River stage
Hays, Big Creek
- River level
- 4.70 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.42 ft
- Recent high
- 11.71 ft
- Recent low
- 4.23 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS HYSK1
- 30-day change
- +0.41 ft
- Average
- 5.02 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 21.93 ft
In brief
The Big Creek at Hays, KS read 4.70 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 12.30 ft below action stage. That is 0.41 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge HYSK1
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.93 ft | 2019-08-25 |
| 2 | 21.59 ft | 2018-05-31 |
| 3 | 21.31 ft | 2016-09-05 |
| 4 | 19.67 ft | 1999-08-03 |
| 5 | 19.11 ft | 2018-07-06 |
| 6 | 18.90 ft | 2003-09-11 |
| 7 | 18.03 ft | 2021-05-26 |
| 8 | 15.31 ft | 2001-09-19 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 26.00 ft
Prepare for minor right bank (south side) overflows along Big Creek from Hays to Munjor. For safety, move livestock away from the main creek channel. At a stage of 26 feet, the city of Hays is not directly threatened by flooding from Big Creek.
- 27.00 ft
Prepare for minor right bank (south side) overflows of 1 foot or more along Big Creek from Hays to Munjor. For safety, move livestock away from the main creek channel. At a stage of 27 feet, the city of Hays is not directly threatened by flooding from Big Creek.
- 29.00 ft
Prepare for moderate right bank (south side) flooding of three feet or more along Big Creek from Hays to Munjor. Move livestock away from Big Creek to higher ground. At a stage of 29 feet, the city of Hays is not directly threatened by flooding from Big Creek.
- 32.00 ft
Prepare for major right bank (south side) flooding of 6 feet or more along Big Creek from Hays to Munjor.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Big Creek flooding at Hays?
No. The Big Creek at Hays is at 4.7 ft, 12.3 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Hays?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 17 ft, minor flooding 26 ft, moderate flooding 29 ft and major flooding 32 ft.
What is the highest the Big Creek has been at Hays?
The highest crest on record is 21.93 ft, on 2019-08-25.
Is the Big Creek high or low right now at Hays?
At 4.7 ft it is higher than 57% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge HYSK1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06863500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.