The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 214, 216, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250 and 251. * TIMING...From Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
Total streamflow across the
Rapidan River
was last observed at
226
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
447
acre-ft of water today; about 25%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
885 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2018-06-23 when daily discharge volume was observed at
33,970 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Rapidan River Near Culpeper
reporting a streamflow rate of 171 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Rapidan River Near Ruckersville
with a gauge stage of 1.8 ft.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Rapidan River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 462 ft, the
Rapidan River Near Ruckersville.
The Rapidan River is a 88.3-mile-long river located in central Virginia, flowing through the Blue Ridge Mountains and into the Rappahannock River.
| Last Updated | 2026-04-20 |
| Discharge Volume | 447 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
225.5 cfs
Past 24 Hours: +11.6 cfs (+5.42%) |
| Percent of Normal | 25.48% |
| Maximum |
33,970.0 cfs
2018-06-23 |
| Seasonal Avg | 885 cfs |
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rapidan River Near Ruckersville
USGS 01665500 |
55 cfs | 1.8 ft | 16.2 | |||||
|
Rapidan River Near Culpeper
USGS 01667500 |
171 cfs | 0.81 ft | 2.4 |
The Rapidan River, flowing 88 miles (142 km) through north-central Virginia in the United States, is the largest tributary of the Rappahannock River. The two rivers converge just west of the city of Fredericksburg. The Rapidan River begins west of Doubletop Mountain in Shenandoah National Park where the Mill Prong meets the Laurel Prong at Rapidan Camp, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Big Meadows.
Sections of the lower Rapidan River are preserved by a conservation easement.The Rapidan River was the scene of severe fighting in the American Civil War, and historic sites such as Ely's Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Kelly's Ford, and the Battle of the Wilderness are nearby.
The name is a combination of the word "rapids" with the name of Queen Anne of England. Originally, it was known as the Rapid Ann River.
The Rapidan River ranks #38 in Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams. In 2000, the upper Rapidan River was nominated for EPA designation as a Tier III Exceptional Waterway. In 2001, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality rejected the application, citing uncertainty about the impact of the designation.