Buffalo National River at St. Joe
Arkansas · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 07056000 — Buffalo River near St. Joe, AR · NWS forecast point SJOA4
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 90 CFS, this gauge is running 94% of normal for late July — close to the 96 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1940–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at St. Joe
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge SJOA4, issued by WFO LZK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 50.0 ft
- 50.0 ft Water is near U.S. 65 Highway Bridge lower steel. Recreational facilities in the lower lying areas along the river in the vicinity of Gilbert will flood. Buffalo river crested at 49.4 feet March 19 2008. There has been three crest over 49 feet since 1915, December 1982 crest of 53.8 feet, August 1915 crest of 50.5 feet and the March 2008 crest of 49.4 feet.
- 53.8 ft The crest of record is 53.8 feet which occurred December 3rd 1982. Incredible flooding experienced with the bridges or approach roads to the bridges on U.S. Highway 65 and State Highway 14 overtopped. Lower lying portion of the town of Gilbert may flood.
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Moderate flood 35.0 ft
- 35.0 ft All of Tyler Bend Access Area is flooded. Backwater up Bear, Mill, and Calf Creeks flood an extensive area of the valley. River has crested above 35 feet at the U.S. Highway 65 gage at least nineteen times since 1915.
- 42.0 ft River crested in May 1990 at this level. Expect similar damages and impacts. River has crested above 42 feet at the gage on U.S. Highway 65 bridge eight times since 1915.
- 45.0 ft Buffalo River has crested over 45 feet at the U.S. Highway 65 gage six times since 1915. These events occurred in August 1915, November 1973, December 1982, April 2004, March 2008, and December 2015. River is swift, dangerous, and carrying a large amount of debris. Activities on and around the river should be avoided.
- 46.5 ft Crest of April 25 2004 was 46.51 feet. Primary impacts are to the recreational facilities of the National Park Service, such as Tyler Bend Campground near U.S. Highway 65. River is swift and dangerous and may be carrying a tremendous amount of debris. Floating and other recreational activities on and along the river should be avoided.
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Minor flood 27.0 ft
- 27.0 ft Tyler Bend Access Area begins to flood. Some campsites are under water and Comfort Station is flooded.
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Action 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Limited impacts due to the lack of private property along the river. Some access points and public facilities will be effected. The National Park Service has recommended that float activities stop well below this flow level and conditions are dangerous to recreational floaters. Floodplain along the North Bank begins to flood.
- Right now 3.03 ft
NWS forecast: 3.10 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at St. Joe
Daily values from USGS gauge 07056000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at St. Joe
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 53.75 ft | 158,000 CFS | Dec 3, 1982 |
| 50.50 ft | 142,000 CFS | Aug 1, 1915 |
| 49.41 ft | 134,000 CFS | Mar 19, 2008 |
| 46.51 ft | 118,771 CFS | Apr 25, 2004 |
| 45.58 ft | — | Dec 28, 2015 |
| 45.41 ft | 111,000 CFS | Nov 25, 1973 |
| 43.40 ft | 102,000 CFS | Dec 10, 1971 |
| 42.02 ft | — | May 3, 1990 |
| 41.00 ft | 100,000 CFS | Apr 15, 1945 |
| 39.70 ft | 96,900 CFS | May 10, 1943 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Buffalo National River at St. Joe
This gauge measures Buffalo National River at St. Joe, Arkansas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Lower-middle Buffalo; runnable year-round question.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 96 CFS for late July, from 86 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Buffalo National River at St. Joe — common questions
What is the current flow on Buffalo National River at St. Joe?
As of the last reading on this page, Buffalo National River at St. Joe was running 90 CFS at a gage height of 3.03 ft, or 94% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07056000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 96 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1940–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What flow is good for tubing Buffalo National River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.