Roanoke River Flow Today
As of October 24, 2026 at 3:30 AM, the Roanoke River is flowing at 1,500 cfs at Roanoke Rapids, NC — 67% of normal for the date and up 2% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 62 to 1,500 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Roanoke River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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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 1,500 cfs — 67% of normal, up 2% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 6 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 73% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Niagara (-10%).
Highest against normal: Glenvar at 85%. Lowest: Altavista at 54%.
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 62 cfs76%
- Glenvar1,100 ft 72 cfs85%
- Roanoke936 ft 92 cfs75%
- Niagara853 ft 169 cfs72%
- Altavista527 ft 419 cfs54%
- Roanoke Rapids49 ft 1,500 cfs67%
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 (73%).
Roanoke River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Roanoke River At Lafayette VA
Oct 24, 3:35 AM · USGS 02054500 |
62 cfs | 76% | -5% | 1.58 ft | 6.4 ft below | 1,185 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Glenvar VA
Oct 24, 3:15 AM · USGS 02054530 |
72 cfs | 85% | -5% | 2.19 ft | 6.8 ft below | 1,100 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Roanoke VA
Oct 24, 3:35 AM · USGS 02055000 |
92 cfs | 75% | -7% | 0.92 ft | 9.1 ft below | 936 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Niagara VA
Oct 24, 2:45 AM · USGS 02056000 |
169 cfs | 72% | -10% | 1.88 ft | 11.1 ft below | 853 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Altavista VA
Oct 24, 3:00 AM · USGS 02060500 |
419 cfs | 54% | +2% | 1.58 ft | 16.4 ft below | 527 ft |
|
Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids NC
Oct 24, 3:30 AM · USGS 02080500 |
1,500 cfs | 67% | +2% | 2.57 ft | 6.4 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 24, 2026, the Roanoke River is flowing at 1,500 cfs at Roanoke Rapids, NC, about 67% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 62 to 1,500 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 73% 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.