Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06866500

Smoky Hill River near Mentor, KS

Smoky Hill River near Mentor, KS is USGS streamgage 06866500 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 8,341 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1903. Typical flow runs near 176.8 cfs in July and 108.6 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
8,341 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,270 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10260008
Coordinates
38.71112, -97.5717
USGS site number
06866500
Records begin
1903-05-29 (123 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Smoky Hill River near Mentor, 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
58.4 63.6 69.1
55.5 62.6 71.7
53.4 61.8 76.3
52 61.5 84.1
51.8 63.3 102
51.8 65.5 139
52.5 69.4 224
53.4 73.1 257
51.3 74.1 284
50.1 74.1 272
48.6 72.5 260
47.5 71 253
46.6 69.6 218
44.9 66.9 186

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 102 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 24.6 78.7 274
February 29.7 85 397.2
March 28.3 96.4 668.7
April 34.1 108.6 1,016.8
May 33 159.1 1,454.8
June 51.2 266.8 2,035
July 34.9 176.8 1,533.9
August 33.7 146.8 1,446.2
September 38.8 159.9 1,062.7
October 29.5 106.4 779.8
November 30.4 95.3 419.7
December 28.4 87.2 379

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Smoky Hill River near Mentor, KS normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 266.8 cfs, against 78.7 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 Mentor, KS?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 78.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 24.6 and 274 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Smoky Hill River near Mentor, KS been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06866500 begin in 1903, about 123 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 Mentor, 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 Smoky Hill River near Mentor, KS?
The gauge sits at 38.71112, -97.5717, in Kansas, in hydrologic subbasin 10260008, at an elevation of about 1,270 feet, draining roughly 8,341 square miles.
Can I use Smoky Hill River near Mentor, 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