River stage
Kern River
- River level
- Normal
- Status
- Below flood stage
Latest readings 2026-10-13 | NWS · USGS
- Gauges reporting
- 13 of 13
- Above flood stage
- 0
- Above action stage
- 0
- Overall
- Below flood stage
- Publisher
- NWS · USGS
In brief
On Oct 13, 2026, 13 of 13 gauges on the Kern River reported, and none was above flood stage.
Source: National Weather Service and USGS gauges
Kern River levels, gauge by gauge
The Kern River is measured at 13 gauges. Flood stages are set per gauge, so the same river is "high" at one town and normal at the next.
| Location | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NWS gauge KKVC1 | — | reports flow only (0.18 kcfs) |
| Buena Vista Canal | -1.70 ft | no flood stage set |
| Beardsley Canal | 5.17 ft | no flood stage set |
| Calloway Canal | -0.07 ft | no flood stage set |
| Canal--Above Truxtun Ave | 0.38 ft | no flood stage set |
| Eastside Canal | -9.99 ft | no flood stage set |
| Farmer Stine Canal | -9.99 ft | no flood stage set |
| Hart Park | 1.59 ft | no flood stage set |
| Island Canal | 1.76 ft | no flood stage set |
| Kernville | 2.56 ft | normal, steady |
| Rosedale Canal | 8.30 ft | no flood stage set |
| Reclamation Canal | 0.70 ft | no flood stage set |
| Stine Canal | -0.81 ft | no flood stage set |
Other rivers nearby
- Merced River 4 gauges
- Guadalupe River (CA) 7 gauges
- New River (CA) 1 gauge
- Feather River 4 gauges
- Bear Creek (Holsten Chimney Canyon, CA) 1 gauge
- Sacramento River 18 gauges
- Russian River 12 gauges
- Cow Creek (CA) 1 gauge
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kern River flooding right now?
No. Every one of the 13 reporting gauges on the Kern River is below flood stage as of 2026-10-13.
How high is the Kern River?
The river is measured at several points and each reads a different height. Kernville is at 2.56 ft.
Where is the Kern River measured?
The National Weather Service and USGS operate 13 gauges on the Kern River in California.
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.