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Arkansas River at Wichita water level

River gauge, Arkansas River, Kansas, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Water level

2.59ft Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
132 cfs
2 3 4 5

History

2345ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 202345ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20
2468ftSep 21Sep 28Oct 5Oct 12Oct 202468ftSep 21Oct 5Oct 20
510ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026510ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
510ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026510ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The Arkansas River at Wichita is running below normal at 2.59 ft.

That puts it 0.92 ft below the median of 3.51 ft for mid-October, based on 32 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 3.49 ft (−0.90 ft).

It has dropped 0.13 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 2.37 ft and 5.38 ft.

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

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

Key numbers

Median for this date
3.51 ft0.92 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
2.22 ft – 5.44 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
Same day last year
3.49 ft−0.90 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
2.37 ft – 5.38 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
2.37 ft – 7.04 ft

Floating and fishing near Arkansas River at Wichita

Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:43 AM Sunset 06:47 PM Daylight 11 hr, 4 min First quarter 64%

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 ±0 148 mi
Arkansas River near LarnedRiver gauge, Arkansas River 3.95 ft Normal −0.04 ft 99 mi
Arkansas River at Great BendRiver gauge, Arkansas River 0.65 ft Low −0.01 ft 92 mi
Arkansas River near NickersonRiver gauge, Arkansas River 8.97 ft Normal −0.01 ft 55 mi
Arkansas River near HutchinsonRiver gauge, Arkansas River 2.07 ft Low ±0 32 mi
Arkansas River near MaizeRiver gauge, Arkansas River 4.61 ft Low −0.02 ft 10 mi
Arkansas River at DerbyRiver gauge, Arkansas River 0.74 ft Very low −0.07 ft 8 mi
Arkansas River at MulvaneRiver gauge, Arkansas River 5.60 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 12 mi
Arkansas River at Arkansas CityRiver gauge, Arkansas River 3.82 ft Low −0.24 ft 45 mi
Arkansas River at RalstonRiver gauge, Arkansas River 4.39 ft Below flood stage −0.50 ft 86 mi
Arkansas River at SH 344 near TulsaRiver gauge, Arkansas River 6.98 ft No reference yet −0.11 ft 125 mi
Arkansas River at TulsaRiver gauge, Arkansas River 3.00 ft Below flood stage −0.37 ft 127 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Cowskin Creek at Kellogg St, WichitaRiver gauge, Cowskin Creek 3.4 cfs Normal −0.6 cfs 7 mi
Calfskin Creek at 119th St, WichitaRiver gauge, Calfskin Creek 0.2 cfs Normal −0.2 cfs 8 mi
Cowskin Creek at 119th St at WichitaRiver gauge, Cowskin Creek 6.69 ft Low −0.09 ft 9 mi
Lake Arkansas River at Valley CenterRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River 1.16 ft Normal −0.06 ft 13 mi
Ninnescah River near PeckRiver gauge, Ninnescah River 2.79 ft Low −0.09 ft 14 mi
Lake Arkansas River near SedgwickRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River 1.86 ft Very low −0.05 ft 17 mi
Whitewater River at AugustaRiver gauge, Whitewater River 3.66 ft Low −0.05 ft 19 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Arkansas River at Wichita compare with last year?

It is 0.90 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.49 ft.

What is a normal level for the Arkansas River at Wichita in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.51 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.22 ft and 5.44 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 Arkansas River at Wichita today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 08:45 PM CDT, the water level was 2.59 ft. Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Arkansas River at Wichita rising or falling?

Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.43 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Arkansas River at Wichita normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:07144300 (Agency page)
Coordinates
37.64332, -97.33519 (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 2.59 ft 2026-10-20 01:45 Provisional
Flow 132 cfs 2026-10-20 01:45 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Arkansas River at Wichita (usgs:07144300). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/arkansas-river-at-wichita

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