South River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 2:15 AM, the South River is flowing at 5,270 cfs near Ackworth, IA and down 73% in 24 hours. 8 of 8 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 7.8 to 5,270 cfs. ❤ Favorite
South River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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South 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 Ackworth, the South River is running 5,270 cfs, down 73% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 7 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 73% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Ackworth (-73%) and Forest Park Road (-17%).
Highest against normal: Conway at 178%. Lowest: Waynesboro at 51%.
How the South 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
- Waynesboro1,327 ft 19 cfs51%
- Dooms1,271 ft 38 cfs58%
- Harriston1,159 ft 40 cfs51%
- Ackworth805 ft 5,270 cfs
- Forest Park Road799 ft 7.8 cfs84%
- Flakes Mill Road Near Atlanta719 ft 24 cfs76%
- Klondike Road666 ft 73 cfs73%
- Conway456 ft 21 cfs178%
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 South River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (73%).
South River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South River Near Waynesboro VA
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 01626000 |
19 cfs | 51% | 0% | 2.29 ft | 7.2 ft below | 1,327 ft |
|
South River Near Dooms VA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 01626850 |
38 cfs | 58% | 0% | 1.91 ft | 9.1 ft below | 1,271 ft |
|
South River At Harriston VA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 01627500 |
40 cfs | 51% | 0% | 2.02 ft | 7.5 ft below | 1,159 ft |
|
South River Near Ackworth IA
Oct 2, 2:15 AM · USGS 05487470 |
5,270 cfs | · | -73% | 15.47 ft | 13.5 ft below | 805 ft |
|
South River At Forest Park Road GA
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 02203655 |
7.8 cfs | 84% | -17% | 2.79 ft | 12.2 ft below | 799 ft |
|
South River At Flakes Mill Road Near Atlanta GA
Oct 2, 3:00 AM · USGS 02203900 |
24 cfs | 76% | +5% | 1.90 ft | 11.1 ft below | 719 ft |
|
South River At Klondike Road GA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 02204070 |
73 cfs | 73% | -3% | 4.91 ft | 7.1 ft below | 666 ft |
|
South River Near Conway MA
Oct 2, 4:00 AM · USGS 01169900 |
21 cfs | 178% | -14% | 1.70 ft | · | 456 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 South River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
South River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
South River
The South River is a 58-mile-long tributary of the North River in Virginia. Historically, the river was used for transportation and industry, with mills and factories built along its banks. Today, the river is primarily used for recreational purposes, such as fishing and kayaking. The South River is also important for agriculture, with surrounding farms using its water for irrigation. The river is regulated by several dams, including the Waynesboro Reservoir and the South River Dam. The Waynesboro Reservoir provides drinking water for the city of Waynesboro, while the South River Dam serves as a flood control structure. The South River is a valuable resource for both the environment and the community, with efforts being made to protect and restore its water quality.
About the South River
How is the South River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the South River is flowing at 5,270 cfs near Ackworth, IA. Across its 8 USGS gauges, current flows range from 7.8 to 5,270 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the South River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the South 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 South River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Waynesboro (9.5 ft), Dooms (11.0 ft), Harriston (9.5 ft), Ackworth (29.0 ft), Forest Park Road (15.0 ft), Flakes Mill Road Near Atlanta (13.0 ft), Klondike Road (12.0 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.