Middle Loup River at Saint Paul water level
River gauge, Middle Loup River, Nebraska, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 1,310 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Middle Loup River at Saint Paul, where the gauge shows 2.01 ft.
The median for mid-October is 2.34 ft, based on 18 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.33 ft below typical. It is 5.99 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.91 ft, a difference of +0.10 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.66 ft – 2.27 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 18 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.34 ft0.33 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.04 ft – 2.71 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (18 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.91 ft+0.10 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.66 ft – 2.27 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.71 ft – 3.94 ft
- Highest on record
- 12.69 ftJune 23, 1947
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 8.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 14.80 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the Highway 281 bridge.
- 12.00 ft
- Water will reach the bottom of the railroad bridge. Widespread flooding occurs in lowlands and agricultural lands. The town of Saint Paul is not in the flood plain. There are no major roads or highways in the flood plain. A record flood of 12.69 feet occurred in June of 1947.
- 10.00 ft
- Flooding occurs in lowlands, agricultural areas, and woodlands.
- 8.00 ft
- Flooding occurs in lowlands, agricultural areas, and woodlands adjacent to the river.
- 2.01 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 | 12.69 ft | June 23, 1947 |
| 2 | 12.21 ft | March 17, 1978 |
| 3 | 9.54 ft | March 14, 2019 |
| 4 | 8.50 ft | June 15, 1967 |
| 5 | 8.32 ft | March 7, 1993 |
| 6 | 8.28 ft | June 25, 1968 |
| 7 | 8.15 ft | February 14, 1976 |
| 8 | 7.55 ft | February 12, 1966 |
| 9 | 7.43 ft | March 21, 1969 |
| 10 | 7.23 ft | March 10, 1979 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Middle Loup River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Loup River at DunningRiver gauge, Middle Loup River | 3.04 ft | Very low | +0.04 ft | 96 mi |
| Middle Loup River near GatesRiver gauge, Middle Loup River | 4.72 ft | Low | +0.03 ft | 69 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Loup River near Saint PaulRiver gauge, North Loup River | 2.85 ft | Normal | +0.05 ft | 4.1 mi |
| South Loup River at Saint MichaelRiver gauge, South Loup River | 2.45 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 19 mi |
| Davis Creek ReservoirReservoir | 2,056.58 ft | Normal | 19 mi | |
| Warm Slough near Central CityRiver gauge, Warm Slough | 2.13 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Wood River at Grand IslandRiver gauge, Wood River | 11.39 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 23 mi |
| Platte River near Grand IslandRiver gauge, Platte River | 3.55 ft | Normal | +0.12 ft | 24 mi |
| Cedar River near FullertonRiver gauge, Cedar River | 2.19 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 26 mi |
| Loup River Power Canal near GenoaCanal gauge, Loup River Power Canal | 6.91 ft | Normal | ±0 | 37 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Middle Loup River at Saint Paul higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.10 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.91 ft.
What is flood stage for the Middle Loup River at Saint Paul?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 5.99 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Middle Loup River at Saint Paul in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.34 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.04 ft and 2.71 ft, based on 18 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 Middle Loup River at Saint Paul today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 12:15 PM CDT, the water level was 2.01 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Middle Loup River at Saint Paul rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Middle Loup River at Saint Paul normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 18 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:06785000(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.20394, -98.44636(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 | 2.01 ft | 2026-10-19 17:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,310 cfs | 2026-10-19 17:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Middle Loup River at Saint Paul (usgs:06785000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/middle-loup-river-at-saint-paul
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