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SwedenBig Nemaha River at Falls City water level
River gauge, Big Nemaha River, Nebraska, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 285 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Big Nemaha River at Falls City, where the gauge shows 4.62 ft.
That puts it 0.39 ft above the median of 4.23 ft for mid-October, based on 17 years of readings. It is 22.38 ft below the flood stage of 27.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.41 ft (+0.21 ft).
It is still going down, by 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 4.61 ft – 22.21 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.23 ft0.39 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.45 ft – 5.33 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.41 ft+0.21 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.61 ft – 22.21 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.46 ft – 29.28 ft
- Highest on record
- 31.59 ftMay 29, 2019
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 27.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 36.00 ft
- Floodwaters begin to impact the bottom of the Highway 73 bridge.
- 30.00 ft
- Primary roads have begun to flood. This may include portions of Highway 73 and Preston Road. Other primary roads in the area may be inundated depending on flows along Muddy Creek and the Missouri River.
- 29.00 ft
- The parking lots of businesses just south of Falls City in the floodplain begin to be impacted. In addition, overflow begins at the Highway 73 bridge at the gage site.
- 28.00 ft
- At this level county roads begin to flood.
- 27.00 ft
- Low lying flooding begins to impact farm fields and roadway ditches.
- 4.62 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: 11 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31.59 ft | May 29, 2019 |
| 2 | 30.99 ft | June 25, 2021 |
| 3 | 30.94 ft | June 5, 2015 |
| 4 | 30.46 ft | May 7, 2007 |
| 5 | 28.91 ft | May 30, 2013 |
| 6 | 28.54 ft | July 28, 2001 |
| 7 | 28.13 ft | April 27, 1999 |
| 8 | 26.51 ft | October 9, 2018 |
| 9 | 23.47 ft | March 30, 1998 |
| 10 | 22.93 ft | June 15, 2009 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.19 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River at RuloRiver gauge, Missouri River | 8.64 ft | Below flood stage | −0.13 ft | 9 mi |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River at HumboldtRiver gauge, North Fork Big Nemaha River | 2.18 ft | Normal | +0.22 ft | 20 mi |
| Tarkio River at FairfaxRiver gauge, Tarkio River | 6.57 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 23 mi |
| Missouri River at BrownvilleRiver gauge, Missouri River | 25.20 ft | Below flood stage | −0.27 ft | 25 mi |
| Little Nemaha River at AuburnRiver gauge, Little Nemaha River | 3.45 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 27 mi |
| Turkey Creek near SenecaRiver gauge, Turkey Creek | 1.19 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 28 mi |
| Nodaway River near GrahamRiver gauge, Nodaway River | 1,140 cfs | Normal | −110.0 cfs | 30 mi |
| Delaware River near MuscotahRiver gauge, Delaware River | 2.93 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 36 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Big Nemaha River at Falls City compare with last year?
It is 0.21 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.41 ft.
What is flood stage for the Big Nemaha River at Falls City?
The official flood stage is 27.00 ft. The level is currently 22.38 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Big Nemaha River at Falls City in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.23 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.45 ft and 5.33 ft, based on 17 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 Big Nemaha River at Falls City today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 12:45 PM CDT, the water level was 4.62 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Nemaha River at Falls City rising or falling?
Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.44 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Nemaha River at Falls City normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 17 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:06815000(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.03552, -95.59576(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 | 4.62 ft | 2026-10-18 17:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 285 cfs | 2026-10-18 17:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Nemaha River at Falls City (usgs:06815000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/big-nemaha-river-at-falls-city
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