Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06889000

Kansas River at Topeka, KS

Kansas River at Topeka, KS is USGS streamgage 06889000 in Kansas, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10270102. It sits on the Kansas River, alongside 11 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 56,720 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1869. Typical flow runs near 4,789 cfs in July and 3,028 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.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Kansas
Drainage area
56,720 sq mi
Gauge elevation
904 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10270102
Coordinates
39.06667, -95.6497
USGS site number
06889000
Records begin
1869-01-01 (157 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Kansas River at Topeka, KS. 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
1,706 1,906 2,136
1,600 1,855 2,306
1,566 1,881 2,587
1,534 1,903 3,281
1,530 1,938 3,562
1,544 2,004 4,356
1,545 2,104 6,292
1,605 2,223 6,788
1,578 2,527 8,386
1,589 2,708 8,603
1,589 2,766 8,779
1,586 2,798 9,090
1,541 2,691 8,963
1,521 2,592 8,358

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 109 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 663.3 1,649.4 4,419.7
February 824.9 2,110 7,286.9
March 920.6 2,567.4 11,644.5
April 1,021.1 3,028 17,316.7
May 1,248.4 4,702.3 21,503.2
June 1,704.3 7,130.3 26,730
July 1,327.1 4,789 19,951.6
August 1,048.9 2,968.1 12,943.9
September 903.6 2,483.3 12,026
October 795.3 1,783.9 9,874.8
November 719.5 1,790.3 7,435.3
December 704.4 1,833.2 6,440

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Kansas River at Topeka, KS normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 7,130.3 cfs, against 1,649.4 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Kansas River at Topeka, KS?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 1,649.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 663.3 and 4,419.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Kansas River at Topeka, KS been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06889000 begin in 1869, about 157 years, covering roughly 9,182 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Kansas River at Topeka, KS?
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 Kansas River at Topeka, KS?
The gauge sits at 39.06667, -95.6497, in Kansas, in hydrologic subbasin 10270102, at an elevation of about 904 feet, draining roughly 56,720 square miles.
Can I use Kansas River at Topeka, KS 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 Kansas River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin