2026-03-05T18:00:00-07:00
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect Thursday afternoon. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 241, 245, 246 and 247. * TIMING...Thursday afternoon. * WINDS...South 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Cumberland River
was last observed at
23,229
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
46,074
acre-ft of water today; about 34%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
67,893 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2021-03-29 when daily discharge volume was observed at
205,510 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Cumberland River At Nashville
reporting a streamflow rate of 14,600 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Cumberland River, with a gauge stage of
18.5 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Cumberland River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,170 ft, the
Cumberland River Near Harlan.
15-Day Weather Outlook
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-03-03 |
| Discharge Volume | 46,074 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
23,229.0 cfs
+3427.0 cfs (+17.31%) |
| Percent of Normal | 34.21% |
| Maximum |
205,510.0 cfs
2021-03-29 |
| Seasonal Avg | 67,893 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cumberland River Near Harlan
USGS 03401000 |
859 cfs | 3.4 ft | -7.83 | |||||
|
Cumberland River At Williamsburg
USGS 03404000 |
3460 cfs | 7.19 ft | -21 | |||||
|
Cumberland River At Cumberland Falls
USGS 03404500 |
4310 cfs | 3.8 ft | -21.78 | |||||
|
Cumberland River At Nashville
USGS 03431500 |
14600 cfs | 18.5 ft | 62.58 | |||||
|
Cumberland River At Woodland St At Nashville
USGS 034315005 |
7180 cfs | 17.69 ft |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Cumberland River is a major waterway of the Southern United States. The 688-mile-long (1,107 km) river drains almost 18,000 square miles (47,000 km2) of southern Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. The river flows generally west from a source in the Appalachian Mountains to its confluence with the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky, and the mouth of the Tennessee River. Major tributaries include the Obey, Caney Fork, Stones, and Red rivers.
Although the Cumberland River basin is predominantly rural, there are also some large cities on the river, including Nashville and Clarksville, both in Tennessee. In addition, the river system has been extensively developed for flood control, with major dams impounding both the main stem and many of its important tributaries.