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SwedenArkansas River near Hutchinson water level
River gauge, Arkansas River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 91.6 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 1.97 ft, the Arkansas River near Hutchinson is below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 2.89 ft, based on 38 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.92 ft below typical. It is 8.03 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.95 ft, a difference of −0.98 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.77 ft and 4.63 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 38 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.89 ft0.92 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.83 ft – 3.73 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (38 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.95 ft−0.98 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.77 ft – 4.63 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.76 ft – 6.27 ft
- Highest on record
- 13.08 ftMay 8, 2007
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 10.00 ft, still 8.03 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
- Expect most of the levee system to be overtopped. Flood waters will be widespread.
- 12.00 ft
- Flooding overspreads pasture land along both banks to an extent of 30 feet. The river current will be swift with violent eddies in the middle channel. Water overtops the levee about 3 miles upstream from the gage site at Haven Road.
- 11.00 ft
- Flooding overspreads surrounding pastureland adjacent to the right bank. Expect river current to be swift with violent eddies.
- 10.00 ft
- The river begins to overflow on the right bank affecting pastureland. Expect river current to be swift with violent eddies.
- 9.00 ft
- The river will be out of its channel but within its banks. River extends to a width of about 550 feet. The channel current will be swift.
- 8.00 ft
- The river is within its banks but out of the main channel.
- 1.97 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: 15 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.08 ft | May 8, 2007 |
| 2 | 12.99 ft | May 10, 2019 |
| 3 | 12.96 ft | October 12, 2018 |
| 4 | 12.95 ft | September 28, 1973 |
| 5 | 12.81 ft | May 22, 2019 |
| 6 | 12.51 ft | May 29, 2019 |
| 7 | 12.44 ft | May 27, 2007 |
| 8 | 12.33 ft | July 23, 1993 |
| 9 | 12.02 ft | April 2, 1973 |
| 10 | 11.81 ft | October 13, 1973 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
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 | +0.01 ft | 124 mi |
| Arkansas River near LarnedRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 3.94 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 69 mi |
| Arkansas River at Great BendRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 0.64 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 61 mi |
| Arkansas River near NickersonRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 8.96 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 23 mi |
| Arkansas River near MaizeRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 4.57 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 24 mi |
| Arkansas River at WichitaRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 2.68 ft | Low | +0.08 ft | 32 mi |
| Arkansas River at DerbyRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 0.72 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 39 mi |
| Arkansas River at MulvaneRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 5.55 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 43 mi |
| Arkansas River at Arkansas CityRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 3.75 ft | Low | −0.13 ft | 75 mi |
| Arkansas River at RalstonRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 4.14 ft | Below flood stage | −0.35 ft | 115 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Arkansas River at Highway 50 near HalsteadRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | 5.66 ft | Normal | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Nf Ninnescah River above Cheney ReRiver gauge, Nf Ninnescah River | 5.89 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 14 mi |
| Lake Arkansas River at Alta MillsRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | −0.69 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 15 mi |
| Cheney Re near CheneyLake, Cheney Re | 1,420.16 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 15 mi |
| Cheney ReservoirReservoir | 1,420.23 ft | Normal | 15 mi | |
| Emma Creek at SedgwickRiver gauge, Emma Creek | −1.92 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 18 mi |
| Cow Creek near HutchinsonRiver gauge, Cow Creek | 1.49 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 19 mi |
| Lake Arkansas River near SedgwickRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | 1.83 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Arkansas River near Hutchinson higher than last year?
No, it is 0.98 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.95 ft.
What is flood stage for the Arkansas River near Hutchinson?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 8.03 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Arkansas River near Hutchinson in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.89 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.83 ft and 3.73 ft, based on 38 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 near Hutchinson today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 01:30 PM CDT, the water level was 1.97 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Arkansas River near Hutchinson rising or falling?
Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.10 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Arkansas River near Hutchinson normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 38 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:07143330(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.94614, -97.77512(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 | 1.97 ft | 2026-10-20 18:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 91.6 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Arkansas River near Hutchinson (usgs:07143330). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/arkansas-river-near-hutchinson
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