Roanoke River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM, the Roanoke River is flowing at 1,870 cfs at Roanoke Rapids, NC — 81% of normal for the date. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 126 to 1,870 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Roanoke River map
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Roanoke 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 Roanoke Rapids, the Roanoke River is running 1,870 cfs — 81% of normal. Along the river, 4 of 6 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 143% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Lafayette (+483%) and Glenvar (+371%).
Highest against normal: Lafayette at 283%. Lowest: Altavista at 64%.
How the Roanoke 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
- Lafayette1,185 ft 162 cfs283%
- Glenvar1,100 ft 186 cfs274%
- Roanoke936 ft 126 cfs143%
- Niagara853 ft 274 cfs143%
- Altavista527 ft 442 cfs64%
- Roanoke Rapids49 ft 1,870 cfs81%
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 Roanoke River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (143%).
Roanoke River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Roanoke River At Lafayette VA
Oct 4, 3:35 AM · USGS 02054500 |
162 cfs | 283% | +483% | 2.06 ft | 5.9 ft below | 1,185 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Glenvar VA
Oct 4, 3:15 AM · USGS 02054530 |
186 cfs | 274% | +371% | 2.80 ft | 6.2 ft below | 1,100 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Roanoke VA
Oct 4, 3:35 AM · USGS 02055000 |
126 cfs | 143% | +19% | 1.04 ft | 9.0 ft below | 936 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Niagara VA
Oct 4, 2:45 AM · USGS 02056000 |
274 cfs | 143% | +35% | 2.36 ft | 10.6 ft below | 853 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Altavista VA
Oct 4, 3:00 AM · USGS 02060500 |
442 cfs | 64% | +4% | 1.61 ft | 16.4 ft below | 527 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids NC
Oct 2, 8:00 AM · USGS 02080500 |
1,870 cfs | 81% | -1% | 2.86 ft | 6.1 ft below | 49 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 Roanoke River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Roanoke River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Roanoke River
The Roanoke River is a 410-mile-long river that flows through Virginia and North Carolina. It has a rich history, having been home to various Native American tribes and explored by European settlers in the 16th century. The river’s hydrology is affected by precipitation and dam releases, with major reservoirs including the John H. Kerr Reservoir and the Roanoke Rapids Lake. These dams have been constructed for hydroelectric power, flood control, and recreation purposes. The river is also important for agriculture, providing irrigation for crops such as tobacco and cotton. Recreational activities like fishing, boating, and kayaking are popular on the river. The Roanoke River is a vital resource for both human use and wildlife conservation, and efforts have been made to maintain its ecological integrity.
Fishing near the Roanoke River
About the Roanoke River
How is the Roanoke River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Roanoke River is flowing at 1,870 cfs at Roanoke Rapids, NC, about 81% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 126 to 1,870 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Roanoke River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Roanoke River is at 143% 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 Roanoke River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Lafayette (8.0 ft), Glenvar (9.0 ft), Roanoke (10.0 ft), Niagara (13.0 ft), Altavista (18.0 ft), Roanoke Rapids (9.0 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.