Verdigris River near Altoona water level

Name: Verdigris River near Altoona 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, Verdigris River, Kansas, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

3.41ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 03:45 PM CDT (47 min ago)

Flow: 71.5 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The gauge at Verdigris River near Altoona reads 3.41 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 3.21 ft, based on 37 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.20 ft above typical. It is 15.59 ft below the flood stage of 19.00 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.35 ft and 4.60 ft.

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

Compared with 37 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 3.21 ft0.20 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.23 ft – 7.57 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (37 years of records)
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.35 ft – 4.60 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.22 ft – 17.49 ft
Highest on record: 24.58 ftJuly 1, 2007

What the stage means on the water

A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 19.00 ft, still 15.59 ft away.

What happens at each level

26.00 ft: Extensive flooding along both banks of the river with water reaching the ground floor of the Altoona Water Plant.
21.00 ft: Flood waters begin to threaten outlining facilities of the city's water plant. Water Plant's clearwell may become flooded.
19.00 ft: Expect flooding of agricultural fields and gravel road near the river bridge off of Highway 47.
15.00 ft: Expect overflows on the west bank.
14.00 ft: Expect overflows on the east bank.
3.41 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: 20 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	24.58 ft	July 1, 2007
2	21.93 ft	May 26, 2019
3	20.62 ft	May 22, 2019
4	20.57 ft	October 8, 2016
5	20.32 ft	April 28, 2024
6	20.07 ft	June 27, 2021
7	19.68 ft	June 2, 2022
8	19.62 ft	June 14, 2008
9	19.59 ft	September 11, 2009
10	19.53 ft	May 8, 2019

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:35 AM Sunset 06:41 PM Daylight 11 hr, 6 min First quarter 62%

Map

Other gauges on the Verdigris River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Verdigris River near VirgilRiver gauge, Verdigris River	64.0 cfs	Normal	−6.4 cfs	37 mi
Verdigris River at IndependenceRiver gauge, Verdigris River	1.56 ft	Low	−0.05 ft	21 mi
Verdigris River at CoffeyvilleRiver gauge, Verdigris River	2.87 ft	Normal	−0.11 ft	37 mi
Verdigris River near LenapahRiver gauge, Verdigris River	3.94 ft	Below flood stage	−0.25 ft	47 mi
Verdigris River near ClaremoreRiver gauge, Verdigris River	3.22 ft	Below flood stage	−0.17 ft	84 mi
Verdigris River near CatoosaRiver gauge, Verdigris River	32.89 ft	Normal	+0.19 ft	92 mi
Verdigris River near WagonerRiver gauge, Verdigris River	12.16 ft	Normal	+0.03 ft	109 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Fall River at FredoniaRiver gauge, Fall River	3.00 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	9 mi
Elk River below Elk City LakeRiver gauge, Elk River	4.8 cfs	Low	−2.1 cfs	18 mi
Neosho River near ErieRiver gauge, Neosho River	14.40 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	23 mi
Elk River at Elk FallsRiver gauge, Elk River	2.06 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	30 mi
Neosho River near IolaRiver gauge, Neosho River	8.89 ft	Very high	−0.03 ft	30 mi
Otter Creek at ClimaxRiver gauge, Otter Creek	1.17 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	32 mi
Neosho River near ParsonsRiver gauge, Neosho River	10.23 ft	High	+0.50 ft	34 mi
Labette Creek near OswegoRiver gauge, Labette Creek	5.73 ft	Normal	−0.13 ft	35 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Verdigris River near Altoona?

The official flood stage is 19.00 ft. The level is currently 15.59 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Verdigris River near Altoona in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.21 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.23 ft and 7.57 ft, based on 37 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 Verdigris River near Altoona today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 03:45 PM CDT, the water level was 3.41 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Verdigris River near Altoona rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 1.18 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Verdigris River near Altoona normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 37 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Verdigris River near Altoona?

The highest level on record is 24.58 ft on July 1, 2007.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:07166500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 37.52978, -95.67470 (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	3.41 ft	2026-10-19 20:45	Provisional
Flow	71.5 cfs	2026-10-19 20:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Verdigris River near Altoona (usgs:07166500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/verdigris-river-near-altoona

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