Nibi Metrics - live water levels, flow, and forecasts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US
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.
What you can see for any monitored lake or river
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.
Alerts that watch the water for you
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.
Where Nibi comes from
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.
Coverage
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.
Free forever, funded by members
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.
Water Stories
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.
How every number is computed - About the platform
Medina River at San Antonio Water Level
Live lake level, flow, historical records and forecast for Medina River at San Antonio in TX, United States, built from official government gauge data.
- Water body Medina Rv at San Antonio
- Location TX, United States
- Watershed medina
- Primary gauge 08181500 (USGS)
About Medina River at San Antonio
Medina River - A vital artery of San Antonio.
The Medina River flows gracefully through the city of San Antonio, epitomizing the region's dynamic relationship with water. This stretch of the river is part of the larger Medina Watershed, which captures rainfall that can lead to rapid rises, especially during flash flood events. The hydrology here is characterized by significant fluctuations, as rainfall can dramatically alter water levels in just a matter of hours, while extended periods of low flow can follow in their wake.
The watershed context
The Medina River serves as a gathering point for water from an extensive catchment area of roughly 1,317 square miles. Various smaller water bodies like Culebra Creek and Helotes Creek contribute to the river, enriching its flow as it navigates through the landscape. This upper reach offers vital resources to the local ecosystem and provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. San Antonio's climate is marked by seasonal rhythms that significantly influence water levels in the river. During hurricane season, particularly, rainfall patterns can reshape the river's flow characteristics, underscoring the importance of monitoring its conditions.
Why the data matters here
Keeping track of the Medina River's water levels is essential for many stakeholders, from residents watching their local environment to city planners managing infrastructure. Today's reading at this location is valuable; it allows for a comparison against the median for this calendar day over the past 50 years, enabling a deeper understanding of current conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates the station, providing critical data that informs the community about the health and status of this vital waterway, ensuring everyone is prepared for whatever nature brings next.
How this page is built
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.
How Nibi Metrics works · Water stories
