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Kansas · river

Arkansas River at Derby

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

89of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Arkansas River at Derby
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Amphitheatre at Field Station- Dinosaurs in Derby Kansas.jpg by RSM400, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

11 mph

gusting to 19 mph

Air temp

86°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

141 cfs

low for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Wednesday · 68

  • Today

    49

  • Wed

    68

    Best

  • Thu

    45

  • Fri

    51

  • Sat

    37

  • Sun

    37

  • Mon

    14

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
1a1120
2a1017
3a1018
4a917
5a816
6a916
7a916
8a1018
9a1227
10a1425
11a1522
12p1520

Is this flow normal for September 8?

Today's 141 cfs is 67% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 424 cfs, across 56 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind11 mph — noticeable but manageable-11

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Kansas