Arkansas River at Ft. Smith, Ar.
USGS 07249455 · Arkansas · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Arkansas River at Ft. Smith, Ar.…
Back to the search
USGS 07249455 · Arkansas · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
anglers should carry a pocket thermometer and check the water periodically while fishingArkansas Game and Fish Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 130 readings from Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT to Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST; ranging 92.6 to 33,900 ft³/s; latest 23,000 ft³/s; 1 gap in the record; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST | 23,000 | 11.7 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 PM CST | 32,000 | 11.6 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 PM CST | 24,400 | 11.6 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST | 20,400 | 11.3 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST | 17,800 | 11.5 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST | 5,100 | 11.4 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST | 19,700 | 11.3 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST | 19,000 | 11.7 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM CST | 8,210 | 11.4 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM CST | 13,000 | 11.5 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM CST | 1,770 | 11.4 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM CST | 1,070 | 11.3 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM CST | 1,910 | 11.5 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM CST | 1,750 | 11.4 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM CST | 5,970 | 11.4 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM CST | 378 | 11.5 | 3,230–28,000 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST | 12,500 | 11.6 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST | 33,100 | 11.9 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST | 33,900 | 11.8 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST | 30,300 | 11.7 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST | 22,600 | 11.5 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM CST | 21,000 | 11.8 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM CST | 506 | 11.2 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM CST | 9,220 | 11.3 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM CST | 11,000 | 11.4 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM CST | 14,800 | 11.5 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM CST | 2,170 | 11.3 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM CST | 3,570 | 11.3 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM CST | 4,900 | – | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM CST | 2,320 | – | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM CST | 4,380 | 11.3 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM CST | 5,100 | 11.4 | 4,770–33,500 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM CST | 1,900 | 11.3 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM CST | 658 | 11.3 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM CST | 21,500 | 11.8 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM CST | 29,700 | 11.9 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM CST | 25,800 | 11.8 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM CST | 20,300 | 11.8 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM CST | 21,200 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM CST | 15,500 | 11.7 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM CST | 10,600 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM CST | 6,120 | 11.5 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM CST | 6,790 | 11.6 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM CST | 4,270 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM CST | 2,730 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM CST | 4,540 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM CST | 2,740 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM CST | 931 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM CST | 3,980 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM CST | 1,210 | 11.4 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM CST | 2,560 | 11.2 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM CST | 8,400 | 11.3 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM CST | 1,210 | 11.5 | 2,720–25,100 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM CST | 13,200 | 11.9 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM CST | 27,400 | 12.1 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM CST | 27,400 | 11.9 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM CST | 30,600 | 11.8 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM CST | 28,600 | 11.8 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM CST | 15,400 | 11.5 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM CST | 18,100 | 11.3 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM CST | 8,270 | 11.7 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM CST | 931 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM CST | 1,210 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM CST | 1,350 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM CST | 791 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM CST | 513 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM CST | 1,070 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM CST | 928 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM CST | 515 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM CST | 234 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM CST | 2,740 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM CST | 515 | 11.4 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM CST | 371 | 11.3 | 4,370–22,600 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM CST | 4,980 | 11.5 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM CST | 5,070 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM CST | 23,500 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM CST | 25,800 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM CST | 26,100 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM CST | 21,900 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM CST | 15,600 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM CST | 9,290 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM CST | 14,400 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM CST | 13,700 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM CST | 4,250 | 11.4 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM CST | 1,890 | 11.3 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM CST | 235 | 11.3 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM CST | 2,570 | 11.3 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM CST | 1,200 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM CST | 1,470 | 11.3 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM CST | 3,830 | 11.3 | 1,350–21,900 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM CDT | 1,470 | – | 1,350–21,900 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM CDT | 2,860 | – | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM CDT | 238 | – | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM CDT | 1,330 | 11.3 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM CDT | 28,700 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM CDT | 16,500 | 11.6 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM CDT | 10,800 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM CDT | 9,300 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM CDT | 4,840 | 11.5 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM CDT | 6,900 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM CDT | 16,500 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM CDT | 11,900 | 11.6 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM CDT | 1,760 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM CDT | 2,600 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM CDT | 237 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM CDT | 236 | – | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM CDT | 1,210 | – | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM CDT | 1,900 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM CDT | 4,130 | 11.4 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM CDT | 925 | 11.3 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM CDT | 3,420 | 11.5 | 6,320–22,600 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM CDT | 92.6 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM CDT | 31,000 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM CDT | 32,100 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM CDT | 23,500 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM CDT | 32,200 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM CDT | 16,100 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM CDT | 2,700 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM CDT | 3,530 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM CDT | 370 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM CDT | 643 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM CDT | 233 | – | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM CDT | 231 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM CDT | 3,800 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM CDT | 642 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM CDT | 4,360 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM CDT | 1,870 | 11.2 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM CDT | 5,470 | 11.3 | 3,830–31,300 |
| Oct 29, 9:45 PM CDT | 1,170 | – | 3,350–28,200 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT | 18,700 | 11.4 | 3,350–28,200 |
Map of USGS gauge 07249455 and the river around it
Where Arkansas River at Ft. Smith, Ar. sits and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Arkansas Game and Fish uses are 65°F and 68°F.
This gauge is on our page for Arkansas River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Normal for Nov 5: 3,230–28,000 ft³/s (middle half of 27 years of record). Now: 23,000 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 23,000 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 27 years of record (1998–2026): 10th 1,010, 25th 3,230, median 11,000, 75th 28,000, 90th 72,400 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 0 ft³/s, highest 129,000 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Falling over 24 hours: discharge down 32.2%, from 33,900 to 23,000 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
Checked Nov 5, 8:48 PM CST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.