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North Loup River at Brewster water level

River gauge, North Loup River, Nebraska, United States

Directions

Right now

Low for mid-October

Water level

2.87ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
430 cfs
3 4 5 Minor floodstage 5.50 ft Highest onrecord 5.33 ft

History

History
2.82.93.03.1ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16Oct 182.82.93.03.1ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18
2.83.03.2ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 10Oct 182.83.03.2ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18
345ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage345ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
34ftJanMarMayJulSepNov202634ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

At 2.87 ft, the North Loup River at Brewster is below normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.94 ft, based on 16 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.06 ft below typical. It is 2.63 ft below the flood stage of 5.50 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 3.04 ft, a difference of −0.17 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.84 ft and 3.08 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 16 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
2.94 ft0.06 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
2.85 ft – 3.11 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (16 years of records)
Same day last year
3.04 ft−0.17 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
2.84 ft – 3.08 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
2.73 ft – 4.04 ft
Highest on record
5.33 ftFebruary 4, 2015

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.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 5.50 ft, still 2.63 ft away.

What happens at each level

7.50 ft
Major and widespread flooding along the North Loup River. Water will approach outbuildings and homes. Roads along the river may be inundated.
6.50 ft
Flood waters approach properties along the North Loup River with flooding of corrals and outbuildings possible.
5.50 ft
Minor flooding along the North Loup River impacting agricultural land.
4.50 ft
Lowland flooding along the North Loup River.
2.87 ft
Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
15.33 ftFebruary 4, 2015
25.01 ftDecember 25, 2022
34.84 ftJanuary 28, 2014
44.48 ftMarch 13, 2019
54.41 ftJune 11, 2010
64.33 ftJanuary 26, 2018
74.32 ftFebruary 23, 2013
84.20 ftFebruary 25, 1950
94.15 ftJanuary 10, 2022
103.92 ftMarch 4, 1949

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:56 AM Sunset 06:55 PM Daylight 10 hr, 59 min First quarter 48%

Map

Other gauges on the North Loup River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
North Loup River at TaylorRiver gauge, North Loup River 3.02 ft Very low +0.09 ft 27 mi
North Loup River near Saint PaulRiver gauge, North Loup River 2.84 ft Normal +0.01 ft 87 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Middle Loup River at DunningRiver gauge, Middle Loup River 3.00 ft Very low +0.01 ft 15 mi
Middle Loup River near GatesRiver gauge, Middle Loup River 4.72 ft Low +1.42 ft 22 mi
Calamus Reservoir and Virginia SmithReservoir 2,234.48 ft Normal 34 mi
Dismal River near ThedfordRiver gauge, Dismal River 1.53 ft Normal ±0 36 mi
South Loup River at ArnoldRiver gauge, South Loup River 4.39 ft Normal −0.02 ft 40 mi

Questions and answers

Is the North Loup River at Brewster higher than last year?

No, it is 0.17 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.04 ft.

What is flood stage for the North Loup River at Brewster?

The official flood stage is 5.50 ft. The level is currently 2.63 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the North Loup River at Brewster in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.94 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.85 ft and 3.11 ft, based on 16 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 North Loup River at Brewster today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 02:45 AM CDT, the water level was 2.87 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is North Loup River at Brewster rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of North Loup River at Brewster normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 16 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:06785500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
41.94174, -99.86010 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 2.87 ft 2026-10-18 07:45 Provisional
Flow 430 cfs 2026-10-18 07:45 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: North Loup River at Brewster (usgs:06785500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/north-loup-river-at-brewster

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.