Tangipahoa River at Kentwood
Louisiana · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 07375300 — Tangipahoa River near Kentwood, LA · NWS forecast point KENL1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Low and slow — expect to drag in the shallows
At 131 CFS, this gauge is running 50% of normal for late July — below the 262 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 4 years of record (2021–2025).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Kentwood
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge KENL1, issued by WFO LIX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Inundation of secondary roads east of Highway 51 is likely and several homes will be threatened. Evacuation to higher ground for persons in low-lying areas is recommended. Louisiana Highway 1054 bridge will be threatened by strong current carrying debris. There will be water on Highway 440.
- 16.5 ft Highway 1054 bridge will be under water. Inundation of secondary roads east of Highway 51 is likely and several homes will be threatened. Evacuation to higher ground for persons in low-lying areas is recommended. There will be water on Louisiana Highway 440.
- 17.5 ft Flood of Record occurred on January 25, 1990. Primary and secondary roads and bridges from Highway 51 east to the river will be closed by high water. Evacuation of the area between Highway 51 and the river should be complete. Highway 1054 bridge will be under water. Evacuation to higher ground for persons in low lying areas is recommended.
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Moderate flood 15.0 ft
- 15.5 ft Evacuation of farm animals and farming equipment from the flood plain to higher ground is recommended. There will be water on Louisiana Highway 1054. Secondary roads off Highway 1054 and Highway 51 may be closed. Several homes east of Highway 51 will be threatened.
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Minor flood 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Water will invade the commercial property adjacent to the river
- 14.0 ft Pasture land, woodlands, and farms in low lying areas will be flooded.
- 14.5 ft There will be water on Louisiana Highway 1054. Secondary roads off Highway 1054 and Highway 51 may be closed. Several homes east of Highway 51 will be threatened. Pasture land, woodlands, and farms in low lying areas will be flooded.
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Action 12.0 ft
- Right now 1.47 ft
NWS forecast: 1.50 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Kentwood
Daily values from USGS gauge 07375300. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Kentwood
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 18.35 ft | — | Aug 12, 2016 |
| 17.50 ft | — | Jan 25, 1990 |
| 17.20 ft | 43,300 CFS | Apr 6, 1983 |
| 17.10 ft | — | Jan 21, 1993 |
| 16.89 ft | — | Aug 31, 2012 |
| 16.30 ft | 30,888 CFS | Aug 12, 2016 |
| 16.17 ft | 29,928 CFS | Mar 12, 2016 |
| 16.12 ft | 30,800 CFS | Apr 26, 1980 |
| 15.60 ft | — | Apr 28, 1997 |
| 15.35 ft | — | Sep 27, 2002 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Tangipahoa River at Kentwood
This gauge measures Tangipahoa River at Kentwood, Louisiana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Sandbar tubing corridor north of Hammond.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 262 CFS for late July, from 4 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.
Tangipahoa River at Kentwood — common questions
What is the current flow on Tangipahoa River at Kentwood?
As of the last reading on this page, Tangipahoa River at Kentwood was running 131 CFS at a gage height of 1.47 ft, or 50% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07375300, 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 262 CFS, calculated from 4 years of record (2021–2025). 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 Tangipahoa 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.