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SwedenVermillion River near Empire water level
River gauge, Vermillion River, Minnesota, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 26.0 cfs
History
What this means
At 1.94 ft, the Vermillion River near Empire is below normal for mid-October.
The level is falling, down 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.94 ft and 2.19 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 10.00 ftSeptember 16, 1992
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.00 ft | September 16, 1992 |
| 2 | 9.17 ft | June 27, 1998 |
| 3 | 8.39 ft | July 14, 2013 |
| 4 | 8.38 ft | June 20, 2014 |
| 5 | 8.37 ft | June 18, 1993 |
| 6 | 8.36 ft | July 16, 2011 |
| 7 | 8.30 ft | September 22, 1986 |
| 8 | 8.19 ft | June 30, 2020 |
| 9 | 7.90 ft | July 24, 1997 |
| 10 | 7.86 ft | June 19, 2012 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River below L&d 2 at HastingsRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 5,570 cfs | Low | +3,800 cfs | 12 mi |
| Cannon River at 9th St. Bridge in Cannon FallsRiver gauge, Cannon River | 526 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 12 mi |
| St. Croix River at PrescottRiver gauge, St. Croix River | 3,680 cfs | Low | −410.0 cfs | 14 mi |
| Mississippi River at PrescottRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 9,250 cfs | Normal | +3,920 cfs | 14 mi |
| Cannon River at NorthfieldRiver gauge, Cannon River | 890.50 ft | Below flood stage | +0.04 ft | 15 mi |
| Cannon River at WelchRiver gauge, Cannon River | 539 cfs | Normal | +36.0 cfs | 17 mi |
| Minnehaha Creek at Hiawatha Ave. in MinneapolisRiver gauge, Minnehaha Creek | 6.5 cfs | Low | −1.6 cfs | 19 mi |
| Mississippi River at St. PaulRiver gauge, Mississippi River | 3.12 ft | Below flood stage | +0.14 ft | 19 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 Vermillion River near Empire today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 05:15 PM CDT, the water level was 1.94 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Vermillion River near Empire rising or falling?
Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Vermillion River near Empire normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Vermillion River near Empire?
The highest level on record is 10.00 ft on September 16, 1992.
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:05345000(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.66663, -93.05494(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 | 1.94 ft | 2026-10-18 22:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 26.0 cfs | 2026-10-18 22:15 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Vermillion River near Empire (usgs:05345000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/minnesota/vermillion-river-near-empire
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