Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Big Muddy River at Rte 127 at Murphysboro

USGS monitoring location. Launch access and paddling suitability have not been verified.

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

73

Mostly favorable

Weather score out of 100

Weather only. This is a monitoring station, not a verified launch. Access, hazards and suitable flow are unknown.

Weather observation: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:15:00 GMT.

River observation: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT.

Page checked: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:21:14 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Big Muddy River at Rte 127 at Murphysboro
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Robert W. Hamilton House.jpg by Nyttend, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

14 mph

gusting to 22 mph

Air temp

91°F

10% chance of rain

River flow

110 cfs

low for this date

Weather outlook

Wednesday · 92

  • Thu

    58

  • Fri

    61

  • Sat

    72

  • Sun

    89

  • Mon

    71

  • Tue

    81

  • Wed

    92

    Best

Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
4p1422
5p1321
6p920
7p713
8p714
9p614
10p715
11p1117
12a813
1a511
2a34
3a34

Is this flow normal for October 1?

Today's 110 cfs is 33% below the median for this date — which counts as low water here.

The median flow on this date is 165 cfs, across 55 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind — 14 mph — elevated wind-25
  • Heat — 91°F — bring more water than you think-2

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, and uses available public readings. 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 Illinois →