South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal water level

Name: South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, South F Shenandoah River, Virginia, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

1.61ft Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 06:15 AM EDT (2 days ago)

Flow: 845 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.30 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:19 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal, where the gauge shows 1.61 ft.

It is 10.39 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft.

It is still going down, by 0.21 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.30 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM. The 30-day range is 1.54 ft – 1.85 ft.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 34.80 ftOctober 16, 1942
Forecast peak: 1.40 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 12.00 ft.

What happens at each level

24.00 ft: Catlett Mountain Road begins to flood.
22.00 ft: Water approaches structures on Rivermont Acres Drive.
20.00 ft: Backwater from the river reaches South River Road. Floodwaters cover the Indian Hollow Road bridge.
18.00 ft: Significant portions of the railroad tracks running along the southwest side of Front Royal are flooded.
17.00 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.
16.00 ft: Floodwaters approach lower portions of Shenandoah Shores Estates.
14.00 ft: Railroad tracks along the river south of Front Royal begin to flood. Water approaches structures in Riverton.
12.00 ft: Backwater begins to creep up Luray Avenue toward the railroad trestle. A riverside parking area at the end of Luray Avenue is flooded.
10.00 ft: Hay fields near the gauge begin to flood.
8.00 ft: A boat ramp near the end of Luray Avenue south of Front Royal floods. A second boat ramp near Bentonville also floods.
1.61 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: 13 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	34.80 ft	October 16, 1942
2	32.57 ft	September 7, 1996
3	32.43 ft	November 6, 1985
4	26.01 ft	March 18, 1936
5	25.20 ft	January 20, 1996
6	23.98 ft	June 22, 1972
7	23.50 ft	March 1, 1902
8	22.54 ft	August 19, 1955
9	21.35 ft	October 7, 1972
10	19.20 ft	June 19, 1949

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:28 AM Sunset 06:29 PM Daylight 11 hr, 1 min First quarter 68%

Map

Other gauges on the South F Shenandoah River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
South F Shenandoah River near LynnwoodRiver gauge, South F Shenandoah River	2.57 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	50 mi
South F Shenandoah River near LurayRiver gauge, South F Shenandoah River	2.22 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	25 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Passage Creek near BucktonRiver gauge, Passage Creek	3.24 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	4.3 mi
North F Shenandoah River near StrasburgRiver gauge, North F Shenandoah River	2.34 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	8 mi
Cedar Creek near WinchesterRiver gauge, Cedar Creek	1.96 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	13 mi
Spout Run at RT 621 near MillwoodRiver gauge, Spout Run	1.69 ft	Below flood stage	±0	15 mi
Battle Run near Laurel MillsRiver gauge, Battle Run	1.49 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	19 mi
Opequon Creek near BerryvilleRiver gauge, Opequon Creek	4.33 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	19 mi
Dry Marsh Run near BerryvilleRiver gauge, Dry Marsh Run	1.40 ft	Below flood stage	±0	21 mi
Hogue Creek near HayfieldRiver gauge, Hogue Creek	0.44 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	21 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 10.39 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 South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 06:15 AM EDT, the water level was 1.61 ft. Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal rising or falling?

Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal?

The highest level on record is 34.80 ft on October 16, 1942.

Is South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.30 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:01631000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 38.91400, -78.21083 (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	1.61 ft	2026-10-18 10:15	Provisional
Flow	845 cfs	2026-10-18 10:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South F Shenandoah River at Front Royal (usgs:01631000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/virginia/south-f-shenandoah-river-at-front-royal

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