River stage
Towanda, Whitewater River
- River level
- 1.62 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.11 ft
- Recent high
- 16.89 ft
- Recent low
- 1.55 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS TOWK1
- 30-day change
- +0.01 ft
- Average
- 2.06 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 30.54 ft
In brief
The Whitewater River at Towanda, KS read 1.62 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 18.38 ft below action stage. That is 0.01 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge TOWK1
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30.54 ft | 1998-11-01 |
| 2 | 29.73 ft | 1979-06-08 |
| 3 | 28.80 ft | 2025-06-04 |
| 4 | 28.50 ft | 1985-10-11 |
| 5 | 28.21 ft | 1985-10-10 |
| 6 | 28.04 ft | 2009-04-27 |
| 7 | 28.03 ft | 2019-05-08 |
| 8 | 28.02 ft | 1965-06-05 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
The river will be out of its banks on both sides. West bank overflows impact cropland mainly in low lying areas.
- 25.00 ft
Flooding over cropland becomes more widespread. County roads flood at Southwest 40th Street on low spots near the river about 2 miles downstream of gage and along Southwest 60th Street just west of Fulton Road near the river located 4 miles south of Towanda. Further downstream, 5 miles south of Towanda, expect flooding across Southwest 70th Street near the river.
- 28.00 ft
Water level reaches about 2 ft on property 1 mile upstream, on east side of the river around River Valley Road. More extensive flooding of cropland can be expected. Many county roads in low areas will be inundated near the vicinity of the river.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Whitewater River flooding at Towanda?
No. The Whitewater River at Towanda is at 1.62 ft, 18.38 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Towanda?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 20 ft, minor flooding 22 ft, moderate flooding 25 ft and major flooding 28 ft.
What is the highest the Whitewater River has been at Towanda?
The highest crest on record is 30.54 ft, on 1998-11-01.
Is the Whitewater River high or low right now at Towanda?
At 1.62 ft it is higher than 23% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge TOWK1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 07147070). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.