Kayak Love

Iowa · river

Cedar River at Cedar Rapids

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

100of 100

Send it

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Cedar River at Cedar Rapids
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Cedar Rapids skyline.jpg by Iowahwyman, CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

2 mph

gusting to 7 mph

Air temp

66°F

23% chance of rain

River flow

8,930 cfs

very high for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 98

  • Today

    87

  • Wed

    87

  • Thu

    98

    Best

  • Fri

    80

  • Sat

    83

  • Sun

    90

  • Mon

    69

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)
7a28
8a513
9a721
10a1020
11a1021
12p1117
1p611
2p812
3p1015
4p920
5p917
6p714

Is this flow normal for August 18?

Today's 8,930 cfs is 342% above the median for this date — which counts as very high water here.

The median flow on this date is 2,020 cfs, across 122 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind2 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0

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 Iowa