ft – 10.15 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 8.31 ft0.37 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 7.20 ft – 10.22 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (39 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 7.18 ft+0.76 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 7.81 ft – 10.15 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 6.29 ft – 10.15 ft
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.31 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Estero River at EsteroRiver gauge, South Branch Estero River | 3.95 ft | Normal | +0.14 ft | 1.0 mi |
| Spring Creek Headwater near Bonita SpringsRiver gauge, Spring Creek Headwater | 6.67 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 5.6 mi |
| Briarcliff Ditch at Mouth near EsteroCanal gauge, Briarcliff Ditch | 5.85 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 5.6 mi |
| Tenmile Canal at Control near EsteroCanal gauge, Tenmile Canal | 5.83 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 5.7 mi |
| Sixmile Cypress Creek near Fort MyersRiver gauge, Sixmile Cypress Creek | 11.14 ft | High | +0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| Imperial River near Bonita SpringsRiver gauge, Imperial River | 5.81 ft | Normal | −0.24 ft | 8 mi |
| Whiskey Creek at Fort MyersRiver gauge, Whiskey Creek | 3.09 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 11 mi |
| Orange River near BuckinghamTidal gauge, Orange River | 107 cfs | Normal | +42.6 cfs | 17 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the North Branch Estero River at Estero compare with last year?
It is 0.76 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 7.18 ft.
What is a normal level for the North Branch Estero River at Estero in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 8.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 7.20 ft and 10.22 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 North Branch Estero River at Estero today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 07:45 AM EDT, the water level was 7.94 ft. Up 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is North Branch Estero River at Estero rising or falling?
Up 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.21 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of North Branch Estero River at Estero normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year.
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:02291580(Agency page)- Coordinates
26.44294, -81.79597(WGS84)- 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 | 7.94 ft | 2026-10-18 11:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 12.3 cfs | 2026-10-18 11:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: North Branch Estero River at Estero (usgs:02291580). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/florida/north-branch-estero-river-at-estero
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