New River at Hinton
West Virginia · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 03184500 — NEW RIVER AT HINTON, WV · NWS forecast point HINW2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 3,310 CFS, this gauge is running 99% of normal for late July — close to the 3,340 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 66 years of record (1939–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Hinton
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge HINW2, issued by WFO RNK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 18.0 ft
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Moderate flood 16.0 ft
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Minor flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft Some houses on left bank and downstream from Highway 20 bridge may be affected.
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Action 9.0 ft · 65,500 CFS
- Right now 2.19 ft
NWS forecast: 2.20 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 PM UTC.
12 months of flow at Hinton
Daily values from USGS gauge 03184500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Hinton
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 20.20 ft | — | Sep 13, 1878 |
| 18.97 ft | — | Aug 15, 1940 |
| 18.80 ft | — | May 22, 1901 |
| 18.00 ft | — | Apr 21, 1901 |
| 16.00 ft | — | Jul 17, 1916 |
| 14.35 ft | 38,400 CFS | Dec 30, 1943 |
| 12.70 ft | 124,000 CFS | Jan 8, 1946 |
| 10.68 ft | 91,700 CFS | Jan 20, 1996 |
| 10.61 ft | — | Jan 26, 2010 |
| 10.60 ft | 88,600 CFS | Sep 19, 1945 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About New River at Hinton
This gauge measures New River at Hinton, West Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Below Bluestone Dam; Sandstone Falls viewing.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 3,340 CFS for late July, from 66 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.
New River at Hinton — common questions
What is the current flow on New River at Hinton?
As of the last reading on this page, New River at Hinton was running 3,310 CFS at a gage height of 2.19 ft, or 99% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03184500, 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 3,340 CFS, calculated from 66 years of record (1939–2026). 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 New 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.