Kayak Love

Iowa · river

Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids

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

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

85

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, 09 Nov 2026 16:45:00 GMT.

River observation: Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:15:00 GMT.

Page checked: Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:56:24 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near Rock River below Tom Creek at Rock Rapids
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Melan Arch Bridge.jpg by Joseph Elliott, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

9 mph

gusting to 14 mph

Air temp

55°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

465 cfs

high for this date

Weather outlook

Monday · 87

  • Mon

    87

    Best

  • Tue

    86

  • Wed

    48

  • Thu

    55

  • Fri

    73

  • Sat

    49

  • Sun

    64

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)
10a1017
11a913
12p1114
1p1016
2p1020
3p920
4p1020
5p711
6p716
7p816
8p617
9p617

Is this flow normal for November 9?

Today's 465 cfs is 323% above the median for this date — which counts as high water here.

The median flow on this date is 110 cfs, across 24 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 — 9 mph — moderate wind at the forecast location-7
  • Cold — 55°F air temperature — cool weather; water temperature is not measured-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

All paddling spots in Iowa →