Roanoke River River Levels

Last Updated: December 21, 2025

The Roanoke River is a 410-mile-long river that flows through Virginia and North Carolina.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Roanoke River was last observed at 3,676 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 7,292 acre-ft of water today; about 32% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 11,315 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2025-02-16 when daily discharge volume was observed at 99,000 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids reporting a streamflow rate of 2,580 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Roanoke River, with a gauge stage of 3.33 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Roanoke River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,185 ft, the Roanoke River At Lafayette.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-21
Discharge Volume 7,292 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 3,676.4 cfs
-62.6 cfs (-1.67%)
Percent of Normal 32.49%
Maximum 99,000.0 cfs
2025-02-16
Seasonal Avg 11,315 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Roanoke River At Lafayette
USGS 02054500
88 cfs 1.8 ft -18.15
Roanoke River At Glenvar
USGS 02054530
85 cfs 2.32 ft -35.53
Roanoke River At Roanoke
USGS 02055000
101 cfs 1.01 ft 11.23
Roanoke River At Niagara
USGS 02056000
214 cfs 2.1 ft 6.47
Roanoke River At Altavista
USGS 02060500
693 cfs 1.94 ft -3.48
Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids
USGS 02080500
2580 cfs 3.33 ft 0
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Roanoke River () is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 miles (660 km) long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont to Albemarle Sound. An important river throughout the history of the United States, it was the site of early settlement in the Virginia Colony and the Carolina Colony. An 81-mile (130 km) section of its lower course in Virginia between the Leesville Lake and Kerr Lake is known as the Staunton River, pronounced , as is the Shenandoah Valley city of that name. It is impounded along much of its middle course to form a chain of reservoirs.