Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06818000

Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO

Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO is USGS streamgage 06818000 in Missouri, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10240011. It sits on the Missouri River, alongside 51 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 426,500 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1844. Typical flow runs near 48,761.3 cfs in July and 47,443.3 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, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Missouri
Drainage area
426,500 sq mi
Gauge elevation
815 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10240011
Coordinates
39.75325, -94.85683
USGS site number
06818000
Records begin
1844-06-01 (182 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO. 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
34,933 36,825 40,382
33,796 35,999 40,915
33,025 35,364 40,838
32,784 35,309 41,878
32,431 35,060 41,955
32,424 35,265 42,985
32,971 36,435 46,205
33,352 38,135 56,187
33,450 39,376 61,986
33,596 39,787 62,593
33,412 39,397 60,730
33,188 38,977 58,802
32,955 38,468 56,147
32,599 37,932 54,685

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 69 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 14,941.9 24,425.8 41,861.3
February 18,341.4 28,924.1 52,506.9
March 23,380.6 39,974.2 75,419.4
April 34,776.7 47,443.3 91,453.3
May 36,716.1 51,803.2 101,003.2
June 37,503.3 56,890 111,910
July 35,032.3 48,761.3 95,977.4
August 33,593.5 43,100 74,503.2
September 33,860 42,326.7 77,033.3
October 33,432.3 42,851.6 73,483.9
November 20,906.7 41,776.7 70,603.3
December 16,258.1 27,493.5 52,619.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 56,890 cfs, against 24,425.8 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 St. Joseph, MO?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 24,425.8 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 14,941.9 and 41,861.3 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06818000 begin in 1844, about 182 years, covering roughly 9,201 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 St. Joseph, MO?
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. A companion model forecasts each day's water-temperature high and low. 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 St. Joseph, MO?
The gauge sits at 39.75325, -94.85683, in Missouri, in hydrologic subbasin 10240011, at an elevation of about 815 feet, draining roughly 426,500 square miles.
Can I use Missouri River at St. Joseph, MO 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