Cottonwood River at Cottonwood Falls
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/20/2025 7:00 AM CDTRecord: 17.2 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 18 ft Moderate Flooding 11 ft Minor Flooding 9 ft Action 7 ft Reliability of the Forecast: Forecast data shown here are guidance values only. Please refer to your local NWS office.
NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Gauge reading only in high-water situations.
River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. Forecast stages may be different if forecast future rainfall does not occur.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 18 - Major flooding of roads and homes in Cottonwood Falls and in Strong City occurs.
- 16 - Flood waters draw near the Business District in Strong City. In Cottonwood Falls flood waters approach the Millstream Hotel basement floor.
- 15 - Water covers railroad tracks at Strong City.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 7.60 ft | on 06-19-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 13.40 ft | on 06-04-2025 | (P) |
| 3. | 9.10 ft | on 06-09-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 9.50 ft | on 06-06-2022 | |
| 5. | 10.30 ft | on 07-31-2020 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 7.60 ft | on 06-19-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 13.40 ft | on 06-04-2025 | (P) |
| 3. | 9.10 ft | on 06-09-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 9.50 ft | on 06-06-2022 | |
| 5. | 10.30 ft | on 07-31-2020 | |
| 6. | 11.10 ft | on 07-07-2019 | |
| 7. | 10.60 ft | on 06-25-2019 | |
| 8. | 11.20 ft | on 05-26-2019 | |
| 9. | 14.10 ft | on 05-09-2019 | |
| 10. | 9.10 ft | on 05-02-2019 | |
| 11. | 8.70 ft | on 10-10-2018 | |
| 12. | 7.70 ft | on 04-06-2017 | |
| 13. | 11.10 ft | on 03-30-2017 | |
| 14. | 10.50 ft | on 05-28-2016 | |
| 15. | 10.50 ft | on 05-24-2015 | |
| 16. | 10.00 ft | on 05-17-2015 | |
| 17. | 10.00 ft | on 08-04-2013 | |
| 18. | 11.10 ft | on 08-01-2013 | |
| 19. | 13.20 ft | on 06-15-2010 | |
| 20. | 10.50 ft | on 04-28-2009 | |
| 21. | 12.10 ft | on 09-14-2008 | |
| 22. | 12.50 ft | on 05-08-2007 | |
| 23. | 11.00 ft | on 08-27-2005 | |
| 24. | 12.80 ft | on 06-13-2005 | |
| 25. | 9.70 ft | on 06-06-2005 | |
| 26. | 9.00 ft | on 06-05-2005 | |
| 27. | 10.00 ft | on 05-13-2005 | |
| 28. | 9.00 ft | on 07-27-2004 | |
| 29. | 9.00 ft | on 07-10-2004 | |
| 30. | 11.90 ft | on 03-06-2004 | |
| 31. | 17.20 ft | on 11-01-1998 | |
| 32. | 9.30 ft | on 06-10-1995 | |
| 33. | 11.50 ft | on 05-28-1995 | |
| 34. | 11.00 ft | on 05-24-1995 | |
| 35. | 12.30 ft | on 07-22-1993 | |
| 36. | 9.20 ft | on 07-19-1993 | |
| 37. | 9.50 ft | on 07-16-1993 | |
| 38. | 16.10 ft | on 05-09-1993 | |
| 39. | 7.00 ft | on 05-11-1990 | |
| 40. | 15.70 ft | on 10-11-1985 | |
| 41. | 13.00 ft | on 06-13-1985 | |
| 42. | 9.00 ft | on 03-21-1984 | |
| 43. | 8.00 ft | on 07-05-1979 | |
| 44. | 4.90 ft | on 03-24-1978 | |
| 45. | 10.30 ft | on 06-22-1977 | |
| 46. | 13.30 ft | on 06-18-1975 | |
| 47. | 10.40 ft | on 04-22-1974 | |
| 48. | 11.20 ft | on 03-11-1973 | |
| 49. | 9.40 ft | on 10-07-1967 | |
| 50. | 13.50 ft | on 06-06-1965 | |
