Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Ohio River at Olmsted

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

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

98

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 12:17:50 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Ohio River at Olmsted
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Cofferdam Olmsted Locks Ohio River.jpg by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

4 mph

gusting to 15 mph

Air temp

67°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

121,000 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Wednesday · 93

  • Thu

    67

  • Fri

    58

  • Sat

    86

  • Sun

    88

  • Mon

    72

  • Tue

    75

  • 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)
7a413
8a415
9a922
10a1127
11a1224
12p1322
1p1421
2p1522
3p1422
4p1422
5p1120
6p514

Is this flow normal for October 1?

Today's 121,000 cfs is 24% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 97,700 cfs, across 10 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 — 4 mph — light wind at the forecast location±0
  • Gusts — Gusting to 15 mph — 11 mph over sustained-2

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 Illinois →