Kayak Love

Iowa · river

South Fork Iowa River near Blairsburg

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

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near South Fork Iowa River near Blairsburg
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — CN 5705 Leads EB L570 Manifest Blairsburg, IA 3-26-21 (51099863629).jpg by Tyler Silvest from Olathe, Kansas, CC BY 2.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

11 mph

gusting to 20 mph

Air temp

68°F

12% chance of rain

River flow

0.21 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Wednesday · 85

  • Today

    65

  • Wed

    85

    Best

  • Thu

    75

  • Fri

    37

  • Sat

    68

  • Sun

    66

  • Mon

    76

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
1a1120
2a1221
3a1322
4a1423
5a1322
6a1221
7a914
8a610
9a911
10a1017
11a1017
12p1224

Is this flow normal for September 8?

Today's 0.21 cfs is 38% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 0 cfs, across 2 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-13

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 Iowa