South Loup River at Saint Michael water level

Name: South Loup River at Saint Michael water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, South Loup River, Nebraska, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.44ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 01:45 AM CDT (42 min ago)

Flow: 157 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

The gauge at South Loup River at Saint Michael reads 2.44 ft, a normal level.

It is 7.06 ft below the flood stage of 9.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.49 ft (−0.05 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.34 ft and 2.63 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Same day last year: 2.49 ft−0.05 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.34 ft – 2.63 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.11 ft – 3.62 ft
Highest on record: 15.15 ftMarch 16, 1978

What the stage means on the water

A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 9.50 ft, still 7.06 ft away.

What happens at each level

17.00 ft: Record flooding is occurring. Several gravel roads will be flooded.
14.00 ft: Significant lowland flooding occurs.
9.50 ft: Water floods agricultural lowlands and woodlands adjacent to the river.
2.44 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	15.15 ft	March 16, 1978
2	13.78 ft	February 11, 1966
3	13.77 ft	March 19, 1969
4	13.70 ft	March 20, 1969
5	13.00 ft	June 24, 1968
6	12.92 ft	March 23, 1962
7	12.73 ft	June 13, 1984
8	12.61 ft	February 21, 1980
9	12.60 ft	June 14, 1967
10	12.32 ft	March 9, 1993

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:51 AM Sunset 06:50 PM Daylight 10 hr, 58 min First quarter 57%

Map

Other gauges on the South Loup River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
South Loup River at ArnoldRiver gauge, South Loup River	4.36 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	81 mi
South Loup River at Pressey WMA near OcontoRiver gauge, South Loup River	0.62 ft	Normal	+0.02 ft	52 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Middle Loup River at Saint PaulRiver gauge, Middle Loup River	1.96 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	19 mi
Wood River at Grand IslandRiver gauge, Wood River	11.38 ft	Below flood stage	±0	22 mi
North Loup River near Saint PaulRiver gauge, North Loup River	2.78 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	22 mi
Davis Creek ReservoirReservoir	2,056.60 ft	Normal		26 mi
Platte River near Grand IslandRiver gauge, Platte River	3.52 ft	Normal	+0.10 ft	26 mi
Platte River near KearneyRiver gauge, Platte River	2.39 ft	Normal	−0.25 ft	32 mi
Warm Slough near Central CityRiver gauge, Warm Slough	2.13 ft	Below flood stage	±0	35 mi
Elm Creek near Elm CreekRiver gauge, Elm Creek	0.88 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	40 mi

Questions and answers

How does the South Loup River at Saint Michael compare with last year?

It is 0.05 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.49 ft.

What is flood stage for the South Loup River at Saint Michael?

The official flood stage is 9.50 ft. The level is currently 7.06 ft below it.

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 South Loup River at Saint Michael today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 01:45 AM CDT, the water level was 2.44 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is South Loup River at Saint Michael rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of South Loup River at Saint Michael normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at South Loup River at Saint Michael?

The highest level on record is 15.15 ft on March 16, 1978.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06784000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.03233, -98.74046 (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	2.44 ft	2026-10-19 06:45	Provisional
Flow	157 cfs	2026-10-19 06:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Loup River at Saint Michael (usgs:06784000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/south-loup-river-at-saint-michael

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