Verdigris River at Claremore
Oklahoma · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 07176000 — Verdigris River near Claremore, OK · NWS forecast point CLRO2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 5,010 CFS, this gauge is running 1,431% of normal for late July — above the 350 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.
Sponsor Verdigris River
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flood stages at Claremore
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge CLRO2, issued by WFO TSA. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 44.0 ft
- 44.0 ft severe flooding occurs between Oologah Dam and points downstream from the Highway 20 gage. Some homes are flooded west of Claremore at the west end of Blue Starr Drive and Lowery Road is flooded. This flood will approach the magnitude of the October 14, 1986 flood when the stage reached 45.0 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 46.0 ft disastrous flooding occurs between Oologah Dam and points downstream from the Highway 20 gage. Several homes are flooded west of Claremore near Blue Starr Drive and Lowery Road. This exceeds the flood of October 14, 1986 when the stage reached 45.0 feet, which is the worst flood that has occurred since Oologah Dam was completed in 1963. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
-
Moderate flood 40.0 ft
- 40.0 ft extensive flooding occurs downstream from Oologah Dam. Blue Starr Drive and Lowery Road west of Claremore are flooded and homes are isolated by high water.
- 42.0 ft severe flooding occurs downstream from Oologah Dam. Some homes may be flooded west of Claremore at the west end of Blue Starr Drive.
-
Minor flood 36.0 ft
- 36.0 ft minor lowland flooding may occur west of Claremore. Blue Starr Road west of Claremore may be covered by water.
- 38.0 ft extensive lowland flooding occurs west of Claremore between Lowery Road and Blue Starr Drive. Some homes may be isolated west of Claremore between Lowery Road and Blue Starr Drive.
-
Action 35.0 ft
- 35.0 ft faster flows are expected along the river but no flooding occurs. Interests near the river should continue to monitor later forecasts.
- Right now 8.09 ft
NWS forecast: 8.10 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Claremore
Daily values from USGS gauge 07176000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Claremore
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 55.05 ft | 182,000 CFS | May 21, 1943 |
| 50.06 ft | 116,000 CFS | May 11, 1961 |
| 47.23 ft | 85,200 CFS | Apr 13, 1944 |
| 47.14 ft | 81,400 CFS | Apr 21, 1945 |
| 46.98 ft | 73,000 CFS | Oct 4, 1945 |
| 46.95 ft | 74,900 CFS | Jul 6, 1951 |
| 46.60 ft | 64,200 CFS | Nov 2, 1941 |
| 46.55 ft | 68,000 CFS | May 13, 1943 |
| 46.51 ft | 68,500 CFS | Jun 15, 1957 |
| 46.41 ft | 61,000 CFS | Jun 27, 1948 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Verdigris River at Claremore
This gauge sits on Verdigris River at Claremore, Oklahoma, immediately below Oologah Lake. 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 — 350 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.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Oologah Lake. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Verdigris River at Claremore — common questions
What is the current flow on Verdigris River at Claremore?
As of the last reading on this page, Verdigris River at Claremore was running 5,010 CFS at a gage height of 8.09 ft, or 1,431% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07176000, 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 350 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.
Is Verdigris River at Claremore 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 350 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 Oologah Lake 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 07176000. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge CLRO2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.