Kayak Love

Nebraska · river

Elkhorn River at Waterloo, Nebr.

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

83of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Elkhorn River at Waterloo, Nebr.
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Elkhorn NE tornado damage.jpg by NWS, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

12 mph

gusting to 16 mph

Air temp

87°F

21% chance of rain

River flow

432 cfs

normal for this date

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
5p1217
6p1317
7p1218
8p918
9p817
10p921
11p1124
12a820
1a29
2a513
3a1112
4a1124

Is this flow normal for July 30?

Today's 432 cfs is 43% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 753 cfs, across 125 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind12 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-17

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 Nebraska