Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06903900

Chariton River near Rathbun, IA

Chariton River near Rathbun, IA is USGS streamgage 06903900 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 549 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1956. Typical flow runs near 528.9 cfs in July and 122.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

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Gauge details

State
Iowa
Drainage area
549 sq mi
Gauge elevation
864 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10280201
Coordinates
40.82186, -92.89097
USGS site number
06903900
Records begin
1956-10-01 (70 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Chariton River near Rathbun, 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
14.3 16.4 19.3
13.5 15.8 19
12.8 15.3 18.5
12.9 15.8 20.8
12.8 15.3 23.8
12.4 15.9 46.2
11.8 14.3 234
12.1 14.6 544
11.9 14.3 749
11.8 14.6 860
11.7 14.9 850
11.3 14.9 1,010
11 14.9 1,073
10.9 14.5 866

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 48 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 17.3 33.6 976.4
February 17.3 59.2 1,215.2
March 17.3 203.7 1,308.1
April 17 122.3 925.4
May 19.6 350.6 987.5
June 18.9 535.9 1,148.7
July 18.6 528.9 1,351
August 15.6 85.1 1,378.4
September 17.1 33.2 1,136.9
October 15.6 29 992.6
November 13.4 28.4 1,025.4
December 16.7 144 1,304.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Chariton River near Rathbun, IA normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 535.9 cfs, against 28.4 cfs in November, 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 Rathbun, IA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 33.6 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 17.3 and 976.4 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Chariton River near Rathbun, IA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06903900 begin in 1956, about 70 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 Rathbun, 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 Rathbun, IA?
The gauge sits at 40.82186, -92.89097, in Iowa, in hydrologic subbasin 10280201, at an elevation of about 864 feet, draining roughly 549 square miles.
Can I use Chariton River near Rathbun, 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