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Live flood monitor

Real-time river flooding
across America.

Live USGS streamgauge readings, FEMA flood zones, NWS flood watches and warnings, and historical context — one map, refreshed throughout the day. Built for flood researchers, emergency managers, and outdoor recreationists.

Last updated September 22, 2026 · 205 sensors live
Rivers above flood
59
Watersheds elevated
109
Active flood sensors
205
USGS gauges tracked
10K+
Layers
Flow vs. normal
< 50%
~ 100%
200%
500%+
Tiles © Mapbox · Data USGS, NOAA NWS, FEMA, NRCS · Click any feature for details · Multiple layers under your click aggregate into one popup.
Today's flood briefing

What's happening right now

An AI-generated daily summary stitched from active streamgauge readings, NWS warnings, and watershed status.

September
22
2026
Flood report
# CATASTROPHIC FLOODING EMERGENCY: Multiple U.S. Regions Face Extreme Water Levels as Coastal Storm and Hurricane Polo Threaten Nation

**URGENT NATIONWIDE FLOODING ALERT** — A dangerous combination of extreme streamflow conditions and developing weather systems is creating a critical flooding emergency across multiple U.S. regions, with water levels reaching up to 940 times normal in some areas. As Hurricane Polo rapidly intensifies into a monster Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast and a significant nor'easter takes aim at the East Coast, communities from California to New England face life-threatening flood conditions. Officials are urging immediate action as rivers overflow their banks, threatening homes, infrastructure, and lives in dozens of cities nationwide.

The Midwest and Ohio Valley are experiencing catastrophic conditions, with communities near Lima and Defiance, Ohio facing unprecedented danger as the Ottawa River surges to nearly 30,000% of normal flow and the Shade River reaches an apocalyptic 94,000% above typical levels. In Sandusky, Ohio, streamflow has exploded to 13,000% of normal, while Fremont faces similar extreme conditions along the Sandusky River. Cities including Fort Wayne, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio are bracing for devastating impacts along the swollen Maumee River system, where water levels have surged over 4,400% above normal. The Wabash River near Bluffton, Indiana is running at 12,000% of normal, threatening widespread inundation. Meanwhile, Iowa communities including Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Iowa City face extreme danger as the Cedar and Iowa Rivers reach critical levels, with some watersheds experiencing flows over 1,700% above normal.

The crisis extends nationwide as multiple threats converge. In California, Governor Newsom has declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Polo threatens to enhance Southwest flooding, with the Santa Clara and Santa Ana Rivers near San Jose and Los Angeles already running at 4,900% and 3,800% of normal respectively. Pennsylvania communities including Williamsport, Lock Haven, and Pittsburgh face severe flooding along the Susquehanna and Ohio River systems, with some tributaries exceeding 3,500% of normal flow. A developing nor'easter is set to compound flooding concerns from New Jersey through New England this weekend, bringing coastal inundation, beach erosion, and additional rainfall to already saturated regions. Texas communities near Houston along the Buffalo-San Jacinto watershed face flows nearly 3,000% above normal, while the Cheyenne River near Rapid City, South Dakota has surged to an astounding 25,700% of typical levels. Emergency officials warn that this multi-pronged flooding event could rival historic disasters, urging residents in affected areas to monitor local alerts, prepare evacuation plans, and never attempt to drive through flooded roadways.
Right now

Rivers currently flooding or rising

Live USGS streamgauge readings aggregated by river. Percent-of-normal compares current flow to the seasonal average.

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River Observed (cfs) Seasonal avg (cfs) vs. Normal
Sangamon River 254 24 ↑ 1052% of normal
Clarion River 2,040 239 ↑ 854% of normal
Black Warrior River 2,080 3,570 58% of normal
Cheyenne River 427 2 ↑ 25723% of normal
Suwannee River 8,830 12,100 73% of normal
Edwards River 973 68 ↑ 1432% of normal
Powell River 457 59 ↑ 781% of normal
Wapsipinicon River 12,100 843 ↑ 1435% of normal
Root River 2,477 41 ↑ 5978% of normal
Little Miami River 348 33 ↑ 1067% of normal
Lackawaxen River 1,350 171 ↑ 789% of normal
Olentangy River 714 78 ↑ 919% of normal
Delaware River 1,790 189 ↑ 950% of normal
Samish River 15 28 53% of normal
Wichita River 510 4 ↑ 11860% of normal
Straight River 1,680 85 ↑ 1976% of normal
Nodaway River 2,800 185 ↑ 1514% of normal
North Raccoon River 157 24 ↑ 654% of normal
English River 5,460 32 ↑ 17036% of normal
Hocking River 7,010 82 ↑ 8507% of normal
Shade River 8,900 9 ↑ 94180% of normal
Deep River 696 35 ↑ 2012% of normal
Menomonee River 237 33 ↑ 712% of normal
Cumberland River 3,020 107 ↑ 2836% of normal
Wabash River 8,700 71 ↑ 12185% of normal
Cedar River 54,864 5,434 ↑ 1010% of normal
Tiffin River 697 46 ↑ 1515% of normal
Tombigbee River 6,434 6,905 93% of normal
Blue Earth River 1,920 151 ↑ 1272% of normal
Little Calumet River 709 42 ↑ 1688% of normal
Little Auglaize River 1,830 50 ↑ 3653% of normal
Little Muskingum River 4,580 7 ↑ 62912% of normal
Blanchard River 4,810 64 ↑ 7571% of normal
Teton River 266 20 ↑ 1330% of normal
North Canadian River 347 28 ↑ 1228% of normal
Iowa River 80,680 4,927 ↑ 1638% of normal
Buckhannon River 3,580 47 ↑ 7666% of normal
North Skunk River 4,510 46 ↑ 9709% of normal
Ottawa River 1,360 5 ↑ 29890% of normal
Gauley River 2,360 133 ↑ 1774% of normal
Little Colorado River 2,840 251 ↑ 1131% of normal
Yellow River 212 28 ↑ 767% of normal
Watonwan River 231 38 ↑ 603% of normal
Stillwater River 3,200 45 ↑ 7191% of normal
Scioto River 98,030 2,492 ↑ 3934% of normal
Raccoon River 1,310 193 ↑ 679% of normal
Youghiogheny River 2,830 118 ↑ 2397% of normal
Williams River 617 37 ↑ 1668% of normal
Conemaugh River 4,130 562 ↑ 735% of normal
Neosho River 218 19 ↑ 1150% of normal
Cranberry River 274 24 ↑ 1149% of normal
Blackwater River 695 25 ↑ 2786% of normal
Little River 176 3 ↑ 6567% of normal
Maumee River 35,800 802 ↑ 4467% of normal
Green River 330 427 77% of normal
Casselman River 1,606 87 ↑ 1841% of normal
Thief River 587 70 ↑ 835% of normal
Middle Fork River 977 25 ↑ 3862% of normal
Kishwaukee River 1,500 179 ↑ 840% of normal

59 rivers are running elevated right now. Create a free account to see the full list, follow your rivers, and get alerts.

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By basin

Watersheds running elevated

Aggregated by HUC8 watershed code. Useful for catchment-level flood-risk assessment.

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HUC8 code Watershed Observed (cfs) vs. Normal
h15020002 Upper Little Colorado 171 ↑ 285000%
h03110205 Lower Suwannee 8,830 73%
h12040104 Buffalo-San Jacinto 204 ↑ 2914%
h07040002 Cannon 1,680 ↑ 1976%
h05030106 Upper Ohio-Wheeling 2,321 ↑ 3020%
h02050201 Upper West Branch Susquehanna 3,770 ↑ 1035%
h05030101 Upper Ohio 792 ↑ 639%
h03080103 Lower St. Johns 103,366 76%
h07080106 North Skunk 4,510 ↑ 9709%
h07080105 South Skunk 560 ↑ 3446%
h07080104 Flint-Henderson 973 ↑ 1432%
h07080103 Lower Wapsipinicon 12,100 ↑ 1435%
h07100009 Lower Des Moines 22,532 ↑ 3654%
h07100008 Lake Red Rock 808 ↑ 2313%
h05070201 Tug 304 ↑ 9838%
h07100004 Middle Des Moines 4,440 ↑ 824%
h07100006 North Raccoon 1,467 ↑ 676%
h04100011 Sandusky 1,130 ↑ 12951%
h11070201 Neosho Headwaters 218 ↑ 1150%
h05050005 Gauley 3,251 ↑ 1677%
h05050007 Elk 3,120 ↑ 4023%
h09020304 Thief 587 ↑ 835%
h17110002 Strait Of Georgia 15 53%
h15020016 Lower Little Colorado 2,840 ↑ 1131%
h04100007 Auglaize 3,190 ↑ 5837%
h04100004 St. Marys 22,960 ↑ 20610%
h04100005 Upper Maumee 11,100 ↑ 4066%
h05010008 Kiskiminetas 1,080 ↑ 1123%
h05010005 Clarion 2,040 ↑ 854%
h05010007 Conemaugh 4,972 ↑ 800%
h05010006 Middle Allegheny-Redbank 2,928 ↑ 1267%
h05010003 Middle Allegheny-Tionesta 1,000 ↑ 800%
h04100009 Lower Maumee 24,700 ↑ 4674%
h04040001 Little Calumet-Galien 2,163 ↑ 1084%
h04040003 Milwaukee 237 ↑ 712%
h04040002 Pike-Root 2,477 ↑ 5978%
h02050304 Lower Juniata 555 ↑ 742%
h02050301 Lower Susquehanna-Penns 383 ↑ 1101%
h05020004 Cheat 695 ↑ 2786%
h02050303 Raystown 316 ↑ 1127%
h02050302 Upper Juniata 263 ↑ 2798%
h03160113 Lower Black Warrior 2,080 58%
h18070102 Santa Clara 403 ↑ 4951%
h05020006 Youghiogheny 5,367 ↑ 2186%
h07070003 Castle Rock 212 ↑ 767%
h05020005 Lower Monongahela 521 ↑ 971%
h05020003 Upper Monongahela 513 ↑ 3538%
h05020001 Tygart Valley 5,360 ↑ 6091%
h07080205 Middle Cedar 19,060 ↑ 831%
h07080206 Lower Cedar 34,600 ↑ 1206%
h07080207 Upper Iowa 480 ↑ 1521%
h18070203 Santa Ana 310 ↑ 3801%
h07080201 Upper Cedar 2,430 ↑ 2017%
h07120007 Lower Fox 906 ↑ 2867%
h07120006 Upper Fox 4,481 ↑ 925%
h07120004 Des Plaines 5,811 ↑ 1498%
h07120003 Chicago 559 ↑ 880%
h07080209 Lower Iowa 71,847 ↑ 1773%
h04050002 Black-Macatawa 376 ↑ 1025%
h03160106 Middle Tombigbee-Lubbub 1,004 65%
h12030108 Richland 466 ↑ 5210%
h05080001 Upper Great Miami 6,113 ↑ 6489%
h05080002 Lower Great Miami 453 ↑ 1922%
h05080003 Whitewater 399 ↑ 2830%
h05120203 Eel 322 ↑ 2477%
h10240010 Nodaway 2,800 ↑ 1514%
h11100301 Middle North Canadian 347 ↑ 1228%
h02050204 Bald Eagle 1,942 ↑ 796%
h18100200 Salton Sea 321 ↑ 1084%
h07020011 Le Sueur 4,870 ↑ 6750%
h07020010 Watonwan 231 ↑ 603%
h03160201 Middle Tombigbee-Chickasaw 5,430 101%
h10270103 Delaware 1,790 ↑ 950%
h11130206 Wichita 510 ↑ 11860%
h07080107 Skunk 1,120 ↑ 6188%
h03180002 Middle Pearl-Strong 435 ↑ 7909%
h17110012 Lake Washington 21 79%
h07090006 Kishwaukee 3,554 ↑ 1390%
h17110013 Duwamish 330 77%
h05040001 Tuscarawas 734 ↑ 1870%
h05040004 Muskingum 259 ↑ 3985%
h05040005 Wills 268 ↑ 6381%
h05040006 Licking 1,921 ↑ 7260%
h06010206 Powell 457 ↑ 781%
h07020009 Blue Earth 1,920 ↑ 1272%
h05090203 Middle Ohio-Laughery 678 ↑ 1493%
h05090202 Little Miami 2,580 ↑ 4453%
h05090201 Ohio Brush-Whiteoak 910 ↑ 13684%
h07080208 Middle Iowa 18,138 ↑ 1732%
h05120101 Upper Wabash 8,700 ↑ 12185%
h11140302 Lower Sulphur 1,270 ↑ 3273%
h05060002 Lower Scioto 76,560 ↑ 4188%
h05060003 Paint 7,290 ↑ 6022%
h05060001 Upper Scioto 31,607 ↑ 3329%
h02040103 Lackawaxen 1,350 ↑ 789%
h05130101 Upper Cumberland 3,020 ↑ 2836%
h04100008 Blanchard 5,076 ↑ 7647%
h03020201 Upper Neuse 176 ↑ 6567%
h10120106 Angostura Reservoir 427 ↑ 25723%
h07130006 Upper Sangamon 254 ↑ 1052%
h07060006 Maquoketa 2,020 ↑ 740%
h04100006 Tiffin 697 ↑ 1515%
h05030204 Hocking 7,777 ↑ 7746%
h05030201 Little Muskingum-Middle Island 12,120 ↑ 35356%
h05030203 Little Kanawha 2,950 ↑ 16353%
h05030202 Upper Ohio-Shade 8,900 ↑ 94180%
h10030203 Marias 266 ↑ 1330%
h05130202 Lower Cumberland-Sycamore 4,860 ↑ 607%
h07130001 Lower Illinois-Senachwine Lake 1,220 ↑ 9569%

109 watersheds are running elevated. Create a free account to see every basin.

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Background

What causes river flooding

Flooding is rarely a single-cause event — multiple factors usually compound. The most common drivers across the U.S.

🌧

Heavy rainfall

Persistent rain saturates soils and overwhelms drainage networks. Tropical systems and atmospheric rivers are the worst culprits.

Rapid snowmelt

Spring melt pulses can deliver months of accumulated water in days — especially when warm rain falls on existing snowpack.

🧊

Ice jams

Breakup ice can block channels, forcing water to back up and inundate upstream banks. Common on northern rivers in early spring.

🌊

Storm surge

Coastal hurricanes push seawater inland. Surge combined with rainfall is the deadliest flood scenario in U.S. history.

🛡

Reservoir releases

Controlled dam releases can dramatically increase downstream flow. USACE and USBR publish release schedules, but conditions change fast.

🌌

Burn scars

Wildfire-stripped slopes can't absorb rainfall — even modest storms produce dangerous flash floods on burned watersheds for years afterward.

Safety

Flood preparedness checklist

Floodwaters rise faster than most people expect. The basics that save lives.

1
Never drive through floodwaterSix inches can stall a car; two feet floats most vehicles. Turn around — don't drown.
2
Monitor levels near youTrack the gauges upstream of your location. Snoflo's push alerts can ping you the moment a threshold is crossed.
3
Have an evacuation planKnow two routes out and where higher ground sits. If officials issue an evacuation order, leave — don't wait.
4
Move valuables upDocuments, electronics, and sentimentals to upper floors. Disconnect electrical at the main breaker if water enters the structure.
5
Trust official sourcesNWS warnings and local emergency management are the authoritative source. Snoflo data is informational; always cross-check.
6
After the water recedesDon't return until officials clear the area. Floodwater carries sewage, fuel, and downed power. Document damage before cleanup.
Frequently asked

Flood map & river monitoring FAQ

What does "percent of normal" mean?

The current flow at a gauge compared to its seasonal average for this date. 100% means flow is right at the historical norm. 200%+ means twice the typical flow — a strong indicator of flood conditions on small-to-medium rivers. Every gauge-level flow report shows its live percent-of-normal.

What's the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning?

Watch: conditions are favorable for flooding within the next 12–48 hours. Warning: flooding is happening or imminent. Both come from the National Weather Service. Snoflo overlays both as toggleable layers on the map above.

How often does Snoflo's data refresh?

USGS streamgauge readings update every 15 minutes; we re-pull every hour. NWS warning polygons update as the NWS issues them — usually within 5 minutes. FEMA flood zones are static (the National Flood Hazard Layer is updated quarterly).

What is the FEMA flood zone layer?

FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) shows the 1%-annual-chance ("100-year") and 0.2%-annual-chance ("500-year") floodplains. These are based on long-term hydrologic modeling, not current conditions. Useful for property risk; not a real-time signal.

Can I get an alert when my local river floods?

Yes. Save any USGS gauge as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 20 ft stage"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses. Free with a Snoflo account.

Is Snoflo a substitute for official warnings?

No. Snoflo is informational. For life-safety decisions always follow guidance from local emergency management, the NWS, and law enforcement.

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