James River at Richmond
Virginia · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02037500 — JAMES RIVER NEAR RICHMOND, VA · NWS forecast point RMDV2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 1,450 CFS, this gauge is running 63% of normal for late July — below the 2,310 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 89 years of record (1937–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Richmond
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge RMDV2, issued by WFO AKQ. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 22.0 ft · 167,000 CFS
- 22.0 ft Major flooding begins. Downstream industries, shops and streets along the riverfront are flooded at and above this level.
- 23.0 ft Richmond City Water Filtration Plant endangered.
- 27.0 ft Near record flooding begins.
- 28.6 ft Flood of record during Hurricane Agnes.
- 32.0 ft River stage sensor operating limit
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Moderate flood 15.0 ft · 66,700 CFS
- 15.0 ft Begin moderate flooding. Residences near gage threatened by flood waters.
- 16.0 ft Water is getting into the parking lot at Huguenot Flatwater Park and Pony Pasture. Additionally, portions of the Willow Oaks County Club is flooded. Sections of Riverside Drive are closed due to flooding.
- 17.0 ft Water infiltrates several homes near the gage, downstream of the Huguenot Bridge.
- 18.2 ft CSX Railroad tracks flooded.
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Minor flood 12.0 ft · 42,000 CFS
- 12.0 ft Flood stage. Minor flooding along both banks. No damage at this level.
- 13.0 ft Approximately 20 acres of lowland flooded in vicinity of gage.
- 13.5 ft Portions of Huguenot Flatwater park begin to flood.
- 14.0 ft Portions of Riverside Drive begin to flood.
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Action 9.0 ft · 22,600 CFS
- Right now 3.66 ft
NWS forecast: 3.70 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 PM UTC.
12 months of flow at Richmond
Daily values from USGS gauge 02037500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Richmond
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 28.62 ft | 313,000 CFS | Jun 23, 1972 |
| 24.95 ft | 222,000 CFS | Aug 21, 1969 |
| 24.77 ft | 218,000 CFS | Nov 7, 1985 |
| 23.42 ft | 175,000 CFS | Mar 19, 1936 |
| 22.65 ft | 152,000 CFS | Apr 27, 1937 |
| 21.91 ft | 163,000 CFS | Apr 18, 1987 |
| 21.80 ft | 151,000 CFS | Aug 18, 1940 |
| 21.80 ft | 150,000 CFS | Sep 20, 1944 |
| 21.76 ft | 162,000 CFS | Oct 7, 1972 |
| 21.23 ft | 152,000 CFS | Sep 8, 1996 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About James River at Richmond
This gauge measures James River at Richmond, Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Pony Pasture and Belle Isle; urban Class III-IV.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 2,310 CFS for late July, from 89 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.
James River at Richmond — common questions
What is the current flow on James River at Richmond?
As of the last reading on this page, James River at Richmond was running 1,450 CFS at a gage height of 3.66 ft, or 63% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02037500, 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 2,310 CFS, calculated from 89 years of record (1937–2026). 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 James 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.