Live streamflow across the country.
Real-time discharge from 10,000+ USGS streamgauges, surging-streamflow ranking, paddle-runnable status, and a daily AI briefing — refreshed throughout the day from USGS and NOAA feeds. Built for paddlers, anglers, water managers, and flood researchers.
What the rivers are running at
An AI-generated summary stitched from today's USGS streamgauge readings, NWS flood watches, and watershed status across the country.
A diverse pattern of elevated streamflows is gripping waterways across the United States this week, with the Ohio River at Old Shawneetown leading the nation at an impressive 259,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Major population centers including Jacksonville, Florida, and the Twin Cities metro area are experiencing significantly above-average flows, while watershed data reveals some regions running at over 8,000% of normal levels. From Pennsylvania's Allegheny tributaries to California's Sacramento River, water managers and outdoor enthusiasts are monitoring conditions that range from robust seasonal flows to potentially concerning surges.
The Mississippi River basin dominates the high-flow picture, with multiple gauges reporting exceptional volumes. At Hastings, Minnesota, flows of 27,700 cfs combine with readings at St. Paul (23,900 cfs) to create notable conditions for the Twin Cities region. Meanwhile, the Minnesota River tributary system shows remarkable activity, with readings near Jordan (16,900 cfs), Mankato (14,500 cfs), and Morton (9,600 cfs) indicating substantial runoff across south-central Minnesota. The Ohio River's massive 259,000 cfs flow at the Kentucky border represents water draining from vast upstream watersheds, while Jacksonville's St. Johns River maintains 152,000 cfs under sunny skies—a testament to Florida's unique hydrology where tidal influences and regional water tables sustain year-round flows.
Watershed analysis reveals dramatic contrasts: Pennsylvania's Allegheny River system shows extraordinary conditions with the Clarion River at 2,930% of normal and French Creek at 2,274% of normal, creating challenging but potentially thrilling whitewater conditions. The Middle Potomac-Anacostia-Occoquan watershed registers an astounding 8,209% of normal, while Texas's Village watershed on the Trinity system shows 19,653% of normal—suggesting recent intense rainfall events. For anglers, Arkansas's White River system (Batesville at 43,800 cfs, Calico Rock at 23,300 cfs) offers excellent tailwater fishing conditions below dams. Conversely, the Cedar River in Washington state runs at just 11% of normal, and the Tombigbee River in Alabama sits at 72% of normal, indicating regional drought stress in the Southeast that contrasts sharply with the soaked conditions across the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic states.
Top river runs by streamflow
Whitewater and paddle runs sorted by current discharge. Useful as a first-look for paddlers planning a trip and an early-warning signal for downstream flood watchers.
| 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 the streamflow data
Where does this data come from?
Discharge readings come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgauge network — 10,000+ stations spread across every state. USGS publishes the data publicly; we aggregate, rank, and pair it with watershed boundaries and weather forecasts.
What is "cfs"?
Cubic feet per second — the standard unit for streamflow. One cfs is roughly 7.5 gallons per second flowing past the gauge. Small creeks run at single-digit cfs; the Mississippi runs at hundreds of thousands.
What does "percent of normal" mean?
The current flow at a gauge compared to its seasonal average for this date. 100% is right at the historical norm. 200%+ on a small-to-medium river is a strong indicator of flood conditions; below 70% indicates drought-stressed flow.
How fresh is the data?
USGS streamgauges report every 15 minutes; we re-pull every hour and re-rank. The AI briefing regenerates daily.
Can I get an alert when my home river fires?
Yes. Save any USGS gauge as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a threshold (e.g. "alert me at 200 cfs" or "alert me on stage above 12 ft"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses. Free with a Snoflo account.
Is this a substitute for official flood warnings?
No. Snoflo is informational. For life-safety decisions follow guidance from your local NWS forecast office and emergency management. Use Snoflo data as one input among several.
Streamflow by state
Tap any state for USGS streamgauges, surging streamflows, and the daily AI flow briefing focused on that state.