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River report

Little Kanawha River Flow Today

As of November 12, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Little Kanawha River is flowing at 478 cfs at Palestine, WV — 101% of normal for the date and down 12% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
1 1 reporting · upstream → down
Little Kanawha River At Palestine: 101% of normal
Typical gauge
101% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Biggest flow now
478cfs Palestine
Updated
Nov 12, 2:00 AM
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Little Kanawha River map

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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:

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River briefing · Nov 12, 2026

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 478 cfs — 101% of normal, down 12% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are near normal (the typical gauge is at 101% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Palestine (-12%).

Headwaters to mouth

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

  1. Palestine605 ft 478 cfs101%

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 Little Kanawha River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (101%).

Typical gauge 101%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal0Near normal1Above normal0Much above normal0

Little Kanawha River flow report

1 gauge
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Little Kanawha River At Palestine WV
Nov 12, 2:00 AM · USGS 03155000
478 cfs 101% -12% 14.61 ft 21.4 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.

Upstream storage

Dams & reservoirs on the Little Kanawha River

Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.

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).

About this river

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.

Around the river

Fishing near the Little Kanawha River

FAQ

About the Little Kanawha River

How is the Little Kanawha River flowing right now?

As of November 12, 2026, the Little Kanawha River is flowing at 478 cfs at Palestine, WV, about 101% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Little Kanawha River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Little Kanawha River is at 101% 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 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.

More river levels

Rivers in West Virginia

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