Little Kanawha River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 3:00 AM, the Little Kanawha River is flowing at 1,600 cfs at Palestine, WV and down 23% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Little Kanawha River map
See the Little Kanawha 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
Little Kanawha 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 Palestine, the Little Kanawha River is running 1,600 cfs, down 23% since yesterday.
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Palestine (-23%).
How the Little Kanawha 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
- Palestine605 ft 1,600 cfs
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.
Little Kanawha River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Kanawha River At Palestine WV
Oct 2, 3:00 AM · USGS 03155000 |
1,600 cfs | · | -23% | 15.77 ft | 20.2 ft below | 605 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 Little Kanawha River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Little Kanawha 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).
Little Kanawha River
The Little Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, flowing 169 miles through West Virginia. Historically, the river was used to transport timber and coal, and played a significant role in the state’s economic growth. The river’s hydrology includes seasonal fluctuations in water level due to rainfall and snowmelt. There are several reservoirs and dams along the river, including the Burnsville Dam and the Sutton Dam, which are used for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. The river is also used for agricultural irrigation and recreation, including fishing and boating. The Little Kanawha River offers a diverse range of activities for both locals and tourists, and remains an important part of West Virginia’s cultural and economic heritage.
Fishing near the Little Kanawha River
About the Little Kanawha River
How is the Little Kanawha River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Little Kanawha River is flowing at 1,600 cfs at Palestine, WV. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Little Kanawha River running high or low?
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 Little Kanawha River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Palestine (36.0 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.