Rivermatics

2 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

Little Blue River flows and levels

Little Blue River is gauged at 2 USGS streamgages in Missouri, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 48 miles (77 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 98 square miles at Little Blue River. at Lees Summit Rd in Independence up to 184 at Little Blue River near Lake City, MO. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook for every one of them.

Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream

Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
Little Blue River. at Lees Summit Rd in Independence MO 98 762 55 28 14-day + temp
Little Blue River near Lake City, MO MO 184 735 115.3 43 14-day + temp

Typical flow by month at Little Blue River near Lake City, MO

The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 78 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 9.3 42.4 209.8
February 14.6 59.6 275.6
March 20.5 95.6 462.9
April 23.6 115.3 589.7
May 26.2 107.9 774
June 18.5 88 731.6
July 10.4 43 356.3
August 5.6 29 202
September 5.1 27.9 254
October 6 30.5 282.8
November 8.2 36.1 203.8
December 7.1 38.3 196.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Little Blue River run highest?
April, on the long-term record at Little Blue River near Lake City, MO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 115.3 cfs that month, against 27.9 cfs in September, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
How many gauges are on the Little Blue River?
Rivermatics tracks 2 USGS streamgages on the Little Blue River, across Missouri. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
Is there a flow forecast for the Little Blue River?
Yes, at 2 of the 2 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
What river system is the Little Blue River part of?
The Little Blue River drains into the Mississippi River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
Can I use Little Blue River 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.

Other rivers in the Mississippi River system

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