Ohio River Flow Today
As of October 18, 2026 at 12:00 AM, the Ohio River is flowing at 107,000 cfs at Cannelton, KY — 396% of normal for the date and up 6% in 24 hours. 6 of 7 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 9,320 to 107,000 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Ohio River map
See the Ohio 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
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Ohio 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 Cannelton, the Ohio River is running 107,000 cfs — 396% of normal, up 6% since yesterday. Along the river, 5 of 6 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 406% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Ironton (+13%) and Greenup Dam Near Greenup (+12%).
Highest against normal: Greenup Dam Near Greenup at 457%. Lowest: Sardis at 82%.
How the Ohio 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
- Sewickley690 ft 35,100 cfs308%
- Sardis605 ft 9,320 cfs82%
- Ironton547 ft 81,800 cfs418%
- Greenup Dam Near Greenup513 ft 85,400 cfs457%
- Markland Dam Near Warsaw454 ft 95,400 cfs417%
- Cannelton391 ft 107,000 cfs396%
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 Ohio River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (406%).
Ohio River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ohio River At Sewickley PA
Oct 18, 3:15 AM · USGS 03086000 |
35,100 cfs | 308% | -2% | 15.59 ft | 9.4 ft below | 690 ft |
|
Ohio River Above Sardis OH
Oct 18, 3:45 AM · USGS 03114306 |
9,320 cfs | 82% | -8% | 13.86 ft | · | 605 ft |
|
Ohio River At Ironton OH
Oct 18, 4:00 AM · USGS 03216070 |
81,800 cfs | 418% | +13% | 34.54 ft | 17.5 ft below | 547 ft |
|
Ohio River At Greenup Dam Near Greenup KY
Oct 18, 2:00 AM · USGS 03216600 |
85,400 cfs | 457% | +12% | 20.94 ft | 33.1 ft below | 513 ft |
|
Ohio River At Markland Dam Near Warsaw KY
Oct 18, 1:00 AM · USGS 03277200 |
95,400 cfs | 417% | -1% | 19.38 ft | 31.6 ft below | 454 ft |
|
Ohio River At Cannelton Dam At Cannelton KY
Oct 18, 12:00 AM · USGS 03303280 |
107,000 cfs | 396% | +6% | 15.12 ft | 26.9 ft below | 391 ft |
|
Ohio River At Old Shawneetown KY
Last reported Aug 2 · USGS 03381700 |
73,500 cfs | · | · | 17.32 ft | flood 33.0 ft | 334 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 Ohio River
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il Gauge: Old Shawneetown |
No live range | · | 169,667–495,144 cfs typical | · |
Dams & reservoirs on the Ohio River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Ohio River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Ohio River
The Ohio River is a 981-mile-long river that flows through six U.S. states. It was a significant pathway for westward expansion and played a vital role in the development of the Midwest. The river's hydrology is influenced by precipitation and snowmelt, and it is now heavily managed with a series of locks and dams to aid in navigation and control flooding. The two largest reservoirs on the river are the 50-mile-long Kinzua Dam and the 104-mile-long Barkley Dam. The river provides a source of drinking water for millions of people and supports agricultural activities such as crop irrigation. Recreation opportunities include fishing, boating, and camping along the river's banks. The Ohio River remains an important economic and cultural resource for the region.
Fishing near the Ohio River
About the Ohio River
How is the Ohio River flowing right now?
As of October 18, 2026, the Ohio River is flowing at 107,000 cfs at Cannelton, KY, about 396% of normal for the date. Across its 7 USGS gauges, current flows range from 9,320 to 107,000 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Ohio River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Ohio River is at 406% 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 Ohio River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Sewickley (25.0 ft), Ironton (52.0 ft), Greenup Dam Near Greenup (54.0 ft), Markland Dam Near Warsaw (51.0 ft), Cannelton (42.0 ft), Old Shawneetown (33.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Ohio River runnable for paddling today?
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.