Niobrara River near Verdel, NE
River level and flood forecast · Knox County
Normal3.6 ftas of Mon 3:15 PM
The river is 4.4 ft below flood stage (8 ft).
Flow: 830 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 | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 8 ft |
| Action stage | 7 ft |
| Record crest (March 14, 2019) | 19.38 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 13.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Pishelville bridge located at the gage site.
- 10 ftA large expanse of the floodplain is inundated with water.
- 9 ftBoth banks overflow and widespread flooding commences along the vast majority of the reach.
- 7 ftSome minor overflows begin along the low banks upstream of the gage.
Highest crests on record
- 19.38 ft — March 14, 2019
- 8.2 ft — March 20, 2001
- 7.92 ft — February 22, 1997
- 7.18 ft — March 1, 1986
- 7.08 ft — December 30, 2020
Recent crests: 6.03 ft (February 27, 2025) · 5.78 ft (January 24, 2024) · 7.06 ft (January 8, 2023) · 7 ft (December 30, 2022) · 7.06 ft (January 5, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (VRDN1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.