Sturgeon River near Alston — Water Level & Flow
USGS gauge 04041500 reports gage height, discharge and water temperature from Sturgeon River near Alston in MI. Big Buoy shows the latest reading with a 7-day hydrograph, alongside National Weather Service flood categories where they are published.
Latest reading
As of October 19, 2026 at 18:30 UTC, USGS gauge 04041500 on Sturgeon River near Alston recorded gage height 4.08 ft, discharge 168 cfs, and water temperature 54°F.
National Weather Service flood category: No Flooding.
The Upper Peninsula river levels — Sturgeon River near Alston is one of the gauges covered there.
Stage vs. flow — how to read a river gauge
Discharge (flow, in cubic feet per second) is comparable between gauges and is usually the better number for judging whether a river is up or down. Gage height is the water surface in feet above each gauge's own local datum, so it is local: the same 4 ft describes different rivers at two different gauges, and it is not the depth of the water. A gauge that reports nothing is shown as not reported — never as zero.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the water level on Sturgeon River near Alston?
- Gage height at Sturgeon River near Alston was 4.08 ft. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:30 UTC at USGS gauge 04041500 (STURGEON RIVER NEAR ALSTON, MI). Gage height is the water surface above this gauge’s own local datum, not the depth of the river.
- What is the flow on Sturgeon River near Alston?
- Discharge at Sturgeon River near Alston was 168 cubic feet per second. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:30 UTC at USGS gauge 04041500 (STURGEON RIVER NEAR ALSTON, MI). Discharge is comparable between gauges in a way gage height is not.
- What is the water temperature in Sturgeon River near Alston?
- Water temperature at Sturgeon River near Alston was 54°F. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:30 UTC at USGS gauge 04041500 (STURGEON RIVER NEAR ALSTON, MI).
- Is Sturgeon River near Alston flooding?
- The National Weather Service flood category for Sturgeon River near Alston was “No Flooding”. Measured October 19, 2026 at 18:30 UTC at USGS gauge 04041500 (STURGEON RIVER NEAR ALSTON, MI). Flood categories are published by NOAA/NWS, not by Big Buoy.
- Where is USGS gauge 04041500?
- STURGEON RIVER NEAR ALSTON, MI (USGS 04041500) reports from 46.726°N, 88.662°W in MI.
- How often does USGS gauge 04041500 update?
- This station records about every 15 minutes and transmits hourly, so a reading can be up to an hour old when you see it. Readings past three times the reporting interval are shown as last reported rather than as current conditions.
Data: USGS National Water Information System. Flood categories: NOAA/National Weather Service.