Watauga River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 3:00 AM, the Watauga River is flowing at 363 cfs at Elizabethton, TN — 82% of normal for the date and down 3% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 85 to 363 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Watauga River map
See the Watauga River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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Watauga 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 Elizabethton, the Watauga River is running 363 cfs — 82% of normal, down 3% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 2 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 97% of normal).
Paddlers: 1 of 2 runs on the Watauga River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Watauga 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
- Sugar Grove2,613 ft 85 cfs111%
- Elizabethton1,489 ft 363 cfs82%
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 Watauga River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (97%).
Watauga River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Watauga River Near Sugar Grove NC
Oct 22, 3:15 AM · USGS 03479000 |
85 cfs | 111% | -5% | 1.70 ft | 2,613 ft |
|
Watauga River At Elizabethton TN
Oct 22, 3:00 AM · USGS 03486000 |
363 cfs | 82% | -3% | 2.96 ft | 1,489 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.
Paddle runs on the Watauga River
1 of 2 runs is in range right now. Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga Reservoir To Tn/Nc State Line Gauge: Sugar Grove |
In range | 85 cfs | 61–337 cfs typical | · |
| Headwaters To Tn/Va State Line Gauge: Elizabethton |
Too low | 363 cfs | 480–1,919 cfs typical | · |
Dams & reservoirs on the Watauga River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Watauga River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Watauga River
The Watauga River is a tributary of the Tennessee River that runs for approximately 78 miles through North Carolina and Tennessee. The river was historically used by Native American tribes as a source of food and transportation. Today, it is a popular spot for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and rafting. The river's hydrology is affected by several reservoirs and dams, including the Watauga Dam, which was constructed in the early 1940s for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. The reservoir behind the dam, known as Watauga Lake, is a popular spot for boating and fishing. The river is also used for irrigation in agricultural areas along its banks.
Fishing near the Watauga River
About the Watauga River
How is the Watauga River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the Watauga River is flowing at 363 cfs at Elizabethton, TN, about 82% of normal for the date. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 85 to 363 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Watauga River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Watauga River is at 97% 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.
Is the Watauga River runnable for paddling today?
1 of 2 paddle runs is in range right now. Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
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.