Red River of the North at Fargo
River flow & level · USGS gauge 05054000 · North Dakota · drains 6,800 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 11:15 AM · streamflow
The Red River of the North at Fargo is running 255 cfs, 85% of the median flow for October 26 (300 cfs, 125 years). Gage height is 13.97 ft, 4.0 ft below flood stage (18.0 ft). Flow is down 4% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (17.0 ft) is 3.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (18.0 ft) is 4.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (25.0 ft) is 11.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 16.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Moderate (25.0 ft) is 11.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 16.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Moderate (25.0 ft) is 11.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 16.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Red River of the North at Fargo fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETWater 52°F, flow 85% of normal, flow steady, light NE wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 8:20 AM–9:20 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp52°Fmeasured Oct 26, 11:15 AM · this gauge
- Air temphigh 46°F / low 37°FMostly Cloudy
- WindLight NE7–10 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 18
- Flow85% of normalFlow steady (-4% in 24 h)
Official North Dakota fishing info: North Dakota Game and Fish — Fishing & boating info
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 8:01 AM · Sunset 6:20 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:09 AM–2:09 AM
- Moon underfoot12:36 PM–2:36 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:20 AM–9:20 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:42 PM–6:42 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:09 AM–2:09 AM · 12:36 PM–2:36 PM Minor 8:20 AM–9:20 AM · 5:42 PM–6:42 PM Light wind 7–10 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 1:05 AM–3:05 AM · 1:35 PM–3:35 PM Minor 9:44 AM–10:44 AM · 6:17 PM–7:17 PM Light wind 6–10 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:06 AM–4:06 AM · 2:37 PM–4:37 PM Minor 11:06 AM–12:06 PM · 7:05 PM–8:05 PM Light wind 5–7 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:10 AM–5:10 AM · 3:42 PM–5:42 PM Minor 12:18 PM–1:18 PM · 8:07 PM–9:07 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:14 AM–6:14 AM · 4:46 PM–6:46 PM Minor 1:15 PM–2:15 PM · 9:22 PM–10:22 PM Light wind 6–10 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:16 AM–7:16 AM · 5:46 PM–7:46 PM Minor 1:57 PM–2:57 PM · 10:42 PM–11:42 PM Light wind 7–9 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:14 AM–7:14 AM · 5:41 PM–7:41 PM Minor 1:28 PM–2:28 PM · 11:03 PM–12:03 AM Light wind 6–10 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured at this gauge. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 46.86, -96.78 (moon times from astronomical equations, Red River of the North at Fargo local time).
Weather & wind at Red River of the North at Fargo
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Today46° / 37°Mostly CloudyWind ENE 10 mphRain 94%
- Tuesday51° / 37°Chance Light Rain then CloudyWind ESE 6 to 10 mphRain 31%
- Wednesday57° / 32°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Light RainWind SW 7 mphRain 18%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 46.861, -96.783 (grid FGF), issued Oct 26, 11:36 AM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge FGON8- Action stage17 ft+3.0 ft from now
- Minor stage18 ft+4.0 ft from now
- Moderate stage25 ft+11.0 ft from now
- Major stage30 ft+16.0 ft from now
- Record crest40.84 ft2009
October 26 in history
125 years of flow records- Today255 cfs
- Same date last year582 cfs2025
- Median300 cfs
- Normal range116 cfs – 582 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19025,910 cfs2020
- Lowest since 19020.00 cfs1935
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 256 | -3% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 264 | -4% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 274 | -9% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 301 | -7% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 324 | -2% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 331 | +4% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 318 | +6% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 300 | +0% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 299 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 319 | -3% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 05054000 — Red River Of The North At Fargo, Nd
- Location
- 46.8611, -96.7833 · North Dakota
- Drainage area
- 6,800 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1902–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 11:15 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge FGON8 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.