Buffalo River (MN) near Hawley, MN
River level and flood forecast · Clay County
Normal3.1 ftas of Mon 1:45 PM
The river is 4.9 ft below flood stage (8 ft).
Flow: 14 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 | 11 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9 ft |
| Flood stage | 8 ft |
| Action stage | 7.5 ft |
| Record crest (January 1, 1921) | 11.3 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 11 ftMAJOR FLOOD STAGE.
- 9 ftMODERATE FLOOD STAGE. Railroad underpass at US Hwy 10 floods.
- 8 ftMINOR FLOOD STAGE. Parts of Hawley City Park begin to flood.
- 7.5 ftACTION STAGE/FORECAST SERVICE STAGE.
Highest crests on record
- 11.3 ft — January 1, 1921
- 10.86 ft — June 22, 2000
- 10.82 ft — April 1, 2006
- 10.77 ft — April 6, 1997
- 10.6 ft — March 25, 2009
Recent crests: 5.16 ft (April 13, 2026) · 5.79 ft (August 10, 2025) · 6.62 ft (May 28, 2024) · 9.8 ft (April 14, 2023) · 8.9 ft (April 26, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- South Branch Buffalo River at Sabin, MN
- Buffalo River (MN) near Dilworth, MN
- South Branch Wild Rice River at CR 27 near Felton, MN
- Red River of the North at Fargo, ND
- Wild Rice River (ND) near St. Benedict, ND
- Red River of the North at Hickson, ND
- Sheyenne River at West Fargo, ND
- Sheyenne River at West Fargo Diversion, ND
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (HWYM5); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.