Clarion River Flow Today
As of November 14, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Clarion River is flowing at 497 cfs at Cooksburg, PA — 59% of normal for the date and up 49% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 63 to 497 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Clarion River map
See the Clarion 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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Clarion 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 Cooksburg, the Clarion River is running 497 cfs — 59% of normal, up 49% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 53% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Cooksburg (+49%) and Piney (+14%); dropping at Ridgway (-38%) and Johnsonburg (-38%).
Highest against normal: Piney at 123%. Lowest: Ridgway at 46%.
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Clarion River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Clarion 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
- Johnsonburg1,426 ft 93 cfs47%
- Ridgway1,361 ft 146 cfs46%
- Cooksburg1,153 ft 497 cfs59%
- Piney1,005 ft 63 cfs123%
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 Clarion River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (53%).
Clarion River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Clarion River At Johnsonburg PA
Nov 14, 2:45 AM · USGS 03028500 |
93 cfs | 47% | -38% | 1.56 ft | 5.4 ft below | 1,426 ft |
|
Clarion River At Ridgway PA
Nov 14, 2:45 AM · USGS 03029000 |
146 cfs | 46% | -38% | 3.13 ft | 12.9 ft below | 1,361 ft |
|
Clarion River At Cooksburg PA
Nov 14, 2:00 AM · USGS 03029500 |
497 cfs | 59% | +49% | 2.66 ft | 10.3 ft below | 1,153 ft |
|
Clarion River Near Piney PA
Nov 14, 3:00 AM · USGS 03030500 |
63 cfs | 123% | +14% | 1.67 ft | · | 1,005 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 Clarion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howe Bridge (Tr 342), Clarion County To Confluence With Piney Reservoir Gauge: Piney |
Too low | 63 cfs | 108–2,258 cfs typical | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Clarion River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Clarion River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Clarion River
The Clarion River is a 110-mile-long river located in western Pennsylvania, United States. The river has a rich history, as it was used for transportation by Native Americans and later settlers. The first oil well in the United States was drilled along the river's banks in 1859. The river is fed by numerous tributaries and has a drainage area of 1,110 square miles. Several reservoirs and dams are located on the river, including Piney Dam, East Branch Dam, and Clarion River Lake. These structures provide flood control, water supply, and recreation opportunities such as boating, fishing, and camping. The river also serves as a source of drinking water for several municipalities and supports agricultural activities such as crop irrigation and livestock watering.
Fishing near the Clarion River
About the Clarion River
How is the Clarion River flowing right now?
As of November 14, 2026, the Clarion River is flowing at 497 cfs at Cooksburg, PA, about 59% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 63 to 497 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Clarion River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Clarion River is at 53% 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 Clarion River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Johnsonburg (7.0 ft), Ridgway (16.0 ft), Cooksburg (13.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Clarion 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.