Kayak Love

Nebraska · river

Platte River near Kearney, Nebr.

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

89of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Platte River near Kearney, Nebr.
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Native American Wikiup, Great Platte River Archway 7-25-13g (10784238023).jpg by inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

11 mph

gusting to 13 mph

Air temp

89°F

25% chance of rain

River flow

721 cfs

normal for this date

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
5p1012
6p1013
7p812
8p917
9p917
10p1025
11p713
12a1626
1a914
2a35
3a68
4a410

Is this flow normal for July 30?

Today's 721 cfs is 32% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 547 cfs, across 17 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind11 mph — noticeable but manageable-11

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 Nebraska