Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Kaskaskia River near Cowden

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

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

95

Favorable weather

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 12:15:00 GMT.

River observation: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT.

Page checked: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:18:39 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Kaskaskia River near Cowden
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Thompson Mill Covered Bridge from southwest.jpg by Nyttend, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

9 mph

gusting to 17 mph

Air temp

73°F

2% chance of rain

River flow

62.7 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Sunday · 93

  • Thu

    43

  • Fri

    47

  • Sat

    82

  • Sun

    93

    Best

  • Mon

    89

  • Tue

    90

  • Wed

    90

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)
7a817
8a1127
9a1427
10a1529
11a1626
12p1521
1p1622
2p1723
3p1723
4p1724
5p1725
6p919

Is this flow normal for October 1?

Today's 62.7 cfs is 21% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 52 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 — 9 mph — moderate wind at the forecast location-5

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

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