River Conditions
Illustrated map of Wilson Lake

River stage

Big Blue River (KS, NE)

River level
Normal
Status
Below flood stage

Latest readings 2026-10-13 | NWS · USGS

Gauges reporting
9 of 9
Above flood stage
0
Above action stage
0
Overall
Below flood stage
Publisher
NWS · USGS

In brief

On Oct 13, 2026, 9 of 9 gauges on the Big Blue River (KS, NE) reported, and none was above flood stage.

Source: National Weather Service and USGS gauges

Big Blue River levels, gauge by gauge

The Big Blue River is measured at 9 gauges across Kansas, Nebraska. Flood stages are set per gauge, so the same river is "high" at one town and normal at the next.

LocationState Level Flood stage Status
Blue Rapids KS 18.60 ft 26.00 ft normal, falling
Manhattan KS 11.41 ft 19.00 ft normal, rising
Marysville KS 15.20 ft 35.00 ft normal, falling
Tuttle Creek Lake KS 1091.52 ft 1136.00 ft normal, steady
NWS gauge SAPN1 NE 4.56 ft 17.00 ft below flood stage
Beatrice NE 4.66 ft 18.00 ft normal, steady
Crete NE 9.70 ft 21.00 ft normal, falling
Seward NE 1.77 ft 18.00 ft normal, steady
Surprise NE 1.40 ft 7.00 ft normal, steady

Recent levels on the Big Blue River

The gauge with the fullest recent record on this river is Blue Rapids, KS, with 122 days of readings.

Full history for Blue Rapids →

Other rivers nearby

Frequently asked questions

Is the Big Blue River flooding right now?

No. Every one of the 9 reporting gauges on the Big Blue River is below flood stage as of 2026-10-13.

How high is the Big Blue River?

The river is measured at several points and each reads a different height. Blue Rapids is at 18.60 ft; Manhattan is at 11.41 ft; Marysville is at 15.20 ft; Tuttle Creek Lake is at 1091.52 ft.

Where is the Big Blue River measured?

The National Weather Service and USGS operate 9 gauges on the Big Blue River across Kansas, Nebraska.

What does flood stage mean?

Flood stage is the height at which a river begins to cause problems at that specific location. It is set per gauge, so the same river can be above flood stage in one town and normal a few miles downstream. Action stage is the lower level at which forecasters start watching closely.

River stages and flood categories from the NOAA National Weather Service; daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.