KANAWHA RIVER AT CHARLESTON, WV
USGS 03198000 · West Virginia · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading KANAWHA RIVER AT CHARLESTON, WV…
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USGS 03198000 · West Virginia · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 166 readings from Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT to Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST; ranging 1,590 to 9,320 ft³/s; latest 5,050 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST | 5,050 | 18.3 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 PM EST | 5,050 | 18.3 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 PM EST | 4,280 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST | 3,720 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST | 4,790 | 18 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM EST | 6,300 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM EST | 5,650 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM EST | 5,650 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM EST | 4,830 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST | 4,260 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM EST | 4,810 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM EST | 5,280 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM EST | 4,730 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM EST | 4,090 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM EST | 4,080 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM EST | 5,470 | 18.1 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM EST | 5,380 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST | 5,480 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM EST | 5,120 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM EST | 5,590 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM EST | 6,430 | 18.3 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM EST | 7,360 | 18.2 | 4,090–11,700 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM EST | 6,920 | 18.3 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM EST | 7,450 | 18.2 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM EST | 6,580 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST | 6,300 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM EST | 8,640 | 18.6 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM EST | 7,810 | 18.7 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM EST | 6,920 | 18.6 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM EST | 5,180 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM EST | 4,800 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM EST | 6,300 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM EST | 4,040 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM EST | 4,240 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM EST | 4,790 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM EST | 5,740 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM EST | 4,590 | 18.4 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM EST | 4,120 | 18.3 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM EST | 3,740 | 18.3 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM EST | 5,020 | 18.2 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM EST | 4,840 | 18.2 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM EST | 4,460 | 18.2 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM EST | 4,460 | 18.2 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM EST | 4,920 | 18.2 | 4,180–11,400 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM EST | 5,860 | 18.2 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM EST | 5,970 | 18.3 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM EST | 5,890 | 18.3 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM EST | 5,910 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM EST | 5,260 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM EST | 5,260 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM EST | 5,940 | 18.5 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM EST | 7,010 | 18.5 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM EST | 4,360 | 18.5 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM EST | 4,530 | 18.5 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM EST | 4,160 | 18.5 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM EST | 3,580 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM EST | 3,580 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM EST | 4,780 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM EST | 5,250 | 18.4 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM EST | 4,670 | 18.3 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM EST | 4,100 | 18.2 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM EST | 4,180 | 18.2 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM EST | 5,180 | 18.1 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM EST | 5,370 | 18.1 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM EST | 4,900 | 18.1 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM EST | 4,160 | 18.1 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM EST | 4,790 | 18.1 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM EST | 3,800 | 18.1 | 4,290–12,700 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM EST | 5,200 | 18.2 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM EST | 5,880 | 18.3 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM EST | 7,420 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM EST | 4,540 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM EST | 4,910 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM EST | 7,480 | 18.6 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM EST | 7,090 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM EST | 4,710 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM EST | 4,950 | 18.3 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM EST | 4,570 | 18.3 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM EST | 3,660 | 18.3 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM EST | 1,590 | 18.2 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM EST | 3,480 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM EST | 3,950 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM EST | 4,260 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM EST | 4,350 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM EST | 4,720 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM EST | 4,250 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM EST | 3,580 | 18.5 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM EST | 3,770 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM EST | 4,050 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM EST | 3,670 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM EST | 3,200 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM EST | 3,570 | 18.4 | 3,980–12,400 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM EST | 4,400 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM EST | 6,460 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM EST | 3,190 | 18.4 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM EST | 2,990 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM EST | 3,930 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM EST | 3,930 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM EST | 3,740 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM EST | 3,550 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM EST | 3,450 | 18.2 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM EST | 3,720 | 18.2 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM EST | 3,810 | 18.2 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM EST | 3,740 | 18.3 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM EST | 3,430 | 18.2 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM EST | 3,790 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM EST | 3,430 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM EST | 3,760 | 17.9 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM EST | 4,250 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM EST | 4,060 | 18 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM EST | 5,160 | 18 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM EST | 4,800 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM EST | 4,520 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM EST | 3,880 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EST | 5,340 | 18 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EDT | 5,450 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM EDT | 5,280 | 18.1 | 3,680–11,800 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM EDT | 5,190 | 18.1 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM EDT | 5,200 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM EDT | 5,580 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM EDT | 5,690 | 18.3 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM EDT | 5,210 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM EDT | 4,590 | 18.3 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM EDT | 5,060 | 18.3 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM EDT | 6,300 | 18.4 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM EDT | 6,660 | 18.4 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM EDT | 6,840 | 18.4 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM EDT | 5,890 | 18.3 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM EDT | 7,260 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM EDT | 8,270 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM EDT | 8,070 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM EDT | 7,700 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM EDT | 7,890 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM EDT | 7,890 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM EDT | 6,600 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM EDT | 7,530 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM EDT | 7,440 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM EDT | 7,530 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM EDT | 7,830 | 18.3 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM EDT | 7,170 | 18.2 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM EDT | 7,550 | 18.3 | 3,570–12,400 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM EDT | 7,920 | 18.2 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM EDT | 9,230 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM EDT | 7,650 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM EDT | 7,760 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM EDT | 7,480 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM EDT | 7,570 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM EDT | 7,480 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM EDT | 8,700 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM EDT | 7,490 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM EDT | 7,400 | 18.4 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM EDT | 7,590 | 18.4 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT | 8,160 | 18.4 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM EDT | 8,150 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM EDT | 8,600 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM EDT | 8,230 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM EDT | 8,540 | 18.4 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM EDT | 8,590 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM EDT | 8,310 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM EDT | 7,020 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM EDT | 4,780 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM EDT | 4,590 | 18.3 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM EDT | 6,300 | 18.4 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM EDT | 8,700 | 18.5 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM EDT | 9,080 | 18.5 | 3,370–12,000 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT | 9,320 | 18.5 | 3,370–10,100 |
Map of USGS gauge 03198000 and the river around it
Where KANAWHA RIVER AT CHARLESTON, WV sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. West Virginia DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a West Virginia rule: 68°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources: West Virginia fish stocking schedule · West Virginia fishing regulations.
Normal for Nov 5: 4,090–11,700 ft³/s (middle half of 86 years of record). Now: 5,050 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 5,050 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 86 years of record (1941–2026): 10th 2,760, 25th 4,090, median 7,570, 75th 11,700, 90th 22,700 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 1,600 ft³/s, highest 81,800 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Falling over 24 hours: discharge down 32.2%, from 7,450 to 5,050 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 18.3 ft stage, 32,500 ft³/s at Nov 5, 10:00 PM EST (NWS gauge CHLW2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 11:12 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.