Cumberland River river
Total streamflow across the Cumberland River was last observed at 11,428 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 22,667 acre-ft of water today; about 53% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 21,506 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 8,030 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Cumberland River, with a gauge stage of 17.87 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.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Cumberland River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Cumberland River
All 5 USGS gauges Snoflo tracks for this river, with current flow, stage, recent change, percent of normal, and the gauge's all-time min / max. Click any header to sort. Cells are heatmapped relative to the column min/max -- darker blue = higher.
| Streamgauge▾ | Streamflow (cfs)▾ | Gauge stage (ft)▾ | 24h Δ (%)▾ | % Normal▾ | Min (cfs)▾ | Max (cfs)▾ | Elevation (ft)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cumberland River Near Harlan
KY
USGS 03401000
|
258 | 2.33 | -33.2 | 53% | 34 | 24,100 | 1,170 |
|
Cumberland River At Williamsburg
KY
USGS 03404000
|
2,020 | 5.59 | 169.0 | 169% | 109 | 44,700 | 915 |
|
Cumberland River At Cumberland Falls
KY
USGS 03404500
|
1,120 | 2.25 | 27.7 | 86% | 105 | 42,000 | 835 |
|
Cumberland River At Nashville
TN
USGS 03431500
|
8,030 | 17.87 | 37.7 | 69% | 210 | 123,000 | 386 |
|
Cumberland River At Woodland St At Nashville
TN
USGS 034315005
|
7,180 | 17.69 | · | · | · | · | 385 |
Maximum streamflow discharge by year
The single highest aggregate discharge recorded each year. Spotting the multi-year trend reveals droughts vs. wet cycles long before the headline daily flow does.
Annual peak discharge
From the river's full record · one point per water year
Streamflow elevation profile
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by current streamflow (x-axis) vs elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-to-bottom traces the river from headwaters down to its mouth -- you can see flow accumulate as elevation drops.
Elevation vs streamflow
One point per monitored gauge · bubble size = gauge stage
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a major tributary of the Ohio River, with a length of 688 miles. It flows through Kentucky and Tennessee, and its history dates back to the early Native American settlements. The river's hydrology has been affected by numerous dams and reservoirs, including the Wolf Creek and Center Hill Dams. These structures provide flood control, hydroelectric power, and water supply for agriculture and industry. The Cumberland River is also a popular recreational destination, with opportunities for fishing, boating, and camping. Additionally, it supports agricultural activities such as crop irrigation and livestock grazing. The river has played a significant role in the economic and cultural development of the region, serving as a transportation route for goods and people throughout history.
Recreation along the Cumberland River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Cumberland River in the Snoflo app
Set per-gauge push alerts (e.g. "alert me when flow at the Russian R Nr Healdsburg crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app pushes the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About the Cumberland River
Where does the data for the Cumberland River come from?
Streamflow and gauge stage data are sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System. The aggregate flow shown at the top of the page is computed by Snoflo as the sum of all monitored gauges along the river.
How is "percent of normal" calculated?
Today's aggregate streamflow is compared to the historical average aggregate streamflow on this calendar day across the river's full record. 100% means right on average; values above 100% indicate above-normal flow (wet year); values below indicate below-normal (dry year or drought).
Why are some gauges showing very different flows?
Gauges along a river measure flow at different points: headwater gauges read what's coming off the snowpack or mountain runoff; downstream gauges integrate everything upstream, including tributary inputs. Wide spreads usually mean a tributary is contributing significantly between gauges.
What's the elevation profile chart showing?
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by streamflow (x-axis) and elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-down traces the river from headwaters to mouth -- you can see flow build as elevation drops.
Can I get alerts when a specific gauge crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app on a per-gauge basis. Open any individual streamgauge from the table above and favorite it to set a discharge threshold.