Buffalo River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 2:30 AM, the Buffalo River is flowing at 269 cfs below Lobelville, TN — 70% of normal for the date and down 1% in 24 hours. 8 of 8 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 5.5 to 269 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Buffalo River map
See the Buffalo River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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Buffalo River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Lobelville, the Buffalo River is running 269 cfs — 70% of normal, down 1% since yesterday. Along the river, 7 of 8 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 65% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Harriet (+102%) and Boxley (+46%); dropping at Dilworth (-19%) and Hawley (-17%).
Highest against normal: Boxley at 283%. Lowest: Dilworth at 50%.
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Buffalo River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Buffalo River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Boxley1,131 ft 5.5 cfs283%
- Hawley1,121 ft 20 cfs60%
- Dilworth892 ft 41 cfs50%
- St. Joe565 ft 45 cfs74%
- Flat Woods527 ft 123 cfs51%
- Harriet477 ft 75 cfs70%
- Lobelville435 ft 269 cfs70%
- Woodville103 ft 23 cfs59%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Buffalo River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (65%).
Buffalo River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Buffalo River Near Boxley AR
Oct 2, 4:30 AM · USGS 07055646 |
5.5 cfs | 283% | +46% | 1.36 ft | · | 1,131 ft |
|
Buffalo River Near Hawley MN
Oct 2, 4:45 AM · USGS 05061000 |
20 cfs | 60% | -17% | 3.28 ft | 4.7 ft below | 1,121 ft |
|
Buffalo River Near Dilworth MN
Oct 2, 5:00 AM · USGS 05062000 |
41 cfs | 50% | -19% | 3.17 ft | 9.8 ft below | 892 ft |
|
Buffalo River Near St. Joe AR
Oct 2, 4:45 AM · USGS 07056000 |
45 cfs | 74% | +26% | 2.74 ft | 24.3 ft below | 565 ft |
|
Buffalo River Near Flat Woods TN
Oct 2, 2:00 AM · USGS 03604000 |
123 cfs | 51% | -2% | 1.97 ft | 20.0 ft below | 527 ft |
|
Buffalo River Near Harriet AR
Oct 2, 4:45 AM · USGS 07056700 |
75 cfs | 70% | +102% | 3.29 ft | · | 477 ft |
|
Buffalo River Below Lobelville TN
Oct 2, 2:30 AM · USGS 03604400 |
269 cfs | 70% | -1% | 2.77 ft | · | 435 ft |
|
Buffalo River Near Woodville MS
Oct 2, 4:15 AM · USGS 07295000 |
23 cfs | 59% | +5% | 3.82 ft | 16.2 ft below | 103 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Buffalo River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Bridge On County Road 6174 To Confluence With Duck River Gauge: Flat Woods |
Too low | 123 cfs | 179–2,005 cfs typical | III |
Buffalo River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Buffalo River
The Buffalo River is a 153-mile-long waterway located in northern Arkansas. It was designated as America's first national river in 1972. The river was once used as a major transportation route for timber and agricultural products in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The hydrology of the river is fed by many springs and tributaries, and it eventually flows into the White River. There are two reservoirs located along the Buffalo River: the Buffalo National River Reservoir and the Bull Shoals Lake Reservoir. The Buffalo National River Reservoir was created by the construction of the Buffalo Point Dam and serves as a popular recreational area for activities such as kayaking, fishing, and camping. The Bull Shoals Lake Reservoir is a much larger reservoir and is primarily used for flood control and electricity generation. The Buffalo River also supports a variety of agriculture, including cattle farming and timber harvesting.
Fishing near the Buffalo River
About the Buffalo River
How is the Buffalo River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Buffalo River is flowing at 269 cfs below Lobelville, TN, about 70% of normal for the date. Across its 8 USGS gauges, current flows range from 5.5 to 269 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Buffalo River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Buffalo River is at 65% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Buffalo River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Hawley (8.0 ft), Dilworth (13.0 ft), St. Joe (27.0 ft), Flat Woods (22.0 ft), Woodville (20.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Buffalo River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
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. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.