U.S. River Levels Today
As of October 25, 2026, 6,575 USGS gauges are reporting across the U.S. The typical gauge is at 78% of normal for the date — 1,693 running above normal and 3,788 below. The biggest flow is the Mississippi River At Vicksburg at 402,000 cfs and 5 gauges are at or above NWS flood stage.
U.S. rivers right now
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What U.S. rivers are doing today
Today’s summary of USGS streamgauge readings, flood watches and watershed status across the country.
Rivers Run High: Midwest Surges While Southwest Sees Extreme Flows
The nation's rivers are painting a dramatic picture of contrasts this week, with the mighty Ohio River leading a surge of elevated flows across the Midwest and Southeast, while the Southwest experiences unprecedented streamflow anomalies that suggest recent heavy precipitation. The Ohio River at Old Shawneetown on the Kentucky-Illinois border is commanding attention with flows of 259,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), making it the highest-flowing gauge in the nation. Meanwhile, several southwestern watersheds are experiencing flows exceeding 7,000% of normal, indicating dramatic shifts from typical drought conditions.
The Upper Midwest is seeing robust flows across multiple river systems. Minnesota's river network is particularly active, with the Mississippi River below Lock & Dam #2 at Hastings flowing at 27,700 cfs and at St. Paul recording 23,900 cfs.
The Minnesota River system shows impressive volumes throughout its length—from 16,900 cfs near Jordan to 9,530 cfs at New Ulm. These elevated flows create excellent conditions for anglers targeting walleye and smallmouth bass in the Mississippi's deeper pools, though rafters should exercise caution given the strong currents. In the Southeast, Florida's St.
Johns River at Jacksonville is moving 152,000 cfs under sunny skies, while Georgia's Savannah River system maintains high flows from Augusta (9,090 cfs) down to Port Wentworth (25,700 cfs).
The Southwest presents the most striking story: the Tularosa Valley watershed in New Mexico is experiencing an astounding 294,286% of normal flow, while the Buffalo-San Jacinto watershed in Texas shows 17,074% of normal. The San Juan River system in the Four Corners region demonstrates extreme conditions, with the Lower San Juan at 7,316% of normal and the Animas River flowing at nearly 1,900% of typical levels. The Merrimack River in New Hampshire has surged to 3,502% of normal at 92,100 cfs, suggesting significant snowmelt or rainfall events.
These dramatic increases contrast sharply with struggling systems like Alabama's Black Warrior River, flowing at just 17% of normal, and Washington's Green River and Samish River in the Strait of Georgia watershed, both running well below average at 66% and 31% of normal respectively, indicating persistent drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest.
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
5 gauges are 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pottsburg Creek Near South Jacksonville FL | Major flooding | 20.25 ft | 6.0 ft | 22 cfs |
| Merrimack River Near Goffs Falls NH | Major flooding | 23.40 ft | 11.0 ft | 92,100 cfs |
| Cedar River At San Juan Ave At Jacksonville FL | Major flooding | 13.23 ft | 1.4 ft | 265 cfs |
| San Juan River At Farmington NM | Major flooding | 14.07 ft | 8.5 ft | 32,600 cfs |
| San Juan River At Shiprock NM | Major flooding | 20.91 ft | 15.5 ft | 26,000 cfs |
Biggest river flows
| Gauge | Flow | % of normal |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Vicksburg MS | 402,000 cfs | 103% |
| Mississippi River At Memphis TN | 304,000 cfs | 95% |
| Mississippi River At Baton Rouge LA | 301,000 cfs | 107% |
| Mississippi River At Thebes IL | 173,000 cfs | 142% |
| Mississippi River At Chester IL | 171,000 cfs | 145% |
| Mississippi River At St. Louis MO | 155,000 cfs | 128% |
| St. Johns River At Jacksonville FL | 135,000 cfs | 100% |
| (coe) Atchafalaya River At Simmesport LA | 132,000 cfs | 145% |
| Merrimack River Near Goffs Falls NH | 92,100 cfs | · |
| Columbia River At The Dalles OR | 79,100 cfs | 89% |
Rising fastest
| Gauge | 24h | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Galisteo Creek Below Galisteo Dam NM | +15,299,900% | 1,530 cfs |
| Salt Creek Near Tularosa NM | +70,934% | 206 cfs |
| Savannah River At Ga 25 GA | +50,639% | 30,900 cfs |
| Eagle Tail Ditch Near Maxwell NM | +22,400% | 144 cfs |
| Canadian River Near Taylor Springs NM | +11,258% | 368 cfs |
| Caloosahatchee Canal Dws Of S-77 At Moore Haven Fl FL | +7,579% | 65 cfs |
| Canadian River Near Sanchez NM | +7,110% | 2,300 cfs |
| Mora River At La Cueva NM | +7,098% | 185 cfs |
| Merrimack River Near Goffs Falls NH | +7,095% | 92,100 cfs |
| Gallinas River Near Lourdes NM | +6,524% | 308 cfs |
USGS provisional data, 6,575 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 25, 2026, 6,575 USGS streamgauges are reporting; the typical gauge is at 78% of normal for the date, with 1,693 above normal and 3,788 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.