Linville River Flow Today
As of October 9, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Linville River is flowing at 52 cfs near Nebo, NC — 76% of normal for the date and down 15% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Linville River map
See the Linville 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
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Linville 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 Nebo, the Linville River is running 52 cfs — 76% of normal, down 15% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 76% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Nebo (-15%).
Paddlers: 2 of 2 runs on the Linville River with a live range are in range.
How the Linville 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
- Nebo1,206 ft 52 cfs76%
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 Linville River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (76%).
Linville River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Linville River Near Nebo NC
Oct 9, 2:45 AM · USGS 02138500 |
52 cfs | 76% | -15% | 2.06 ft | 9.9 ft below | 1,206 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 Linville River
2 of 4 runs are in range right now. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness Gauge: Nebo |
In range | 52 cfs | 26–417 cfs typical | IV–V |
| Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James Gauge: Nebo |
In range | 52 cfs | 26–417 cfs typical | II–III |
| Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary To Linville Gorge Boundary Gauge: Nebo |
No live range | 52 cfs | 10–147 cfs typical | IV–III+ |
| Headwaters Above Linville Gap To Blue Ridge Parkway Boundary Gauge: Nebo |
No live range | 52 cfs | 10–147 cfs typical | IV–V |
Dams & reservoirs on the Linville River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Linville 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).
Linville River
The Linville River is a 17.6-mile-long river that flows through western North Carolina. The river has a rich history, with Native Americans using it for fishing and transportation long before European settlers arrived. The river's hydrology is characterized by a steep gradient, with numerous waterfalls dotting the course. Two notable reservoirs on the Linville River are the Linville Falls Reservoir and the Lake James Reservoir. The Linville Falls Reservoir is a small impoundment created by the construction of a dam in 1912, while the Lake James Reservoir is a larger lake formed by the construction of a dam in 1916. Recreational activities along the river include fishing, hiking, and camping, while agricultural uses include irrigation of crops and water for livestock.
Fishing near the Linville River
About the Linville River
How is the Linville River flowing right now?
As of October 9, 2026, the Linville River is flowing at 52 cfs near Nebo, NC, about 76% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Linville River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Linville River is at 76% 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 Linville River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Nebo (12.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Linville River runnable for paddling today?
2 of 4 paddle runs are in range right now. 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.