New River At Glen Lyn flow report

Virginia, USA USGS #03176500 ↗

As of July 13, 2026, New River At Glen Lyn is flowing at 2,700 cfs with a gage height of 3.78 ft, rising 70% over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #03176500, refreshed throughout the day.

⚠ Flood Watch · Flood Watch issued July 12 at 11:51PM EDT until July 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA
Stale data This gauge hasn’t reported in days (last reading unknown). The readings below may not reflect current conditions.
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Streamflow
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Right now · latest observation
New River At Glen Lyn
USGS gauge #03176500
2,700 cfs streamflow
Latest reading from this gauge.
Gage height
3.78ft
Water temp
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% of median
Since yesterday
↑ 70%
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Conditions summary

New River At Glen Lyn at a glance

How New River At Glen Lyn is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.

New River At Glen Lyn is flowing at 2,700 cfs, with the water sitting 3.78 ft at the gage. Flow is up 70% since yesterday — a rising hydrograph.

This is USGS gauge #03176500 in Virginia. Over the past 10 days the average has been 1,481 cfs, peaking at 2,700 cfs.

Over the next 5 days, New River At Glen Lyn is expected to hold near today's 1590 cfs, toward roughly 1642 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 996-2709 cfs) -- running well below the seasonal normal.

For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Virginia flow report.

New River At Glen Lyn on the map Open map →
Site IDUSGS 03176500
Last updated2026-07-13
Gage height, ft3.78 ft
Streamflow, ft³/s2700.0 ft3/s
Max recorded109,000 cfs
Streamflow outlook

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.

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Historical context

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.

Detailed forecast

Weather Forecast

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

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Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
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Long-term outlook

15-day forecast

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.

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About this location

New River At Glen Lyn

The New River is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, including kayaking and fishing. The Glen Lyn Dam, located upstream of the streamgauge, is the first dam on the New River and has a hydroelectric power plant. Seasonal trends in the flow of the New River are influenced by precipitation and snowmelt. In the summer, the flow tends to be lower and more predictable, while in the winter and spring the flow can be highly variable and prone to flooding. There are no known quirky or interesting facts about the hydrology of the New River at Glen Lyn.

Regional streamflow

Nearby streamflow levels

Cross-check New River At Glen Lyn's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.

Regional snowpack

Nearby snowpack data

Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near New River At Glen Lyn. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.

SNOTEL stationSnowpack
Greenville 1 Se 0 in
Bluestone Lake 0 in
Bluefield 0 in
Alderson 0 in
Blacksburg Nwso 0 in
Christiansburg 0 in
Nearby recreation

Plan a trip

Reservoirs, boat launches, river runs, and fishing spots within driving distance of New River At Glen Lyn.

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 New River At Glen Lyn in the Snoflo app

Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when New River At Glen Lyn crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.

FAQ

About New River At Glen Lyn

Where does the streamflow data for New River At Glen Lyn come from?

Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 03176500. 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 New River At Glen Lyn 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.