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SwedenKanawha River at Charleston water level
River gauge, Kanawha River, West Virginia, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 10,600 cfs
History
What this means
The Kanawha River at Charleston is above normal at 18.38 ft.
It has dropped 0.28 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 18.22 ft and 19.35 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 39.72 ftMarch 6, 1955
Floating and fishing near Kanawha River at Charleston
Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39.72 ft | March 6, 1955 |
| 2 | 38.77 ft | December 31, 1942 |
| 3 | 38.25 ft | August 15, 1940 |
| 4 | 37.82 ft | February 2, 1950 |
| 5 | 37.72 ft | March 2, 2021 |
| 6 | 37.65 ft | February 23, 2004 |
| 7 | 37.10 ft | January 30, 1957 |
| 8 | 37.08 ft | February 14, 1948 |
| 9 | 36.95 ft | February 26, 1972 |
| 10 | 36.16 ft | June 25, 2016 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Kanawha River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawha River at Kanawha FallsRiver gauge, Kanawha River | 4.50 ft | Below flood stage | −0.98 ft | 31 mi |
| Kanawha River at S Side Bridge at CharlestonRiver gauge, Kanawha River | 8.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.27 ft | 3.9 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk River at CharlestonRiver gauge, Elk River | 2,740 cfs | High | −1,290.0 cfs | 4.2 mi |
| Elk Twomile Creek near CharlestonRiver gauge, Elk Twomile Creek | 2.35 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 5.9 mi |
| Coal River at TornadoRiver gauge, Coal River | 10.46 ft | Below flood stage | −0.19 ft | 8 mi |
| Pocatalico River at SissonvilleRiver gauge, Pocatalico River | 3.23 ft | Below flood stage | −0.32 ft | 11 mi |
| Little Sandy Creek near ElkviewRiver gauge, Little Sandy Creek | 15.6 cfs | Very high | −6.5 cfs | 12 mi |
| Big Coal River at AshfordRiver gauge, Big Coal River | 3.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.26 ft | 13 mi |
| Hurricane Creek at HurricaneRiver gauge, Hurricane Creek | 5.17 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 17 mi |
| Middle Fork Mud River near GriffithsvilleRiver gauge, Middle Fork Mud River | 2.78 ft | Below flood stage | −0.16 ft | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Kanawha River at Charleston today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT, the water level was 18.38 ft. Down 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kanawha River at Charleston rising or falling?
Down 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Kanawha River at Charleston normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Kanawha River at Charleston?
The highest level on record is 39.72 ft on March 6, 1955.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
Where does this data come from?
The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:03198000(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.37148, -81.70207(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 18.38 ft | 2026-10-20 02:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 10,600 cfs | 2026-10-20 02:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kanawha River at Charleston (usgs:03198000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/west-virginia/kanawha-river-at-charleston
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer