Saline River (KS) near Russell, KS
River level and flood forecast · Russell County
Normal4.6 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM
The river is 13.4 ft below flood stage (18 ft).
Flow: 15 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 23 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 20 ft |
| Flood stage | 18 ft |
| Action stage | 16 ft |
| Record crest (July 21, 1993) | 25.73 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20.5 ftFields are inundated especially on the south side of the river. Land Road, 1/2 mile south of river guage site, will be covered by flood waters less than 1 inch deep. Saline River Road between Canyon Road and 180th Street, 7 miles northwest of the guage site, will have several areas underwater. Low secondary road bridges may be underwater. Water reaches outbuildings that are 1/2 mile upstream.
- 18 ftWidespread flooding of lowlands in the vicinity of the gage occurs affecting pasture and cultivated land. The width of the river extends to approximately 400 ft. The areas where Saline River Road, Canyon Road and 180th Street connect, several sections along those roads will begin to flood. It may be possible small bridge crossings in the vicinity may be underwater. Further upstream all the way up to Fairport, expect some county roads along the river to be underwater.
- 10.6 ftThe right bank begins to overflow and affects pasture and cultivated land near the gage site.
- 9.7 ftExpect left bank overflows to begin.
Highest crests on record
- 25.73 ft — July 21, 1993
- 23.04 ft — July 2, 1993
- 22.22 ft — September 4, 2016
- 22.11 ft — May 23, 1995
- 21.04 ft — September 4, 2016
Recent crests: 15.36 ft (June 21, 2026) · 7.09 ft (June 19, 2025) · 5.7 ft (December 30, 2024) · 8.36 ft (July 1, 2023) · 10.88 ft (June 6, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamSaline River (KS) near Wakeeney, KS
- Paradise Creek below Paradise, KS
- Smoky Hill River below Russell, KS
- Smoky Hill River near Pfeifer, KS
- Big Creek near Hays, KS
- Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen, KS
- Smoky Hill River above Schoenchen, KS
- S F Solomon River near Osborne, KS
- S F Solomon River at Woodston, KS
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (RUSK1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.