WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
+88.8 ft above typical
Finding the top signal on the water…
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics tracks more than 13,000 gauged lakes and rivers across Canada and the United States, reading directly from official federal monitoring networks: the Water Survey of Canada, the United States Geological Survey, and Quebec's provincial hydrometric network. Every number on the platform is measured, not modelled - taken from a government gauge on the water itself and compared against that location's own historical record for this exact date.
The level right now, in feet or metres, updated as the source agency publishes new readings - for many stations that is every five to fifteen minutes. How today compares to typical: every location carries its own typical-for-this-date band built from its historical record, so a reading is never just a number - it is above, below, or near what this water usually does on this calendar day. Which way it is moving: a measured RISING, FALLING, or STEADY verdict computed from the gauge's own recent readings, with the rate of change - the difference between a flood ending and one beginning. What comes next: level forecasts up to 72 hours ahead, driven by the gauge's recent behaviour, upstream water, and quantitative precipitation forecasts, alongside live radar, lightning, and weather for the surrounding region.
Set a threshold on any location - a level, a distance above typical, or a rate of climb - and Nibi emails or notifies you the moment the gauge crosses it. Cottagers use it for spring freshet, anglers for river conditions, marinas and municipalities for operations. The scanning runs around the clock against the same measured data shown on every page.
Nibi means water in Anishinaabemowin. The platform began at a family cottage on Lake Muskoka, Ontario, where the spring melt floods the shoreline most years and the only forecast was standing on the dock, looking, and guessing. It grew into an independent, member-funded platform run by Muskoka Research Inc. - no investors, no data resale, and a privacy policy shorter than most cookie banners. The core data is free for everyone, forever; paid plans add automation like multi-location alerts, deep history, and reports.
Nibi spans the continent: every Canadian province and territory with active federal gauges - from Vancouver Island rivers to the Muskoka lakes, prairie reservoirs, and Quebec's hydrometric network - and the United States from Maine to the Texas Hill Country, the Ohio Valley, and the Pacific Northwest. Coverage grows where the water news is: when a basin floods, its gauges join the platform with their full historical records attached. Many stations report every five to fifteen minutes; most report at least hourly; every page states exactly when its gauge last spoke.
The core promise is simple: the water data is free, for everyone, forever. Live levels, maps, radar, and recent history never sit behind a paywall. Paid plans fund the platform by adding automation - multi-location alerts, decades of history, longer forecasts, and PDF reports - so the people who need more carry the cost for everyone who just needs to check the lake before driving up. There are no investors and no advertising deals shaping what the data says.
Field notes and explainers from the Nibi desk - how to read a staff gauge, what a 100-year flood actually means, how snowpack becomes summer water.
For five years, spring 2019 was the mark every Lake Muskoka decision answered to. In April 2026 the lake went two centimeters higher - and the official books have not caught up yet.
Inside the freshet cycle that puts Manitoba shorelines at risk each year - and why 2026 broke the script.
The science of snow water equivalent and why it drives the season ahead.
What the numbers on the measuring stick actually tell you.
Why Central and South Texas rivers go from gravel beds to fifty-year records in an afternoon - including July 2026 on the Nueces.
One percent, every year, forever - unwrapping hydrology's most misunderstood phrase, and how it differs from our own percentiles.
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Black River at Leeper in MO, United States, built from official government gauge data.
Black River at Leeper - A dynamic waterway shaped by seasonal rainfall.
The Black River at Leeper flows through the heart of Missouri, offering a glimpse into the state's vibrant river dynamics. This stretch of the Black River is part of the Upper Black watershed and showcases the quintessential characteristics of Ozark and river-valley hydrology, where the interplay of rain and terrain defines the water's rhythm. As a rainfall-driven system, the river experiences varying flows throughout the year but can see rapid increases, particularly in the spring months.
Draining an expansive area of approximately 987 square miles, the Black River at Leeper is a significant tributary within the Upper Black watershed. This region is interconnected with several other notable waterways, including the Black River near Annapolis, Clearwater Tailwater near Piedmont, and Logan Creek at Ellington. Each contributes to the hydrological tapestry of the area, making it an important resource for local ecosystems and communities. The multiple tributaries and flowing streams within the watershed highlight the region's karst geology, which sustains baseflow and helps moderate river levels during drier periods.
Monitoring the water levels at the Black River at Leeper is crucial for understanding the seasonal and annual fluctuations associated with rainfall patterns. Today's measurement provides essential insight into river conditions and trends, helping to inform local stakeholders such as anglers and farmers. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates this station, and today's reading will be compared to the median for this calendar day over the last 50 years. This comparison offers a more nuanced perspective than raw elevation alone, revealing how current conditions stand relative to historical norms and assisting the community in their flood-awareness efforts.
Readings come from official government gauges and are rolled into daily records: the daily mean, high and low for every day on record. Each calendar day gets its own baseline from the full history, so the level you see is compared against what this specific date usually looks like rather than an annual average.