Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06903400

Chariton River near Chariton, IA

Chariton River near Chariton, IA is USGS streamgage 06903400 in Iowa, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10280201. It sits on the Chariton River, alongside 4 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 182 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1947. Typical flow runs near 6.1 cfs in July and 44.7 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Iowa
Drainage area
182 sq mi
Gauge elevation
941 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10280201
Coordinates
40.95197, -93.25989
USGS site number
06903400
Records begin
1947-06-05 (79 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Chariton River near Chariton, IA. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
3.1 4 5.4
2.7 3.9 6.1
2.6 3.8 6.5
2.7 4.5 30.3
2.5 5.3 185
4.4 88.9 1,183
11.1 373 3,365
14.5 458 2,616
16.4 251 1,160
12.7 132 608
9 60.5 281
6.6 42.2 222
4.1 33.4 500
3.3 21.1 220

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 61 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 0.4 7.1 65.4
February 1.7 22.8 215.3
March 6.1 46.2 559.2
April 7.8 44.7 708.2
May 4.1 39.6 905.3
June 1.6 24.2 691.1
July 0.3 6.1 391.4
August 0.1 2.8 137.4
September 0.1 1.9 163.5
October 0.1 3.3 134.2
November 0.3 8.2 114.6
December 0.2 9.9 148.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Chariton River near Chariton, IA normally run highest?
March, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 46.2 cfs, against 1.9 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Chariton River near Chariton, IA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 7.1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0.4 and 65.4 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Chariton River near Chariton, IA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06903400 begin in 1947, about 79 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Chariton River near Chariton, IA?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Chariton River near Chariton, IA?
The gauge sits at 40.95197, -93.25989, in Iowa, in hydrologic subbasin 10280201, at an elevation of about 941 feet, draining roughly 182 square miles.
Can I use Chariton River near Chariton, IA data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the Chariton River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Chariton River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin