U.S. River Levels Today
As of October 15, 2026, 6,572 USGS gauges are reporting across the U.S. The typical gauge is at 93% of normal for the date — 2,504 running above normal and 3,023 below. The biggest flow is the Mississippi River At Vicksburg at 474,000 cfs and 1 gauge is at or above NWS flood stage.
U.S. rivers right now
See every U.S. river on a live map
- Rivers now — every gauge vs normal, river lines by flow
- Reservoirs — storage vs normal
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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What U.S. rivers are doing today
Where rivers are running versus normal and what’s rising — built from the live USGS readings below.
Across the U.S., 6,572 USGS gauges are reporting and the typical gauge is at 93% of normal for the date: 2,504 running above normal, 3,023 below.
Wettest states against normal: Rhode Island (531%), West Virginia (448%), Iowa (334%). Driest: Arkansas (34%), South Dakota (36%), Maine (40%).
Fastest rise in the last 24 hours: Swift Creek Near Apex (+166,150%, now 67 cfs).
1 gauge at or above NWS flood stage — see High water below.
River levels vs normal, state by state
Each square is the typical USGS gauge in that state, as a percent of normal flow for the date. Tap a state for its full flow report.
Gauges at or above NWS flood stages
1 gauge is at or above flood stage. Stages are set by the National Weather Service; follow your local NWS office and emergency managers for warnings. See the flood monitor for watches and warnings.
| Gauge | Status | Stage now | Flood stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Warrior River At Selden L & D Near Eutaw AL | Minor flooding | 96.10 ft | 90.0 ft | 3,140 cfs |
Biggest river flows
| Gauge | Flow | % of normal |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Vicksburg MS | 474,000 cfs | 145% |
| Mississippi River At Memphis TN | 410,000 cfs | 111% |
| Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Near Quincy OR | 313,000 cfs | 102% |
| Mississippi River At Baton Rouge LA | 293,000 cfs | 109% |
| Mississippi River At St. Louis MO | 248,000 cfs | 211% |
| Mississippi River At Thebes IL | 230,000 cfs | 203% |
| Mississippi River At Chester IL | 224,000 cfs | 198% |
| Savannah River At Fort Pulaski GA | 159,000 cfs | 108% |
| (coe) Atchafalaya River At Simmesport LA | 139,000 cfs | 133% |
| San Joaquin River A Jersey Point Ca CA | 134,000 cfs | 23% |
Rising fastest
| Gauge | 24h | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek Near Apex NC | +166,150% | 67 cfs |
| Plunge Creek Near East Highlands Ca CA | +74,900% | 4,470 cfs |
| Sycamore Creek Near Fort Mcdowell AZ | +20,971% | 118 cfs |
| Weller Creek At Des Plaines IL | +14,780% | 186 cfs |
| Nodaway River At Clarinda IA | +13,112% | 580 cfs |
| Big Bull Creek Near Edgerton KS | +8,005% | 124 cfs |
| L Bull Creek Near Spring Hill KS | +6,742% | 117 cfs |
| Blue River Near Stanley KS | +6,341% | 304 cfs |
| Mill Creek At Johnson Drive KS | +5,945% | 931 cfs |
| Marais Des Cygnes River Near Reading KS | +4,943% | 1,180 cfs |
USGS provisional data, 6,572 gauges reporting in the last few days. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Top river runs by streamflow
Whitewater and paddle runs sorted by current discharge — a first look for trip planning.
| River run | Status | Streamflow | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | Runnable | 9,320 cfs | III TO IV |
| Greenwood To Mammoth Bar | Runnable | 1,390 cfs | II TO II+ |
| Tunnel Run (Ralston Powerhouse To Greenwood) | Runnable | 1,390 cfs | IV- TO IV |
| Generation And Giant Gaps (Tadpole To Colfax-Iowa Hill Road) | Runnable | 1,390 cfs | IV TO IV+ |
| Yankee Jim Road To Ponderosa Way (Shirttail) | Runnable | 1,390 cfs | II TO III |
| Chili Bar | Runnable | 1,390 cfs | III TO IV |
| Coloma To Greenwood - (C To G) | Runnable | 1,390 cfs | II TO III- |
| Sunrise Avenue To Watt Avenue | Too High | 1,020 cfs | II- TO II |
| Royal Gorge (Soda Springs To Tadpole Creek) | Runnable | 817 cfs | V TO V+ |
| Christopher Creek | Too High | 443 cfs | V |
| Indian Gardens | Too Low | 30 cfs | IV- TO IV+ |
| Hell's Gate Canyon | Too Low | 14 cfs | V |
About U.S. river levels
How are U.S. rivers running right now?
As of October 15, 2026, 6,572 USGS streamgauges are reporting; the typical gauge is at 93% of normal for the date, with 2,504 above normal and 3,023 below. The state map above shows where rivers are high or low.
What does “percent of normal” mean?
Today’s flow at a gauge compared with its historical average for the same calendar day. 100% is normal. Well above 150% on a small or medium river often means high water; below 50% points to drought-stressed flow.
What is cfs?
Cubic feet per second, the standard unit for river flow. One cfs is about 7.5 gallons passing the gauge every second. Small creeks run in single digits; the lower Mississippi runs in the hundreds of thousands.
How fresh is the data?
USGS gauges report every 15 minutes to an hour and Snoflo refreshes its tables through the day. Gauges that have been silent for more than three days are left out of today’s numbers.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service.
Can I get an alert when my river rises?
Yes — favorite any gauge in the Snoflo app and set a flow or stage threshold.
Is this a substitute for official flood warnings?
No. Snoflo is informational. For life-safety decisions follow your local NWS forecast office and emergency management.