River stage
Manhattan, Big Blue River
- River level
- 11.41 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +2.51 ft
- Recent high
- 11.81 ft
- Recent low
- 1.23 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS MNTK1
- 30-day change
- +10.18 ft
- Average
- 5.08 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 36.04 ft
In brief
The Big Blue River at Manhattan, KS read 11.41 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.59 ft below action stage. That is 10.18 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge MNTK1
Water 69 °F (21 °C) · 3 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36.04 ft | 1951-07-12 |
| 2 | 32.71 ft | 1993-07-23 |
| 3 | 22.41 ft | 2019-06-01 |
| 4 | 19.76 ft | 2019-07-19 |
| 5 | 19.28 ft | 1992-08-07 |
| 6 | 18.07 ft | 1995-06-13 |
| 7 | 17.85 ft | 2015-06-30 |
| 8 | 17.73 ft | 2007-05-24 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 19.00 ft
Minor low land flooding begins along the river.
- 27.00 ft
Structures along Harwood Road flood.
- 30.00 ft
Structures along and north of Prospect Street and along Messenger Road flood.
- 37.00 ft
Levee along the Big Blue River is overtopped.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Big Blue River flooding at Manhattan?
No. The Big Blue River at Manhattan is at 11.41 ft, 3.59 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Manhattan?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 15 ft, minor flooding 19 ft, moderate flooding 27 ft and major flooding 30 ft.
What is the highest the Big Blue River has been at Manhattan?
The highest crest on record is 36.04 ft, on 1951-07-12.
Is the Big Blue River high or low right now at Manhattan?
At 11.41 ft it is higher than 98% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Manhattan, Big Blue River?
The water temperature at Manhattan, Big Blue River is 69 °F (20.7 °C), measured 7:00 pm by USGS, which is 3 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has risen 0.9 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge MNTK1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06887000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.