South Kawishiwi River near Ely water level

Name: South Kawishiwi River near Ely 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, South Kawishiwi River, Minnesota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

1.76ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 10:30 PM CDT (41 min ago)

Flow: 61.8 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at South Kawishiwi River near Ely, where the gauge shows 1.76 ft.

It is 4.74 ft below the flood stage of 6.50 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.75 ft – 1.81 ft.

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

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 7.25 ftMay 4, 1954

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 6.50 ft.

What happens at each level

7.00 ft: Several BWCA camp sites may be submerged. Portages may have flowing water difficult to identify. Areas with swift currents may be hazardous to recreationalists.
6.50 ft: Flood waters encroach on the lowest BWCA Campsites. Swift water currents may be a hazard to recreationalists.
1.76 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	7.25 ft	May 4, 1954
2	7.18 ft	April 21, 1976
3	6.88 ft	April 29, 1957
4	6.88 ft	May 17, 2022
5	6.63 ft	June 24, 2024
6	6.52 ft	May 18, 1956
7	6.16 ft	May 14, 2014
8	6.08 ft	May 12, 2023
9	5.92 ft	April 29, 2008
10	5.90 ft	May 16, 2006

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:32 AM Sunset 06:13 PM Daylight 10 hr, 40 min First quarter 55%

Map

Other gauges on the South Kawishiwi River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
South Kawishiwi River above White Iron Lake near ElyRiver gauge, South Kawishiwi River	122 cfs	Low	−5.0 cfs	4.8 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Kawishiwi River near ElyRiver gauge, Kawishiwi River	13.7 cfs	Very low	−0.6 cfs	9 mi
Basswood River near WintonRiver gauge, Basswood River	2.12 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	17 mi
St. Louis River near SkiboRiver gauge, St. Louis River	2.0 cfs	Low	+0.2 cfs	30 mi
Sand River near BrittRiver gauge, Sand River	5.12 ft	No reference yet	−0.03 ft	43 mi
Namakan River at Outlet of Lac La CroixRiver gauge, Namakan River	360.35 m	Low	−0.01 m	70 km
Crane Lake at Crane LakeLake, Crane Lake	16.36 ft	No reference yet	±0	46 mi
Vermilion River near Crane LakeRiver gauge, Vermilion River	4.19 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	50 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the South Kawishiwi River near Ely?

The official flood stage is 6.50 ft. The level is currently 4.74 ft below it.

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 South Kawishiwi River near Ely today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 10:30 PM CDT, the water level was 1.76 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is South Kawishiwi River near Ely rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of South Kawishiwi River near Ely normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at South Kawishiwi River near Ely?

The highest level on record is 7.25 ft on May 4, 1954.

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.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:05125000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 47.84006, -91.69536 (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	1.76 ft	2026-10-19 03:30	Provisional
Flow	61.8 cfs	2026-10-19 03:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Kawishiwi River near Ely (usgs:05125000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/minnesota/south-kawishiwi-river-near-ely

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