South Fork Shenandoah River at Front Royal
Virginia · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 01631000 — S F SHENANDOAH RIVER AT FRONT ROYAL, VA · NWS forecast point FROV2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 440 CFS, this gauge is running 74% of normal for late July — below the 592 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 95 years of record (1930–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Front Royal
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge FROV2, issued by WFO LWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 18.0 ft · 47,200 CFS
- 18.0 ft Significant portions of the railroad tracks running along the southwest side of Front Royal are flooded.
- 20.0 ft Backwater from the river reaches South River Road. Floodwaters cover the Indian Hollow Road bridge.
- 22.0 ft Water approaches structures on Rivermont Acres Drive.
- 24.0 ft Catlett Mountain Road begins to flood.
-
Moderate flood 14.0 ft · 31,490 CFS
- 14.0 ft Railroad tracks along the river south of Front Royal begin to flood. Water approaches structures in Riverton.
- 16.0 ft Floodwaters approach lower portions of Shenandoah Shores Estates.
- 17.0 ft Backwater from the river reaches Rivermont Acres Drive. Water also approaches the Shenandoah Farms subdivision and covers a walking trail near the Front Royal boat ramp.
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Minor flood 12.0 ft · 24,340 CFS
- 12.0 ft Backwater begins to creep up Luray Avenue toward the railroad trestle. A riverside parking area at the end of Luray Avenue is flooded.
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Action 8.0 ft
- 8.0 ft A boat ramp near the end of Luray Avenue south of Front Royal floods. A second boat ramp near Bentonville also floods.
- 10.0 ft Hay fields near the gauge begin to flood.
- Right now 1.26 ft
NWS forecast: 1.20 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Front Royal
Daily values from USGS gauge 01631000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Front Royal
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 34.80 ft | 130,000 CFS | Oct 16, 1942 |
| 32.57 ft | 121,000 CFS | Sep 7, 1996 |
| 32.43 ft | 120,000 CFS | Nov 6, 1985 |
| 26.01 ft | 98,000 CFS | Mar 18, 1936 |
| 25.20 ft | 81,000 CFS | Jan 20, 1996 |
| 23.98 ft | 75,100 CFS | Jun 22, 1972 |
| 23.50 ft | 76,800 CFS | Mar 1, 1902 |
| 22.54 ft | 68,200 CFS | Aug 19, 1955 |
| 21.35 ft | 62,500 CFS | Oct 7, 1972 |
| 19.20 ft | 52,900 CFS | Jun 19, 1949 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About South Fork Shenandoah River at Front Royal
This gauge measures South Fork Shenandoah River at Front Royal, Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Outfitters publish a public tubing-level table on this gauge.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 592 CFS for late July, from 95 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 Shenandoah River at Front Royal — common questions
What is the current flow on South Fork Shenandoah River at Front Royal?
As of the last reading on this page, South Fork Shenandoah River at Front Royal was running 440 CFS at a gage height of 1.26 ft, or 74% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01631000, 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 592 CFS, calculated from 95 years of record (1930–2026). 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 Shenandoah 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.