Clinch River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 3:15 AM, the Clinch River is flowing at 492 cfs above Tazewell, TN — 122% of normal for the date and down 11% in 24 hours. 3 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 180 to 492 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Clinch River map
See the Clinch 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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Clinch 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 Tazewell, the Clinch River is running 492 cfs — 122% of normal, down 11% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 3 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 122% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Speers Ferry (-11%) and Tazewell (-11%).
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Clinch River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Clinch 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
- Cleveland1,510 ft 180 cfs122%
- Speers Ferry1,206 ft 327 cfs113%
- Tazewell1,083 ft 492 cfs122%
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 Clinch River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (122%).
Clinch River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Clinch River At Cleveland VA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 03524000 |
180 cfs | 122% | -8% | 1.77 ft | 12.2 ft below | 1,510 ft |
|
Clinch River At Speers Ferry VA
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 03527000 |
327 cfs | 113% | -11% | 3.06 ft | 14.9 ft below | 1,206 ft |
|
Clinch River Near Looneys Gap TN
Last reported Apr 11 · USGS 03527220 |
1,750 cfs | · | · | 3.65 ft | · | 1,188 ft |
|
Clinch River Above Tazewell TN
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 03528000 |
492 cfs | 122% | -11% | 1.27 ft | · | 1,083 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 Clinch 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek Gauge: Cleveland |
Too low | 180 cfs | 300–1,100 cfs | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Clinch River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Clinch River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Clinch River
The Clinch River is a 300-mile-long river that flows through Virginia and Tennessee. It has played an important role in the history of the region, being used for transportation and industry. The river is fed by numerous tributaries and its hydrology is influenced by several large dams and reservoirs, including Norris Dam and Melton Hill Dam. These dams provide hydroelectric power and flood control, and also create recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The Clinch River is home to a variety of fish species, including the endangered snail darter. The river is also used for irrigation and agricultural purposes, particularly in the lower reaches of the river in Tennessee. Despite its importance to the region, the Clinch River has faced challenges in recent years due to pollution and habitat degradation.
Fishing near the Clinch River
About the Clinch River
How is the Clinch River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Clinch River is flowing at 492 cfs above Tazewell, TN, about 122% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 180 to 492 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Clinch River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Clinch River is at 122% 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 Clinch River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Cleveland (14.0 ft), Speers Ferry (18.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Clinch 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.