Rainbow River at Dunnellon
Florida · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02313100 — RAINBOW RIVER AT DUNNELLON, FL · NWS forecast point RNBF1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 625 CFS, this gauge is running 97% of normal for late July — close to the 644 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 61 years of record (1965–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Dunnellon
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge RNBF1, issued by WFO JAX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 31.0 ft
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Moderate flood 30.0 ft
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Minor flood 29.0 ft
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Action 28.0 ft
- Right now 3.74 ft
12 months of flow at Dunnellon
Daily values from USGS gauge 02313100. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Dunnellon
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 29.57 ft | 747 CFS | Nov 2, 2024 |
| 29.00 ft | — | Oct 8, 2017 |
| 28.45 ft | — | Sep 20, 2015 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Rainbow River at Dunnellon
This gauge measures Rainbow River at Dunnellon, Florida — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
KP Hole and Rainbow Springs; capacity-capped.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 644 CFS for late July, from 61 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.
Rainbow River at Dunnellon — common questions
What is the current flow on Rainbow River at Dunnellon?
As of the last reading on this page, Rainbow River at Dunnellon was running 625 CFS at a gage height of 3.74 ft, or 97% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02313100, 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 644 CFS, calculated from 61 years of record (1965–2026). 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 Rainbow 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.