Elk River at Noel
Missouri · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 07189000 — Elk River near Tiff City, Mo · NWS forecast point TIFM7
Reading taken Apr 27, 4:30 PM UTC
Running high and pushy for a tube or an inner-tube crowd
At 1,720 CFS, this gauge is running 851% of normal for late July — above the 202 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1940–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Noel
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge TIFM7, issued by WFO SGF. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 25.0 ft · 80,000 CFS
- 25.0 ft major flooding occurs at the gage site. Homes on the east side of Noel near the river may flood as well as Highways 59 and 90.
- 27.4 ft this is the crest level set on April 30, 2017 and December 27, 2015.
- 28.4 ft this is the level reached on April 19 1941.
- 32.0 ft flood waters reach the Highway 43 Bridge.
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Moderate flood 20.0 ft · 40,600 CFS
- 20.0 ft moderate flood stage. Flood waters affect the north and south side of the Highway 43 Bridge and the Cowskin Public Fishing access area on the northeast side of the bridge. The Waste Water Treatment Plant begins flood prevention measures.
- 22.0 ft flooding occurs on H Highway and at the intersection of Highways 59 and 90. The water treatment plant at the Tyson Plant begins to flood.
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Minor flood 15.0 ft · 27,500 CFS
- 15.0 ft minor flooding occurs at the gage site. The Cowskin River Floating Public Access Area on the west side of Highway 43 floods. The access road to the RV Park at Herman's Campground two miles upstream from the bridge floods.
- 18.0 ft flooding closes Routes TT and DD.
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Action 13.0 ft · 20,000 CFS
NWS forecast: 3.30 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Noel
Daily values from USGS gauge 07189000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Noel
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 28.40 ft | 137,000 CFS | Apr 19, 1941 |
| 27.39 ft | — | Dec 27, 2015 |
| 27.39 ft | 107,000 CFS | Apr 30, 2017 |
| 26.61 ft | 84,400 CFS | Apr 25, 2011 |
| 25.39 ft | 63,600 CFS | Mar 19, 2008 |
| 24.87 ft | 58,759 CFS | May 24, 2011 |
| 24.72 ft | 70,800 CFS | May 21, 1957 |
| 24.45 ft | 69,900 CFS | Jun 11, 1995 |
| 24.11 ft | 58,059 CFS | Aug 9, 2013 |
| 23.95 ft | — | Aug 9, 2013 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Elk River at Noel
This gauge measures Elk River at Noel, Missouri — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Serves Grove OK and Grand Lake; multiple float outfitters.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 202 CFS for late July, from 86 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Elk River at Noel — common questions
What is the current flow on Elk River at Noel?
As of the last reading on this page, Elk River at Noel was running 1,720 CFS, or 851% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07189000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 202 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1940–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What flow is good for tubing Elk River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.