Kayak Love

Minnesota · river

Minnesota River near Lac Qui Parle

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

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

91

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: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:45:00 GMT.

River observation: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT.

Page checked: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:47:34 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Minnesota River near Lac Qui Parle
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — USGS Stream Gaging Station, Minnesota River at Lac qui Parle Dam (42421779314).jpg by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

10 mph

gusting to 12 mph

Air temp

68°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

72.6 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Wednesday · 99

  • Mon

    91

  • Tue

    74

  • Wed

    99

    Best

  • Thu

    86

  • Fri

    31

  • Sat

    31

  • Sun

    34

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)
4p911
5p1012
6p712
7p713
8p715
9p817
10p717
11p818
12a716
1a615
2a613
3a613

Is this flow normal for October 19?

Today's 72.6 cfs is 58% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 173 cfs, across 83 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 — 10 mph — moderate wind at the forecast location-9

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

All paddling spots in Minnesota →