Pawnee River near Burdett water level
River gauge, Pawnee River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 0.0 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Low water at Pawnee River near Burdett: the gauge reads 2.26 ft, below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 0.16 ft below the median of 2.42 ft for mid-October, based on 30 years of readings. It is 27.74 ft below the flood stage of 30.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.29 ft (−0.03 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 2.26 ft – 3.72 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.42 ft0.16 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.20 ft – 3.17 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.29 ft−0.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.26 ft – 3.72 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.26 ft – 18.06 ft
- Highest on record
- 27.38 ftJuly 21, 1993
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
For reference, flood stage is 30.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 34.00 ft
- Flood waters of two feet or more will inundate agricultural land up to a distance of 1/4 mile from the main river channel near the vicinity of the river gage.
- 32.00 ft
- Prepare for floodwaters to move onto agricultural land adjacent to Pawnee Creek throughout most of eastern Hodgeman County.
- 30.00 ft
- Expect minor overflows of Pawnee Creek to occur on the first terrace immediately adjacent to the main river channel.
- 27.00 ft
- Expect low water road crossings along Pawnee Creek to become impassable. Do not attempt to cross flooded roadways...Turn around, don't drown!
- 2.26 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 | 27.38 ft | July 21, 1993 |
| 2 | 26.21 ft | July 2, 2004 |
| 3 | 21.72 ft | July 3, 2016 |
| 4 | 21.28 ft | May 30, 2015 |
| 5 | 20.96 ft | October 5, 2017 |
| 6 | 19.68 ft | June 27, 26 |
| 7 | 19.11 ft | September 18, 2001 |
| 8 | 17.70 ft | May 24, 2019 |
| 9 | 14.81 ft | July 28, 2002 |
| 10 | 14.01 ft | May 8, 2019 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Pawnee River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawnee River at RozelRiver gauge, Pawnee River | 7.21 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 13 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckner Creek at HanstonRiver gauge, Buckner Creek | 0.2 cfs | Normal | +0.2 cfs | 7 mi |
| Buckner Creek near JetmoreRiver gauge, Buckner Creek | 1.4 cfs | Normal | +0.2 cfs | 17 mi |
| Walnut Creek at NekomaRiver gauge, Walnut Creek | 6.62 ft | Normal | ±0 | 22 mi |
| Buckner Creek below Horsethief Re near JetmoreRiver gauge, Buckner Creek | 1.9 cfs | Normal | −0.1 cfs | 24 mi |
| Horsethief Re near JetmoreLake, Horsethief Re | 2,419.83 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 24 mi |
| Buckner Creek above Horsethief Re near JetmoreRiver gauge, Buckner Creek | 1.4 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 26 mi |
| Arkansas River near LarnedRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 3.98 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 35 mi |
| Arkansas River at Dodge CityRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 6.73 ft | High | ±0 | 38 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Pawnee River near Burdett compare with last year?
It is 0.03 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.29 ft.
What is flood stage for the Pawnee River near Burdett?
The official flood stage is 30.00 ft. The level is currently 27.74 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Pawnee River near Burdett in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.42 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.20 ft and 3.17 ft, based on 30 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 Pawnee River near Burdett today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 04:00 AM CDT, the water level was 2.26 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Pawnee River near Burdett rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Pawnee River near Burdett normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 30 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:07140850(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.20668, -99.64345(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 | 2.26 ft | 2026-10-19 09:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 0.0 cfs | 2026-10-19 09:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Pawnee River near Burdett (usgs:07140850). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/pawnee-river-near-burdett
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