Kayak Love

Nebraska · river

South Loup River at Saint Michael, Nebr.

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

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

74

Mostly favorable

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: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:15:00 GMT.

River observation: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:45:00 GMT.

Page checked: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:28:37 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near South Loup River at Saint Michael, Nebr.
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — ISS007-E-7042 - View of Nebraska.jpg by Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

12 mph

gusting to 27 mph

Air temp

67°F

36% chance of rain

River flow

200 cfs

high for this date

Weather outlook

Friday · 78

  • Tue

    47

  • Wed

    45

  • Thu

    28

  • Fri

    78

    Best

  • Sat

    46

  • Sun

    66

  • Mon

    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)
9a1228
10a1325
11a1119
12p1424
1p1224
2p920
3p1117
4p49
5p37
6p38
7p45
8p59

Is this flow normal for September 29?

Today's 200 cfs is 50% above the median for this date — which counts as high water here.

The median flow on this date is 133 cfs, across 81 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 — 12 mph — elevated wind-15
  • Gusts — Gusting to 27 mph — 15 mph over sustained-9
  • Rain — 36% chance in the next 6 hours-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 Nebraska →