Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids
North Carolina · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 02080500 — ROANOKE RIVER AT ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC · NWS forecast point RRDN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 19,100 CFS, this gauge is running 630% of normal for late July — above the 3,030 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 62 years of record (1964–2026). The stage is 0.9 ft below the NWS action stage of 9.0 ft.
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Roanoke Rapids
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge RRDN7, issued by WFO RAH. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft Major flooding begins. There is significant flooding of homes and businesses in Roanoke Rapids.
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Moderate flood 12.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Moderate flooding begins. Homes and other structures along the river in Roanoke Rapids flood.
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Minor flood 9.0 ft
- 9.0 ft Minor flooding begins. Farmlands and timberlands adjacent to the river in Roanoke Rapids flood. Property on the farmlands may be at risk from floodwaters.
- 10.0 ft The public boat ramp on Rockfish Ln in Weldon is flooded.
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Action 9.0 ft · 23,314 CFS
- 9.0 ft Minor flooding begins. Farmlands and timberlands adjacent to the river in Roanoke Rapids flood. Property on the farmlands may be at risk from floodwaters.
- 10.0 ft The public boat ramp on Rockfish Ln in Weldon is flooded.
- Right now 8.10 ft
12 months of flow at Roanoke Rapids
Daily values from USGS gauge 02080500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Roanoke Rapids
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 39.00 ft | 261,000 CFS | Aug 18, 1940 |
| 26.95 ft | 127,000 CFS | Sep 22, 1944 |
| 26.78 ft | 121,000 CFS | Sep 22, 1945 |
| 19.25 ft | 72,100 CFS | Feb 17, 1948 |
| 18.99 ft | 69,300 CFS | Dec 7, 1948 |
| 16.52 ft | 60,700 CFS | May 7, 1958 |
| 16.04 ft | 54,900 CFS | Nov 2, 1949 |
| 15.48 ft | 54,100 CFS | Sep 26, 1947 |
| 12.83 ft | 43,200 CFS | Aug 19, 1955 |
| 11.87 ft | 37,700 CFS | Apr 16, 1993 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids
This gauge sits on Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, immediately below Lake Gaston. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 3,030 CFS for late July, from 62 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.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Lake Gaston. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids — common questions
What is the current flow on Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids?
As of the last reading on this page, Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids was running 19,100 CFS at a gage height of 8.10 ft, or 630% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02080500, 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 3,030 CFS, calculated from 62 years of record (1964–2026). 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.
Is Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 3,030 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Lake Gaston affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 02080500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge RRDN7. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.