Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

Niangua River flows and levels

Niangua River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Missouri, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 131 miles (211 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 377 square miles at Niangua River at Windyville, MO up to 598 at Niangua River at Tunnel Dam near Macks Creek, MO. The gauged reach falls about 221 feet, from 921 feet down to 700. 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
Niangua River at Windyville, MO MO 377 921 337.1 94.7 14-day
Niangua River ab Lake Niangua near Macks Creek, MO MO 522 749 751.7 346.3 14-day
Niangua River at Tunnel Dam near Macks Creek, MO MO 598 700 480.6 231.8 14-day

Typical flow by month at Niangua River at Tunnel Dam near Macks Creek, 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 31 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 82.3 235.9 1,143.5
February 85.2 279.1 1,389.8
March 129.2 399.6 2,406
April 116.5 480.6 2,605.7
May 118.7 511.5 2,803.2
June 102.3 289.3 1,454.2
July 96.9 231.8 856.8
August 92.9 206.5 550.2
September 71.3 185.6 405.9
October 79.6 185.1 478.5
November 117.9 216.7 791.8
December 101.4 211.7 735.1

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Niangua River run highest?
May, on the long-term record at Niangua River at Tunnel Dam near Macks Creek, MO — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 511.5 cfs that month, against 185.1 cfs in October, 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 Niangua River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the Niangua 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 Niangua River?
Yes, at 3 of the 3 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 Niangua River part of?
The Niangua 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 Niangua 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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