U.S. River Levels Today
As of October 31, 2026, 6,566 USGS gauges are reporting across the U.S. The typical gauge is at 63% of normal for the date — 1,287 running above normal and 4,391 below. The biggest flow is the Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Near Quincy at 347,000 cfs.
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: Major Waterways Show Dramatic Swings Across America
The nation's rivers are telling a tale of two extremes this week, with some watersheds experiencing extraordinary flows while others languish at historic lows. The Ohio River at Old Shawneetown leads the country with a staggering 259,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), while several watersheds in the Southwest and Great Plains are running at over 3,000% of normal flows. Meanwhile, Florida's Suwannee River and Alabama's Black Warrior River have plummeted to barely 10% of typical levels, creating stark regional contrasts that will impact everything from navigation to recreation.
The Mississippi River basin dominates the high-flow narrative, with multiple monitoring stations showing robust conditions. At Hastings and St. Paul, Minnesota, flows exceed 27,700 and 23,900 cfs respectively, fed by the swollen Minnesota River system where gauges at Jordan, Mankato, and Morton all report flows between 9,600-16,900 cfs.
This upper Mississippi surge benefits from recent precipitation, though weather forecasts call for only partly sunny conditions ahead. Meanwhile, the Arkansas River system shows impressive flows at Tulsa (10,700 cfs) despite ongoing drought concerns in Oklahoma. For anglers and rafters, Idaho's Snake River corridor offers prime conditions with multiple gauges reporting 5,200-19,200 cfs from Heise to Hells Canyon Dam—ideal for whitewater enthusiasts, though scattered snow showers may challenge weekend plans.
The most dramatic watershed anomalies appear in the Southwest and South. New Mexico's Rio Chama and Pecos headwaters are running at 1,807% and 2,758% of normal respectively—extraordinary conditions likely driven by snowmelt and recent monsoon activity. Texas's Buffalo-San Jacinto watershed has exploded to an astounding 17,074% of normal, while Arizona's Agua Fria River sits at 2,692% of typical flows.
Conversely, the Southeast faces concerning deficits: Florida's Suwannee and St. Johns systems show mixed signals, with Jacksonville recording 152,000 cfs while upstream areas struggle. Georgia's Savannah River maintains healthy flows near 25,700 cfs at Port Wentworth, supporting commercial navigation to Savannah.
Water managers should note Pennsylvania's Raystown watershed running at 792% of normal—a welcome reprieve for the Delaware River system downstream.
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Clay Center KS | Action stage | 11.67 ft | 15.0 ft | 1,960 cfs |
Biggest river flows
| Gauge | Flow | % of normal |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River @ Beaver Army Terminal Near Quincy OR | 347,000 cfs | 110% |
| Mississippi River At Vicksburg MS | 318,000 cfs | 90% |
| Mississippi River At Baton Rouge LA | 253,000 cfs | 96% |
| Mississippi River At Memphis TN | 242,000 cfs | 68% |
| San Joaquin River A Jersey Point Ca CA | 150,000 cfs | 23% |
| Mississippi River At Thebes IL | 140,000 cfs | 102% |
| Mississippi River At Chester IL | 140,000 cfs | 99% |
| Savannah River At Fort Pulaski GA | 126,000 cfs | 89% |
| Mississippi River At St. Louis MO | 125,000 cfs | 91% |
| Sacramento River A Rio Vista Ca CA | 122,000 cfs | 130% |
Rising fastest
| Gauge | 24h | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sycamore Creek Near Fort Mcdowell AZ | +163,011% | 734 cfs |
| Medicine Creek Near Laredo MO | +17,391% | 5,090 cfs |
| Dirty Devil River Above Poison Sp Wash Near Hanksville UT | +13,710% | 145 cfs |
| Cibecue Creek Near Chysotile AZ | +12,736% | 344 cfs |
| Beals Creek Near Westbrook TX | +9,133% | 349 cfs |
| Rio Grande At Thirtymile Bridge CO | +9,106% | 371 cfs |
| Santa Clara River At St. George UT | +3,214% | 174 cfs |
| South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City IA | +2,842% | 356 cfs |
| Virgin River Near Bloomington UT | +2,386% | 3,480 cfs |
| Salt River At Hagers Grove MO | +2,358% | 190 cfs |
USGS provisional data, 6,566 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 31, 2026, 6,566 USGS streamgauges are reporting; the typical gauge is at 63% of normal for the date, with 1,287 above normal and 4,391 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.