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SwedenNiobrara River at Niobrara water level
River gauge, Niobrara River, Nebraska, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Niobrara River at Niobrara shows 32.10 ft, above normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 31.16 ft, based on 15 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.94 ft above typical. It is 4.90 ft below the flood stage of 37.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 31.84 ft, a difference of +0.26 ft.
The water is rising: up 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 31.93 ft and 32.65 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 15 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 31.16 ft0.94 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 29.30 ft – 32.33 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (15 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 31.84 ft+0.26 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 31.93 ft – 32.65 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 30.74 ft – 33.11 ft
- Highest on record
- 41.64 ftMarch 14, 2019
What the stage means on the water
Fast, high water is not the time for casual paddling. Strainers, debris and cold water make an unplanned swim dangerous.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 37.00 ft, still 4.90 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 45.00 ft
- The USGS gage house begins to be impacted.
- 44.00 ft
- Highway 12 begins to flood.
- 39.00 ft
- A river access road upstream of the bridge begins to flood.
- 38.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the Highway 12 bridge.
- 33.00 ft
- Overbank flooding begins.
- 32.10 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41.64 ft | March 14, 2019 |
| 2 | 34.91 ft | July 22, 2010 |
| 3 | 34.29 ft | February 16, 2011 |
| 4 | 34.02 ft | June 22, 2024 |
| 5 | 33.75 ft | June 10, 2020 |
| 6 | 33.72 ft | January 28, 2018 |
| 7 | 33.38 ft | March 2, 2022 |
| 8 | 33.32 ft | December 5, 2025 |
| 9 | 33.12 ft | December 25, 2017 |
| 10 | 33.08 ft | February 5, 2015 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Niobrara River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niobrara River near SparksRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 2.66 ft | Normal | ±0 | 117 mi |
| Niobrara River at MariavilleRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 3.14 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 65 mi |
| Niobrara River near VerdelRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 3.28 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 8 mi |
| Niobrara River below Soldier Cr near NiobraraRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 8.19 ft | No reference yet | −0.02 ft | 4.7 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River below Ponca Creek near VerdelRiver gauge, Missouri River | 21.07 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 3.0 mi |
| Missouri River at NiobraraRiver gauge, Missouri River | 17.01 ft | Low | ±0 | 3.7 mi |
| Bazile Creek near NiobraraRiver gauge, Bazile Creek | 1.93 ft | Low | −0.03 ft | 7 mi |
| Ponca Creek at VerdelRiver gauge, Ponca Creek | 5.80 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| Lewis and Clark Lake at SpringfieldRiver gauge, Lewis and Clark Lake | 9.61 ft | High | +0.05 ft | 11 mi |
| Howe Creek below Walker Draw near CenterRiver gauge, Howe Creek | 1.66 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 12 mi |
| Bazile Creek at CenterRiver gauge, Bazile Creek | 8.81 ft | High | −0.07 ft | 13 mi |
| Missouri River below GreenwoodRiver gauge, Missouri River | 24.31 ft | Normal | +0.07 ft | 18 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Niobrara River at Niobrara higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.26 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 31.84 ft.
What is flood stage for the Niobrara River at Niobrara?
The official flood stage is 37.00 ft. The level is currently 4.90 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Niobrara River at Niobrara in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 31.16 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 29.30 ft and 32.33 ft, based on 15 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 Niobrara River at Niobrara today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 03:15 AM CDT, the water level was 32.10 ft. Up 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Niobrara River at Niobrara rising or falling?
Up 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.11 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Niobrara River at Niobrara normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 15 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:06466000(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.74848, -98.05824(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 | 32.10 ft | 2026-10-20 08:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Niobrara River at Niobrara (usgs:06466000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/niobrara-river-at-niobrara
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