Major Flood
24.7 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
22 ft
Minor Flood
18 ft
Action Stage
16 ft
What Floods at Each Level
25 ft
Major and widespread flooding south of Lyons occurs. The gage site and surrounding area may be entirely under water. Expect flooding of the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks and the county roads in this area.
24.7 ft
Widespread flooding of agricultural land and some county roads can be expected. The railroad bridge where the gage is located just 1 mile southeast of Avenue O and K96, will begin to flood. The railroad bridge may cause some restriction of flow of the Cow Creek and cause water to back up into the lands upstream in the vicinity of Highway 14.
22 ft
Extensive flooding of low-lying areas and bottom land will occur. The Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks flood near Lyons.
20 ft
The few residentail homes along Highway 14 just south of Avenue O may take on 2 ft of water. Some low spots on Highway 14 may become flooded.
18.8 ft
The county road that is 1000 feet south of gaging site along the right bank begins to flood.
18.5 ft
Flooding begins around the highway 14 river bridge, located just south of Avenu O. Or 0.7 miles upstream from the gage site.
18 ft
Some flooding of low-lying areas and bottom land agricultural areas occurs, especially along the right bank. Possible flooding of county roads 6 miles southeast of Lyons may take place on sections of 20th Road and on 22nd Road.
17.5 ft
Possible flooding of low-lying roads 6 miles southeast of Lyons along county roads affecting 20th Road between Avenue R and Avenue S and on 22nd Road between Avenue Q and Avenue V. Expect possible road closures at these sites. Flooding depends on other surrounding tributary creeks running full.
17 ft
The banks begin to overflow at the gage site. Some minor flooding of lowland agricultural areas is likely and some blacktop county roads southeast of Lyons will take on areas of water to a depth less than 10 inches.
15 ft
The right bank begins to overflow but is only in low areas near the gage. Some minor flooding of lowland agricultural areas is likely.
14.5 ft
Overflows occur and flow through culverts that are located both north and south of the gage.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 1929 | 22.75 ft | 28,000 cfs |
| Oct 19, 1941 | 20.49 ft | 12,400 cfs |
| Sep 26, 1973 | 20.38 ft | 24,100 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Cow Creek (KS)
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Cow Creek (KS) at Lyons?
The Cow Creek (KS) at Lyons gauge is maintained by USGS (site 07143300) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Cow Creek (KS) at Lyons?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cow Creek (KS) at Lyons is 18 feet. Action stage begins at 16 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 22 feet, and major flooding at 24.7 feet.
How do I get alerts when Cow Creek (KS) rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Cow Creek (KS) at Lyons to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Cow Creek (KS) at Lyons gauge located?
The gauge is located in Rice County, Kansas at coordinates 38.3083°N, 98.1931°W. USGS site number: 07143300. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
On This River
Downstream: Cow Creek above Hutchinson
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. Forecast stages may be different if forecast future rainfall does not occur.
- Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.