Coal River Flow Today
As of October 23, 2026 at 3:15 AM, the Coal River is flowing at 416 cfs at Tornado, WV — 178% of normal for the date and down 13% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Coal River map
See the Coal River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Coal 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 Tornado, the Coal River is running 416 cfs — 178% of normal, down 13% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 178% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Tornado (-13%).
How the Coal 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
- Tornado579 ft 416 cfs178%
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 Coal River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (178%).
Coal River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Coal River At Tornado WV
Oct 23, 3:15 AM · USGS 03200500 |
416 cfs | 178% | -13% | 10.08 ft | 14.9 ft below | 579 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.
Coal River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Coal River
The Coal River is a 48-mile-long river in southern West Virginia that flows through Kanawha and Boone counties. Historically, the river was used for transportation of coal and timber, which led to the development of communities along its banks. The river is now a popular destination for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and hiking. The river has also been the site of several dam projects, including the Big Coal River Dam, the Upper Big Coal River Dam, and the Brush Creek Dam. These dams have created reservoirs that provide water for industrial, agricultural, and domestic use. The river's hydrology is affected by the region's coal mining activities, which can cause stream degradation and water pollution. Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to improve the river's water quality and restore its ecosystems.
About the Coal River
How is the Coal River flowing right now?
As of October 23, 2026, the Coal River is flowing at 416 cfs at Tornado, WV, about 178% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Coal River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Coal River is at 178% 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 Coal River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Tornado (25.0 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.