Levisa Fork At Paintsville flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Levisa Fork At Paintsville is flowing at 3,910 cfs with a gage height of 7.81 ft, rising 57% over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #03212500, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Levisa Fork At Paintsville at a glance
How Levisa Fork At Paintsville is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Levisa Fork At Paintsville is flowing at 3,910 cfs, with the water sitting 7.81 ft at the gage. Flow is up 57% since yesterday — a rising hydrograph.
This is USGS gauge #03212500 in Kentucky. Over the past 10 days the average has been 1,147 cfs, peaking at 3,910 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Levisa Fork At Paintsville is expected to recede from today's 2490 cfs, toward roughly 1874 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 849-4135 cfs) -- about normal for the date.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Kentucky flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Levisa Fork At Paintsville
It receives flow from various tributaries and is influenced by the operations of the Paintsville Dam. The primary flow providers for the streamgauge include the Big Sandy River and Tug Fork River. The streamgauge experiences seasonal trends with higher flows in the winter and lower flows in the summer. Interestingly, the Paintsville Lake was created by the construction of the Paintsville Dam in the 1980s, which had a significant impact on the hydrology of the Levisa Fork. The dam provides flood control, recreation, and water supply for the area.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Levisa Fork At Paintsville's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Levisa Fork At Paintsville | 3,910 cfs |
| Licking River Below Mason Fork Nr Salyersville | 616 cfs |
| Tug Fork At Kermit | 4,260 cfs |
| Johns Creek Near Meta | 71 cfs |
| Levisa Fork At Pikeville | 708 cfs |
| Tug Fork At Williamson | 3,010 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Levisa Fork At Paintsville. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Water Plant | 0 in |
| Olive Hill 9.0 Sse | 0 in |
| East Lynn Lake | 0 in |
| Jackson | 0 in |
| Fedscreek | 2 in |
| Morehead 6.4 Ne | 0 in |
River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track Levisa Fork At Paintsville in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Levisa Fork At Paintsville crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Levisa Fork At Paintsville
Where does the streamflow data for Levisa Fork At Paintsville come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 03212500. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when Levisa Fork At Paintsville rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free Levisa Fork At Paintsville report
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