Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

South Loup River flows and levels

South Loup River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Nebraska, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 204 miles (329 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. It drains roughly 2,310 square miles at its outlet. The gauged reach falls about 763 feet, from 2,695 feet down to 1,932. 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
South Loup River at Pressey WMA near Oconto, Nebr. NE 834 2,386 134.2 113.6 14-day
South Loup River at Saint Michael, Nebr. NE 2,320 1,932 241.9 144.3 14-day
South Loup River at Arnold, Nebr. NE — 2,695 39.7 24.7 14-day

Typical flow by month at South Loup River at Arnold, 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 16 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 21.2 29.4 46.7
February 25.5 37.1 62.1
March 29.6 42.3 104.9
April 25.1 39.7 70.3
May 23.7 42.1 98.6
June 18.8 34.3 109.6
July 13.4 24.7 55.2
August 12.5 21.7 58.2
September 12.9 19.5 33.9
October 18.1 24.5 41.6
November 21.7 28.1 35.8
December 21.2 29.5 42.9

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the South Loup River run highest?
March, on the long-term record at South Loup River at Arnold, Nebr. — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 42.3 cfs that month, against 19.5 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 South Loup River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the South 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 South 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 South Loup River part of?
The South 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 South 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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