Kentucky River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 3:30 AM, the Kentucky River is flowing at 947 cfs at Gest, KY — 174% of normal for the date and down 15% in 24 hours. 10 of 12 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 240 to 947 cfs. ❤ Favorite
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Kentucky 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 Gest, the Kentucky River is running 947 cfs — 174% of normal, down 15% since yesterday. Along the river, 5 of 10 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 102% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Lock 6 Near Salvisa (+39%) and Lock 5 Near Tyrone (+36%); dropping at Lock 11 Near College Hill (-42%) and Lock 10 Near Winchester (-31%).
Highest against normal: Gest at 174%. Lowest: Lock 10 Near Winchester at 44%.
How the Kentucky 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
- Heidelberg630 ft 274 cfs67%
- Lock 10 Near Winchester604 ft 240 cfs44%
- Lock 11 Near College Hill597 ft 240 cfs54%
- Valley View591 ft 274 cfs55%
- Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson586 ft 423 cfs87%
- Lock 6 Near Salvisa555 ft 912 cfs121%
- Lock 5 Near Tyrone504 ft 840 cfs129%
- Frankfort499 ft 719 cfs118%
- Gest473 ft 947 cfs174%
- Lockport463 ft 851 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 Kentucky River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (102%).
Kentucky River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg KY
Oct 2, 3:55 AM · USGS 03282000 |
274 cfs | 67% | -8% | 9.12 ft | 10.9 ft below | 630 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester KY
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03284000 |
240 cfs | 44% | -31% | 9.57 ft | 16.4 ft below | 604 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 11 Near College Hill KY
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 03282290 |
240 cfs | 54% | -42% | 10.70 ft | · | 597 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 12 Near Irvine KY
Last reported Apr 10 · USGS 03282120 |
0 cfs | · | · | 9.96 ft | flood 21.0 ft | 597 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View KY
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 03284230 |
274 cfs | 55% | -23% | 10.61 ft | · | 591 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson KY
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 03284500 |
423 cfs | 87% | -20% | 11.48 ft | 18.5 ft below | 586 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 6 Near Salvisa KY
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03287000 |
912 cfs | 121% | +39% | 10.24 ft | · | 555 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 7 At Highbridge KY
Last reported Aug 23 · USGS 03286500 |
3,630 cfs | · | · | 9.20 ft | flood 30.0 ft | 548 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone KY
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03287250 |
840 cfs | 129% | +36% | 9.42 ft | · | 504 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort KY
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03287500 |
719 cfs | 118% | +21% | 7.05 ft | 24.0 ft below | 499 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest KY
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03290080 |
947 cfs | 174% | -15% | 7.46 ft | · | 473 ft |
|
Kentucky River At Lock 2 At Lockport KY
Oct 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03290500 |
851 cfs | 122% | -23% | 8.61 ft | 24.4 ft below | 463 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.
Dams & reservoirs on the Kentucky River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Kentucky River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, covering a total length of 259 miles. It has a significant history in the state of Kentucky, as it was a vital transportation route for early settlers and served as a source of power for mills and factories in the 19th century. The river's hydrology includes multiple tributaries, with some of the major ones being the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. The river is impounded by several dams, including the Lock and Dam 11, which creates the reservoir known as the Kentucky River Lake. Other recreational areas around the river include the Kentucky River Palisades and the Clifty Wilderness Area. The Kentucky River is used for agricultural purposes, including irrigation and livestock watering.
Fishing near the Kentucky River
About the Kentucky River
How is the Kentucky River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Kentucky River is flowing at 947 cfs at Gest, KY, about 174% of normal for the date. Across its 12 USGS gauges, current flows range from 240 to 947 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Kentucky River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Kentucky River is at 102% 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 Kentucky River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Heidelberg (20.0 ft), Lock 10 Near Winchester (26.0 ft), Lock 12 Near Irvine (21.0 ft), Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson (30.0 ft), Highbridge (30.0 ft), Frankfort (31.0 ft), Lockport (33.0 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.