Buffalo River Intelligence

7 USGS Gauges · Boxley to Harriet · 37 HUC12 Watersheds

Data age: 8 min

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Mainstem Gauges — Upstream to Downstream

Each card’s level is the gauge reading on that card’s own level set (listed at the bottom of the card). Rise, wave and chance lines are forecasts; when two of them disagree, the card says so.

Boxley
6 cfs
Too Low
Steady at -0 cfs/hr
as of 8:30 AM CT
Gauge precip: 0.00" (24hr)
Chance of Rising (next 12 h, from rain already fallen)
Low but Floatable (200 cfs) ~2% · Optimal (350 cfs) ~2%
history of past storms at this gauge · experimental
Recession
Already below thresholds
Ponca
44 cfs
Too Low
Steady at -1 cfs/hr
as of 9:00 AM CT
Gauge precip: 0.00" (24hr)
Recession
Already below thresholds
Pruitt
50 cfs
Too Low
Slight Recession at -4 cfs/hr
as of 9:00 AM CT
Gauge precip: 0.00" (24hr)
Recession
Already below thresholds
St. Joe
46 cfs
Low but Floatable
Steady
as of 8:45 AM CT
Gauge precip: 0.00" (24hr)
Recession
Holding steady
Harriet
72 cfs
Low but Floatable
Steady
as of 8:45 AM CT
Gauge precip: 0.00" (24hr)
Recession
Beyond forecast window (high confidence)

Tributary Signal Gauges

Richland Creek
1.4 cfs ➡
Signals for: St Joe
as of 8:00 AM CT
Gauge precip: N/A" (24hr)
Bear Creek
3.5 cfs ➡
Signals for: Harriet
as of 8:15 AM CT
Gauge precip: 0.00" (24hr)

Watershed Rainfall Map

QPE = Precipitation Estimate (observed) · QPF = Precipitation Forecast

0"
0.01–0.24"
0.25–0.49"
0.50–0.99"
1.00–1.99"
2.00"+

Zone Rainfall

Zone1hr3hr6hr12hr24hrQPF 24hr
Boxley (2 HUC12s)0.000"0.015"0.019"0.019"0.019"0.00"
Ponca (3 HUC12s)0.000"0.012"0.016"0.018"0.018"0.00"
Pruitt (3 HUC12s)0.000"0.019"0.026"0.034"0.034"0.00"
St. Joe (15 HUC12s)0.000"0.037"0.040"0.044"0.044"0.00"
Richland Cr. (2 HUC12s)0.002"0.030"0.030"0.077"0.077"0.00"
Bear Creek (2 HUC12s)0.009"0.035"0.035"0.093"0.093"0.00"
Harriet (5 HUC12s)0.004"0.043"0.043"0.045"0.045"0.00"
Ungauged (8 HUC12s)0.009"0.031"0.031"0.045"0.045"—
Watershed Total 0.046" (24hr)
MRMS file: 2026-10-16T14:00:00Z

3-Day Forecast

Updated: 6:30 AM CT

Ponca
Today
57° / 39°
Partly Sunny
NNW 15 mph
Saturday
60° / 39°
Sunny
NE 5 mph
Sunday
66° / 44°
Sunny
SSE 0 to 5 mph
St. Joe
Today
64° / 39°
Mostly Sunny
NNW 10 to 15 mph
Saturday
62° / 35°
Sunny
NNE 0 to 5 mph
Sunday
67° / 39°
Sunny
0 mph
Buffalo City
Today
61° / 41°
Partly Sunny
NNW 15 to 20 mph
Saturday
58° / 37°
Sunny
NNE 5 to 15 mph
Sunday
63° / 41°
Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph

Gauge Flow Legend

GaugeToo LowLow but FloatableOptimalFlood
Boxley
Boxley → Ponca		< 200200–350350–1,600≥ 1,600
Ponca
Ponca → Pruitt		< 130130–200200–1,6001≥ 1,600
Pruitt
Pruitt → Hasty		< 100100–200200–2,000≥ 2,000
St. Joe
Woolum / Tyler Bend → Gilbert		< 4040–200200–8,000≥ 8,000
Harriet
Maumee → Buffalo Point / Rush		< 6060–200200–9,370≥ 9,370
Flows in cfs. Each gauge card is coloured by where its current flow falls in this table.
1 Ponca: Experienced paddlers only from 800 cfs
📖 Historical Levels & Storm Archive →
Ponca · Pruitt · St. Joe · Harriet — this date in history, days per level, every storm rise since 1939
🔬 Buffalo Study Archive →
The 122-day AI-driven study of how rain becomes river rise in the Buffalo watershed (March–June 2026): hypothesis, nightly analyses and findings
Gauges Watersheds Ozark Rain Map
Cossatot Intelligence Richland Intelligence Mulberry Intelligence Big Piney Intelligence Illinois River Intel Branson Creeks St. Francis Intel Hailstone Intelligence Buffalo Intelligence
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DISCLAIMER: This site provides creek condition estimates for informational purposes only. Gauge data, radar estimates, and forecasts may be delayed, inaccurate, or unavailable. Always exercise independent judgment. Whitewater kayaking is inherently dangerous — water conditions can change rapidly. This site and its maintainers assume no responsibility for decisions made based on information displayed here.