Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06486000

Missouri River at Sioux City, IA

Missouri River at Sioux City, IA is USGS streamgage 06486000 in Nebraska, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10230001. It sits on the Missouri River, alongside 51 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 314,600 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1928. Typical flow runs near 32,638.7 cfs in July and 30,696.7 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
Nebraska
Drainage area
314,600 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,099 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10230001
Coordinates
42.48619, -96.41308
USGS site number
06486000
Records begin
1928-10-01 (98 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Missouri River at Sioux City, 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
30,381 31,126 31,825
29,819 30,787 31,726
29,391 30,566 31,731
29,081 30,418 31,940
28,604 30,301 32,074
28,355 30,229 32,446
28,106 30,148 32,824
28,035 30,113 33,200
27,853 30,039 33,491
27,696 29,935 33,554
27,517 29,796 33,367
27,354 29,701 33,286
27,175 29,624 33,244
27,058 29,528 33,239

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 74 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 9,192.9 16,093.5 24,932.3
February 8,987.2 17,265.5 26,886.2
March 11,756.5 22,564.5 36,174.2
April 23,656.7 30,696.7 46,630
May 24,819.4 31,551.6 47,200
June 25,886.7 32,053.3 53,946.7
July 26,422.6 32,638.7 53,993.5
August 26,519.4 32,377.4 55,412.9
September 26,850 32,980 55,643.3
October 22,351.6 32,625.8 54,741.9
November 10,611.7 29,666.7 54,280
December 9,181.9 17,351.6 32,148.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Missouri River at Sioux City, IA normally run highest?
September, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 32,980 cfs, against 16,093.5 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 Missouri River at Sioux City, IA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 16,093.5 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 9,192.9 and 24,932.3 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Missouri River at Sioux City, IA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06486000 begin in 1928, about 98 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 Missouri River at Sioux City, 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 Missouri River at Sioux City, IA?
The gauge sits at 42.48619, -96.41308, in Nebraska, in hydrologic subbasin 10230001, at an elevation of about 1,099 feet, draining roughly 314,600 square miles.
Can I use Missouri River at Sioux City, 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 Missouri River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin