Kayak Love

Kansas · river

Arkansas River near Nickerson

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

42of 100

Caution

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Arkansas River near Nickerson
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Arkansas River near Sterling KS.jpg by LDtronic01, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

18 mph

gusting to 23 mph

Air temp

99°F

2% chance of rain

River flow

120 cfs

normal for this date

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
5p1721
6p1823
7p1623
8p1427
9p1323
10p1323
11p1222
12a1122
1a1222
2a1120
3a312
4a813

Is this flow normal for July 30?

Today's 120 cfs is 19% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 149 cfs, across 27 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind18 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-44
  • Heat99°F — bring more water than you think-14

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