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Platte River near Kearney water level

River gauge, Platte River, Nebraska, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.60ft Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
246 cfs
3 5 8 Highest onrecord 8.62 ft Minor floodstage 7.00 ft

History

246ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16Oct 18Minor flood stage246ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18Minor flood stage
246ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 11Oct 18Minor flood stage246ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18Minor flood stage
246ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage246ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
246ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026246ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

The Platte River near Kearney is at 2.60 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.75 ft, based on 17 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.15 ft below typical. It is 4.40 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.66 ft, a difference of −0.06 ft.

It has dropped 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.09 ft and 3.23 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
2.75 ft0.15 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.85 ft – 3.94 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
Same day last year
2.66 ft−0.06 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
2.09 ft – 3.23 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.82 ft – 5.25 ft
Highest on record
8.62 ftFebruary 24, 1994

Floating and fishing near Platte River near Kearney

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 7.00 ft, 4.40 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

7.50 ft
Water will surround homes and may begin to impact lowest sub-floors in the Sweetwater neighborhoods both north and south of Interstate 80. There will also be extensive flooding at the Nebraska Youth Camp located off of Sweetwater Avenue cutting off access to the camp, but most of the structures will be just above the flood water. Interstate 80 is at a high enough elevation that it will not be impacted.
7.00 ft
An access road to a small housing subdivision located directly south of Gibbon, on the south side of Interstate 80, at the northeast corner of Lowell Road and 24th Road, including Woodland Road, will begin to flood.
6.00 ft
Minor flooding of rural lowlands occur.
2.60 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 %.

RankLevelDate
18.62 ftFebruary 24, 1994
27.95 ftMay 26, 2008
37.60 ftJuly 10, 2019
47.43 ftJune 11, 1995
57.42 ftJune 29, 1983
67.40 ftJanuary 11, 1985
77.22 ftSeptember 28, 2013
87.21 ftJune 4, 2015
97.19 ftFebruary 5, 2011
106.64 ftJune 13, 1984

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:51 AM Sunset 06:53 PM Daylight 11 hr, 2 min First quarter 48%

Map

Other gauges on the Platte River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Platte River near OvertonRiver gauge, Platte River 2.56 ft Low −0.12 ft 24 mi
Platte River near Grand IslandRiver gauge, Platte River 3.41 ft Normal −0.01 ft 45 mi
Platte River near DuncanRiver gauge, Platte River 3.51 ft Normal −0.02 ft 96 mi
Platte River near SchuylerRiver gauge, Platte River 6.51 ft High −0.19 ft 118 mi
Platte River at North BendRiver gauge, Platte River 3.59 ft Normal −0.13 ft 132 mi
Platte River near FremontRiver gauge, Platte River 7.19 ft Very high +0.16 ft 144 mi
Platte River near LesharaRiver gauge, Platte River 4.39 ft Normal +0.10 ft 147 mi
Platte River near VeniceRiver gauge, Platte River 11.71 ft Normal +0.09 ft 148 mi
Platte River near AshlandRiver gauge, Platte River 14.79 ft Normal +0.02 ft 147 mi
Platte River at LouisvilleRiver gauge, Platte River 3.29 ft Normal −0.13 ft 155 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Elm Creek near Elm CreekRiver gauge, Elm Creek 0.88 ft Below flood stage ±0 17 mi
Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm CrRiver gauge, Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch 3.92 ft Very low −0.23 ft 19 mi
Platte R,So-Ch,Cottonwood Ranch near OvertonRiver gauge, Platte R,So-Ch,Cottonwood Ranch 4.05 ft Low −0.15 ft 21 mi
Buffalo Creek near OvertonRiver gauge, Buffalo Creek 3.91 ft Normal −0.05 ft 23 mi
Spring Creek near OvertonRiver gauge, Spring Creek 2.72 ft Low ±0 25 mi
South Loup River at Saint MichaelRiver gauge, South Loup River 2.43 ft Normal ±0 32 mi
Wood River at Grand IslandRiver gauge, Wood River 11.38 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 40 mi
Harlan County Lake Near Republican CityLake 1,932.79 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 41 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Platte River near Kearney higher than last year?

No, it is 0.06 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.66 ft.

What is flood stage for the Platte River near Kearney?

The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 4.40 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Platte River near Kearney in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.75 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.85 ft and 3.94 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 Platte River near Kearney today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 04:15 AM CDT, the water level was 2.60 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Platte River near Kearney rising or falling?

Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.11 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Platte River near Kearney 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:06770200 (Agency page)
Coordinates
40.65806, -99.08611 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
NGVD29
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 2.60 ft 2026-10-18 09:15 Provisional
Flow 246 cfs 2026-10-18 09:15 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Platte River near Kearney (usgs:06770200). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/platte-river-near-kearney

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