Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton water level

Name: Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton 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, Thunder Bay River, Michigan, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

12.72ft Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 02:30 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 679 cfs

History

7 days

Water level

What this means

The Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton is well above normal at 12.72 ft.

The record high is 19.63 ft, set on April 15, 2026.

It has dropped 0.13 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 12.23 ft and 12.89 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 19.63 ftApril 15, 2026

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	19.63 ft	April 15, 2026
2	18.88 ft	April 5, 2026
3	18.24 ft	October 26, 2017
4	17.99 ft	April 2, 2016
5	17.89 ft	March 25, 2022
6	17.72 ft	April 26, 2018
7	17.69 ft	April 29, 2011
8	17.19 ft	April 2, 2025
9	17.18 ft	April 16, 2014
10	17.12 ft	April 20, 2013

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 59° 31° – Wind 8 mph

21 Wed 65° 34° – Wind 6 mph

22 Thu 63° 43° – Wind 7 mph

23 Fri 64° 45° – Wind 8 mph

24 Sat 68° 47° – Wind 12 mph

25 Sun 63° 49° – Wind 11 mph

26 Mon 48° 36° 0.45 in Wind 10 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:57 AM Sunset 06:43 PM Daylight 10 hr, 45 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Au Sable River near Mc KinleyRiver gauge, Au Sable River	1,180 cfs	High	−40.0 cfs	37 mi
Au Sable River near CurtisvilleRiver gauge, Au Sable River	1,260 cfs	High	−90.0 cfs	40 mi
Au Sable River at MioRiver gauge, Au Sable River	1,020 cfs	High	−30.0 cfs	40 mi
Pigeon River near VanderbiltRiver gauge, Pigeon River	79.3 cfs	Normal	−1.2 cfs	41 mi
Au Sable River near Red OakRiver gauge, Au Sable River	3.29 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	45 mi
Nb Au Sable River at Kelloggs Branch near LovellsRiver gauge, Nb Au Sable River	217 cfs	High	−3.0 cfs	48 mi
South Branch Au Sable River near LuzerneRiver gauge, South Branch Au Sable River	213 cfs	Normal	−5.0 cfs	53 mi

Questions and answers

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 Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 02:30 PM EDT, the water level was 12.72 ft. Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton rising or falling?

Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton?

The highest level on record is 19.63 ft on April 15, 2026.

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.

Where does this data come from?

The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:04133501 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 45.12418, -83.63554 (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	12.72 ft	2026-10-20 18:30	Provisional
Flow	679 cfs	2026-10-20 18:30	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Thunder Bay River at Herron Road near Bolton (usgs:04133501). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/michigan/thunder-bay-river-at-herron-road-near-bolton

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