River stage
Sterling, Rifle River
- River level
- 1.67 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.02 ft
- Recent high
- 4.09 ft
- Recent low
- 1.47 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS STRM4
- 30-day change
- +0.11 ft
- Average
- 1.85 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 15.72 ft
In brief
The Rifle River at Sterling, MI read 1.67 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.33 ft below action stage. That is 0.11 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge STRM4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.72 ft | 2020-05-19 |
| 2 | 13.74 ft | 1950-03-28 |
| 3 | 12.96 ft | 2018-02-21 |
| 4 | 12.62 ft | 1948-03-21 |
| 5 | 12.07 ft | 1939-03-25 |
| 6 | 11.64 ft | 2026-04-14 |
| 7 | 11.43 ft | 1974-03-06 |
| 8 | 11.39 ft | 1989-03-28 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 6.00 ft
High water begins to impact canoe livery at River View Campground.
- 9.00 ft
High water begins to impact campground at White's Canoe Livery at Melita Road bridge.
- 11.00 ft
Flooding occurs at Rifle River Campground and Canoe Livery.
- 12.00 ft
Flooding of homes along Pinnacle Drive and Miller Road. Flooding of Crystal Creek Campground along Grove Road.
- 15.00 ft
Flooding of property along North Main Street in Omer.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rifle River flooding at Sterling?
No. The Rifle River at Sterling is at 1.67 ft, 3.33 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Sterling?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 5 ft, minor flooding 6 ft, moderate flooding 11 ft and major flooding 13 ft.
What is the highest the Rifle River has been at Sterling?
The highest crest on record is 15.72 ft, on 2020-05-19.
Is the Rifle River high or low right now at Sterling?
At 1.67 ft it is higher than 43% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge STRM4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 04142000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.