Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Mississippi River at Thebes

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

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

92

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 12:18:51 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Mississippi River at Thebes
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Rock outcrop near Mississippi River at Thebes Illinois.jpg by Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

10 mph

gusting to 15 mph

Air temp

71°F

1% chance of rain

River flow

240,000 cfs

high for this date

Weather outlook

Wednesday · 93

  • Thu

    67

  • Fri

    64

  • Sat

    88

  • Sun

    78

  • Mon

    75

  • Tue

    78

  • Wed

    93

    Best

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)
7a1015
8a1220
9a1226
10a1225
11a1223
12p1423
1p1522
2p1522
3p1522
4p1422
5p1221
6p718

Is this flow normal for October 1?

Today's 240,000 cfs is 85% above the median for this date — which counts as high water here.

The median flow on this date is 130,000 cfs, across 92 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-8

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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