South Fork Shenandoah River at Luray
Virginia · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 01629500 — S F SHENANDOAH RIVER NEAR LURAY, VA · NWS forecast point SFSV2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 421 CFS, this gauge is running 78% of normal for late July — below the 537 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 65 years of record (1926–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Luray
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge SFSV2, issued by WFO LWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 25.0 ft
- 25.0 ft Numerous homes, buildings, and roads are flooded along the river west and southwest of Luray, along with many acres of farmland.
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Moderate flood 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Water approaches homes and buildings south of Luray. Backyards of homes at the lower end of Egypt Bend Estates are flooded, and much of Ganders Drive and Kaufmann Mill Road are flooded.
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Minor flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Water covers yards and fields near the river southwest of Luray.
- 16.0 ft Portions of Kaufmann Mill Road, Ganders Drive, and Egypt Bend Road begin to flood.
- 17.0 ft Water covers the entire parking area at the Bixlers Ferry boat launch.
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Action 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Water reaches the top of the boat ramp under the Route 211 bridge.
- Right now 2.03 ft
NWS forecast: 2.00 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Luray
Daily values from USGS gauge 01629500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Luray
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 26.95 ft | 11,200 CFS | Sep 7, 1996 |
| 26.72 ft | 110,000 CFS | Nov 5, 1985 |
| 25.70 ft | 100,000 CFS | Oct 16, 1942 |
| 25.40 ft | — | Oct 1, 1896 |
| 23.60 ft | 81,600 CFS | Mar 18, 1936 |
| 22.50 ft | — | May 1, 1924 |
| 21.23 ft | 64,100 CFS | Jan 20, 1996 |
| 20.46 ft | 58,100 CFS | Jun 18, 1949 |
| 19.11 ft | 50,600 CFS | Sep 20, 2003 |
| 18.50 ft | 47,000 CFS | Apr 17, 1987 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About South Fork Shenandoah River at Luray
This gauge measures South Fork Shenandoah River at Luray, Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Virginia's highest-volume livery corridor.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 537 CFS for late July, from 65 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 Luray — common questions
What is the current flow on South Fork Shenandoah River at Luray?
As of the last reading on this page, South Fork Shenandoah River at Luray was running 421 CFS at a gage height of 2.03 ft, or 78% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01629500, 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 537 CFS, calculated from 65 years of record (1926–2026). 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.