Charles River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 3:30 AM, the Charles River is flowing at 134 cfs at Waltham, MA — 86% of normal for the date and down 9% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 34 to 134 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Charles River map
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Charles 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 Waltham, the Charles River is running 134 cfs — 86% of normal, down 9% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 86% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Medway (-16%) and Dover (-13%).
Highest against normal: Wellesley at 108%. Lowest: Medway at 67%.
How the Charles 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
- Medway129 ft 34 cfs67%
- Dover93 ft 131 cfs86%
- Wellesley67 ft 128 cfs108%
- Waltham16 ft 134 cfs86%
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 Charles River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (86%).
Charles River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Charles River At Medway MA
Oct 22, 3:45 AM · USGS 01103280 |
34 cfs | 67% | -16% | 1.04 ft | 4.0 ft below | 129 ft |
|
Charles River At Dover MA
Oct 22, 3:45 AM · USGS 01103500 |
131 cfs | 86% | -13% | 1.06 ft | 3.9 ft below | 93 ft |
|
Charles River At Wellesley MA
Oct 22, 3:35 AM · USGS 01104200 |
128 cfs | 108% | -7% | 3.13 ft | · | 67 ft |
|
Charles River At Waltham MA
Oct 22, 3:30 AM · USGS 01104500 |
134 cfs | 86% | -9% | 1.38 ft | 3.6 ft below | 16 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.
Dams & reservoirs on the Charles River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Charles River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Charles River
The Charles River is a 80-mile long river in Massachusetts that runs from Hopkinton to Boston and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It has played an important role in the history of Massachusetts, serving as a source of water for early settlers and as a key transportation route for trade. Today, it is also used for recreation, with parks and walking trails lining its banks. The river is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which operates several dams and reservoirs along the river, including the Wachusett Reservoir and the Quabbin Reservoir. These reservoirs provide drinking water for Boston and surrounding communities. The river also supports agricultural activities such as cranberry farming, and is home to a variety of fish and wildlife species.
About the Charles River
How is the Charles River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the Charles River is flowing at 134 cfs at Waltham, MA, about 86% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 34 to 134 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Charles River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Charles River is at 86% 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 Charles River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Medway (5.0 ft), Dover (5.0 ft), Waltham (5.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
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.