Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

North Loup River flows and levels

North Loup River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Nebraska, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 245 miles (394 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 1,890 square miles at North Loup River at Brewster, Nebr. up to 4,302 at North Loup River near Saint Paul, Nebr.. The gauged reach falls about 709 feet, from 2,478 feet down to 1,769. 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
North Loup River at Brewster, Nebr. NE 1,890 2,478 508.6 401.9 14-day
North Loup River at Taylor, Nebr. NE 2,350 2,260 603.7 314.9 14-day
North Loup River near Saint Paul, Nebr. NE 4,302 1,769 1,065.7 665.6 14-day

Typical flow by month at North Loup River near Saint Paul, Nebr.

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 98 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 532.6 878 1,273.2
February 676.4 1,037 1,625.2
March 839.5 1,151.9 1,849.7
April 799.8 1,065.7 1,634
May 640.7 955.4 1,681
June 563.9 894.1 1,740.3
July 335.8 665.6 1,303.2
August 306.1 662.3 1,230.3
September 554.3 823.2 1,307.7
October 689.1 880 1,215.5
November 705.8 914.5 1,203.3
December 522.4 897.7 1,269.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the North Loup River run highest?
March, on the long-term record at North Loup River near Saint Paul, Nebr. — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 1,151.9 cfs that month, against 662.3 cfs in August, 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 North Loup River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the North Loup River, across Nebraska. 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 North Loup 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 North Loup River part of?
The North Loup 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 North Loup 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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