| 51. | 9.00 ft | on 05-07-1961 | |
| 52. | 16.40 ft | on 06-30-1951 | |
| 53. | 13.60 ft | on 05-01-1951 | |
| 54. | 16.00 ft | on 04-23-1944 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 17.20 ft | on 11-01-1998 |
| 2. | 16.40 ft | on 06-30-1951 |
| 3. | 16.10 ft | on 05-09-1993 |
| 4. | 16.00 ft | on 04-23-1944 |
| 5. | 15.70 ft | on 10-11-1985 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 17.20 ft | on 11-01-1998 | |
| 2. | 16.40 ft | on 06-30-1951 | |
| 3. | 16.10 ft | on 05-09-1993 | |
| 4. | 16.00 ft | on 04-23-1944 | |
| 5. | 15.70 ft | on 10-11-1985 | |
| 6. | 14.10 ft | on 05-09-2019 | |
| 7. | 13.60 ft | on 05-01-1951 | |
| 8. | 13.50 ft | on 06-06-1965 | |
| 9. | 13.40 ft | on 06-04-2025 | (P) |
| 10. | 13.30 ft | on 06-18-1975 | |
| 11. | 13.20 ft | on 06-15-2010 | |
| 12. | 13.00 ft | on 06-13-1985 | |
| 13. | 12.80 ft | on 06-13-2005 | |
| 14. | 12.50 ft | on 05-08-2007 | |
| 15. | 12.30 ft | on 07-22-1993 | |
| 16. | 12.10 ft | on 09-14-2008 | |
| 17. | 11.90 ft | on 03-06-2004 | |
| 18. | 11.50 ft | on 05-28-1995 | |
| 19. | 11.20 ft | on 03-11-1973 | |
| 20. | 11.20 ft | on 05-26-2019 | |
| 21. | 11.10 ft | on 08-01-2013 | |
| 22. | 11.10 ft | on 07-07-2019 | |
| 23. | 11.10 ft | on 03-30-2017 | |
| 24. | 11.00 ft | on 08-27-2005 | |
| 25. | 11.00 ft | on 05-24-1995 | |
| 26. | 10.60 ft | on 06-25-2019 | |
| 27. | 10.50 ft | on 04-28-2009 | |
| 28. | 10.50 ft | on 05-24-2015 | |
| 29. | 10.50 ft | on 05-28-2016 | |
| 30. | 10.40 ft | on 04-22-1974 | |
| 31. | 10.30 ft | on 06-22-1977 | |
| 32. | 10.30 ft | on 07-31-2020 | |
| 33. | 10.00 ft | on 05-17-2015 | |
| 34. | 10.00 ft | on 05-13-2005 | |
| 35. | 10.00 ft | on 08-04-2013 | |
| 36. | 9.70 ft | on 06-06-2005 | |
| 37. | 9.50 ft | on 07-16-1993 | |
| 38. | 9.50 ft | on 06-06-2022 | |
| 39. | 9.40 ft | on 10-07-1967 | |
| 40. | 9.30 ft | on 06-10-1995 | |
| 41. | 9.20 ft | on 07-19-1993 | |
| 42. | 9.10 ft | on 06-09-2024 | (P) |
| 43. | 9.10 ft | on 05-02-2019 | |
| 44. | 9.00 ft | on 07-10-2004 | |
| 45. | 9.00 ft | on 05-07-1961 | |
| 46. | 9.00 ft | on 03-21-1984 | |
| 47. | 9.00 ft | on 06-05-2005 | |
| 48. | 9.00 ft | on 07-27-2004 | |
| 49. | 8.70 ft | on 10-10-2018 | |
| 50. | 8.00 ft | on 07-05-1979 | |
| 51. | 7.70 ft | on 04-06-2017 | |
| 52. | 7.60 ft | on 06-19-2025 | (P) |
| 53. | 7.00 ft | on 05-11-1990 | |
| 54. | 4.90 ft | on 03-24-1978 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NGVD29 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 1179.63 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 1172.63 ft |
| minor Flooding | 1170.63 ft |
| action | 1168.63 ft |
| Latest Value | N/A |
| Gauge Zero | 1161.63 ft |
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
Resources
Hydrologic Resource Links
Additional Resource Links
- NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting
- Area Hydrographs
- Cowskin Creek Flood Watch-USGS
- Snow Information
- Regional Temperature/Precipitation Table
- Tulsa District Corps of Engineers Streamflow Data
- US Geological Survey (map of sites)
- US Geological Survey (table of sites)
- City of Wichita/Sedgwick County Real-time Stream & Rainfall Network