South Fork New River at Jefferson
North Carolina · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 03161000 — SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER NEAR JEFFERSON, NC · NWS forecast point JFRN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 205 CFS, this gauge is running 77% of normal for late July — below the 267 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 99 years of record (1925–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Jefferson
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge JFRN7, issued by WFO RNK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 16.0 ft · 28,370 CFS
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Moderate flood 12.0 ft · 15,410 CFS
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Minor flood 8.0 ft · 6,400 CFS
- 8.0 ft Fulton Reeves Road closed due to flooding.
- 9.0 ft Garvey Bridge Road is flooded downstream.
- 10.0 ft Several campgrounds and roads leading in to them are likely affected by flooding.
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Action 5.0 ft · 2,300 CFS
- 6.0 ft Several low water bridges are flooded including Hartzog Ford Road.
- 7.0 ft Rustic Road bridge is flooded.
- Right now 1.97 ft
12 months of flow at Jefferson
Daily values from USGS gauge 03161000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Jefferson
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 22.50 ft | 52,800 CFS | Aug 14, 1940 |
| 18.27 ft | 37,100 CFS | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 18.00 ft | 35,200 CFS | Jul 15, 1916 |
| 14.83 ft | 26,300 CFS | Nov 7, 1977 |
| 13.73 ft | 21,000 CFS | Jan 15, 1995 |
| 11.85 ft | 15,600 CFS | Aug 17, 1994 |
| 11.73 ft | 14,700 CFS | Sep 8, 2004 |
| 10.44 ft | 11,600 CFS | Jun 9, 2019 |
| 10.02 ft | 10,547 CFS | Jan 31, 2013 |
| 10.02 ft | 10,800 CFS | Aug 12, 1996 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About South Fork New River at Jefferson
This gauge measures South Fork New River at Jefferson, North Carolina — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Zaloo's Canoes and New River State Park.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 267 CFS for late July, from 99 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.
South Fork New River at Jefferson — common questions
What is the current flow on South Fork New River at Jefferson?
As of the last reading on this page, South Fork New River at Jefferson was running 205 CFS at a gage height of 1.97 ft, or 77% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03161000, 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 267 CFS, calculated from 99 years of record (1925–2026). 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 South Fork 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.