Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Kaskaskia River at Carlyle

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

53of 100

Fair

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Kaskaskia River at Carlyle
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Dean bridge Habs 1.jpg by Clark Bullard, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

15 mph

gusting to 30 mph

Air temp

73°F

44% chance of rain

River flow

847 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 89

  • Today

    33

  • Thu

    89

    Best

  • Fri

    82

  • Sat

    86

  • Sun

    66

  • Mon

    59

  • Tue

    76

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)
8a1530
9a1524
10a1218
11a1117
12p1116
1p813
2p310
3p18
4p29
5p26
6p911
7p1931

Is this flow normal for August 19?

Today's 847 cfs is Right about the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 826 cfs, across 57 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind15 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-32
  • GustsGusting to 30 mph — 15 mph over sustained-9
  • Rain44% chance in the next 6 hours-6

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 Illinois