Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06865500

Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS

Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS is USGS streamgage 06865500 in Kansas, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10260008. It sits on the Smoky Hill River, alongside 11 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 7,857 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1938. Typical flow runs near 143.2 cfs in July and 65.4 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
Kansas
Drainage area
7,857 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,420 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10260008
Coordinates
38.61147, -97.95256
USGS site number
06865500
Records begin
1938-06-01 (88 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Smoky Hill River near Langley, 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
55.8 60.3 64.7
53.7 59 65.4
52.7 58.7 67.2
51.9 58.4 69.7
50.6 58.7 77.2
50.2 59.7 92.5
50.5 61.2 133
50.1 62.6 142
48.3 61.1 147
47.4 61 156
46.4 60.4 161
45.3 59.6 154
44.3 58.8 145
43 57.6 129

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 86 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 13.4 41.2 180.6
February 12.7 46.3 272.8
March 12.5 51.9 378.9
April 19.7 65.4 823
May 23.2 104.8 1,098.1
June 39.8 170.8 1,719
July 44.5 143.2 1,206.9
August 46 111.6 1,244.1
September 35.2 112.5 953.2
October 19.2 66.3 817.3
November 15.5 54.3 338
December 14.1 49 301.1

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 170.8 cfs, against 41.2 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 Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 41.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 13.4 and 180.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06865500 begin in 1938, about 88 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 Smoky Hill River near Langley, 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. 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 Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS?
The gauge sits at 38.61147, -97.95256, in Kansas, in hydrologic subbasin 10260008, at an elevation of about 1,420 feet, draining roughly 7,857 square miles.
Can I use Smoky Hill River near Langley, 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 Smoky Hill River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin