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SwedenRappahannock River near Fredericksburg water level
River gauge, Rappahannock River, Virginia, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 585 cfs
- Water temperature
- 58 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.50 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:19 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The gauge at Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg reads 2.40 ft, a normal level.
It is 10.60 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.09 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.50 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.39 ft and 2.69 ft.
The sensor also reports a water temperature of 58 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 25.90 ftOctober 16, 1942
- Forecast peak
- 2.50 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 13.00 ft, still 10.60 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 23.00 ft
- Water covers significant sections of River Road. Multiple structures upstream of Fredericksburg area also affected. Downstream, significant flooding is likely in the city of Fredericksburg.
- 20.00 ft
- Water is above the top of the first floor at a riverside wedding venue upstream of Fredericksburg.
- 16.00 ft
- Water begins to cover River Road upstream of the city of Fredericksburg. Structures near the Motts Run boat landing are flooded.
- 13.00 ft
- Water covers the Riverside Trail off River Road upstream of Fredericksburg. Water also enters a building at a riverside wedding venue, and begins to cover the parking lot at the Motts Run boat landing.
- 12.00 ft
- Water begins to cover grassy areas near the mouth of Motts Run.
- 10.00 ft
- Water exceeds bankfull upstream of the tidal interface, but no property is affected.
- 3.20 ft
- The Friends of the Rappahannock recommend that river levels greater than this are unsafe to recreation.
- 2.40 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 15 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.90 ft | October 16, 1942 |
| 2 | 25.14 ft | April 26, 1937 |
| 3 | 22.56 ft | June 22, 1972 |
| 4 | 17.97 ft | September 7, 1996 |
| 5 | 17.55 ft | June 23, 2018 |
| 6 | 17.14 ft | June 28, 1995 |
| 7 | 17.00 ft | August 19, 1955 |
| 8 | 16.50 ft | September 13, 1924 |
| 9 | 15.54 ft | March 5, 1993 |
| 10 | 15.43 ft | May 1, 2014 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Rappahannock River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rappahannock River at RemingtonRiver gauge, Rappahannock River | 3.40 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 22 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Po River near SpotsylvaniaRiver gauge, Po River | 22.9 cfs | Normal | −10.7 cfs | 10 mi |
| Aquia Creek near GarrisonvilleRiver gauge, Aquia Creek | 0.51 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 14 mi |
| Mattaponi River near Bowling GreenRiver gauge, Mattaponi River | 2.95 ft | Below flood stage | −0.15 ft | 19 mi |
| South F Quantico Creek near Independent HillRiver gauge, South F Quantico Creek | 2.84 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 20 mi |
| North Anna River near PartlowRiver gauge, North Anna River | 37.1 cfs | Low | ±0 | 22 mi |
| Cedar Run near CatlettRiver gauge, Cedar Run | 2.43 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 23 mi |
| Rapidan River near CulpeperRiver gauge, Rapidan River | 0.92 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 24 mi |
| Polecat Creek at Route 301 near PenolaRiver gauge, Polecat Creek | 27.0 cfs | Normal | −11.8 cfs | 26 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 10.60 ft below it.
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 Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 04:00 AM EDT, the water level was 2.40 ft. Down 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg rising or falling?
Down 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg?
The highest level on record is 25.90 ft on October 16, 1942.
Is Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.50 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01668000(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.30846, -77.52915(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 | 2.40 ft | 2026-10-20 08:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 585 cfs | 2026-10-20 08:00 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 58 °F | 2026-10-20 08:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg (usgs:01668000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/virginia/rappahannock-river-near-fredericksburg
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