River stage
Hutchinson, Cow Creek
- River level
- 1.48 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.77 ft
- Recent high
- 9.56 ft
- Recent low
- 1.25 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS HTCK1
- 30-day change
- +0.17 ft
- Average
- 1.88 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 12.87 ft
In brief
The Cow Creek at Hutchinson, KS read 1.48 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 6.02 ft below action stage. That is 0.17 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge HTCK1
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.87 ft | 2018-10-11 |
| 2 | 12.81 ft | 2007-05-08 |
| 3 | 12.47 ft | 2013-08-07 |
| 4 | 12.38 ft | 2019-05-10 |
| 5 | 12.22 ft | 2007-05-26 |
| 6 | 12.02 ft | 2019-05-22 |
| 7 | 11.97 ft | 2019-06-24 |
| 8 | 11.94 ft | 2013-08-03 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 8.60 ft
The creek overflows its banks in a few sections and stands in low spots in fields and ditches along roadway near 85th Ave. A few low water crossings along Sallee just north and south of 95th Ave as well as west of Sallee on 95th Ave will see a few inches of water standing on roadway.
- 9.00 ft
Water crosses 95th Avenue in a small section, between Dean and Sallee Roads. Water spreads over low spots across cropland or fields. More sections of the banks will overflow.
- 9.50 ft
Fields and cropland along the creek floods. Sections of Sallee Rd floods between 82nd Ave to 108th Ave. Also 95th Ave floods between Dean and Sallee Roads. Expect road closures.
- 10.00 ft
The low water crossing on Wilson Rd between 69th Ave to 82nd Ave floods. Expect water depth near 4 inches to a width of 5 feet.
- 10.50 ft
There are numerous road closures northwest of Hutchinson due to high water. Low water crossing on 43rd Street just east of Pennington floods. Expect road closure on 43rd Street between Pennington to Hendricks roads. Also 69th Street floods between Wilson to Pennington roads. Then 50th Street floods between Wilson and Pennington roads. Flooding occurs along Pennington Road from Nickerson Blvd to 50th Avenue.
- 10.80 ft
The road floods at the intersection of 56th Ave and Pennington Rd. Wilson Road takes on water between 82nd Ave to 95th Ave.
- 11.50 ft
On 82nd Avenue the road floods between Wilson Road and Pennington Road.
- 12.50 ft
Expect widespread flooding in the area northwest of Hutchinson. In this area, residents may see 3 to 7 feet of water. Homes in the area northwest of Pennington from 43rd Ave in Reno County to Ave W in Rice County may flood. Willowbrook entrance on Wilson Road is only accessible from the south. Areas around the Kansas Bible Camp on 56th Avenue will flood.
- 13.00 ft
Expect widespread flooding in the area northwest of Hutchinson. In this area residents may see 3 to 7 feet of water. Homes in the area northwest of Pennington from 43rd Ave in Reno County to Ave W in Rice County may flood. Willowbrook entrance on Wilson Road is only accessible from the south. Areas around the Kansas Bible Camp on 56th Avenue will flood. Flood waters begin to affect the road 500 ft east of the 82nd Avenue creek bridge. The 2 homes on the north side of the road in this area will flood.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cow Creek flooding at Hutchinson?
No. The Cow Creek at Hutchinson is at 1.48 ft, 6.02 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Hutchinson?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 7.5 ft, minor flooding 9.5 ft, moderate flooding 10.5 ft and major flooding 12.5 ft.
What is the highest the Cow Creek has been at Hutchinson?
The highest crest on record is 12.87 ft, on 2018-10-11.
Is the Cow Creek high or low right now at Hutchinson?
At 1.48 ft it is higher than 41% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge HTCK1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 07143310). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.