Kayak Love

Minnesota · river

Minnesota River at Mankato

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

51of 100

Fair

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Minnesota River at Mankato
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — RCPE MNAU, Mankato, Minn.jpg by Jerry Huddleston, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

16 mph

gusting to 25 mph

Air temp

69°F

63% chance of rain

River flow

1,360 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Sunday · 85

  • Today

    52

  • Wed

    81

  • Thu

    66

  • Fri

    8

  • Sat

    61

  • Sun

    85

    Best

  • Mon

    65

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)
2a1421
3a1422
4a915
5a1626
6a1426
7a1424
8a1221
9a1426
10a1626
11a1321
12p1025
1p1022

Is this flow normal for September 8?

Today's 1,360 cfs is 68% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 811 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

  • Wind16 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-36
  • Rain63% chance in the next 6 hours-13

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 Minnesota