River Gauges (Stage, Flow, Flood Status)

Every river gauge the National Weather Service tracks, about 12,900 nationwide, snapshotted every 15 minutes: the latest observed stage in feet, flow in cubic feet per second, the NWS flood category (normal, action, minor, moderate, major, or low water), and, at the roughly one gauge in five that is a forecast point, the crest of the official River Forecast Center forecast with its time and flood category.

NOAA NWPSInfrastructure data ERCOT market NYISO market CAISO market PJM market MISO market ISO-NE market SPP market

Open in Data Ask the agent Open on map

One row per: river gauge x 15-minute snapshot; 15-minute snapshot cadence
Evidence: Observed market data; Published observations from the named source
Time basis: Point-in-time records; UTC · source_time

Overview

Streamflow is the physical driver of hydroelectric output, low water and warm rivers constrain thermal-plant cooling, and a river at flood stage marks substation and line exposure, so the gauges are a grid signal wherever a market has hydro or riverside infrastructure. Stage is measured against each gauge's own datum and is not comparable between gauges; flow is. Source: NOAA National Water Prediction Service.

Query contract: For the current picture select the newest source_time and read every gauge in it; for history keep one row per lid per source_time.
Analysis rules: Compare flow_cfs across gauges, never stage_ft: stage is relative to each gauge's own datum.Count gauges by flood_category within one source_time; the same gauge appears in every snapshot.
Interpretation: observed_at can be hours or days older than source_time where a gauge has stopped reporting; flood_category obs_not_current says so.A gauge near a plant is not necessarily on the plant's river. Name the gauge and the distance rather than asserting the plant's inflow.

Access

Download: Query it in SQL, download it, or read it with an API key. Download data
MCP: Connect an MCP client and load the contract with describe_data before calling query_data.ERCOT MCP CAISO MCP NYISO MCP PJM MCP SPP MCP MISO MCP ISO-NE MCP BPA MCP API reference
HTTP endpoint: POST /api/v1/datasets/nwps_gauges/query
Full history: Delivered to Snowflake, Databricks or your own storage on a schedule by Data services.
More coverage

Schema

18 columns

Column	Type
`lid`	`LowCardinality(String)`
`source_time`	`DateTime64(6, 'UTC')`
`name`	`String`
`state`	`LowCardinality(Nullable(String))`
`rfc`	`LowCardinality(Nullable(String))`
`wfo`	`LowCardinality(Nullable(String))`
`latitude`	`Nullable(Float64)`
`longitude`	`Nullable(Float64)`
`stage_ft`	`Nullable(Float64)`
`flow_cfs`	`Nullable(Float64)`
`observed_at`	`Nullable(DateTime64(6, 'UTC'))`
`flood_category`	`LowCardinality(String)`
`forecast_peak_stage_ft`	`Nullable(Float64)`
`forecast_peak_flow_cfs`	`Nullable(Float64)`
`forecast_peak_at`	`Nullable(DateTime64(6, 'UTC'))`
`forecast_issued_at`	`Nullable(DateTime64(6, 'UTC'))`
`forecast_flood_category`	`LowCardinality(String)`
`ingested_at`	`DateTime64(6, 'UTC')`

Sample data

lid	source_time	name	state	rfc	wfo	latitude	longitude	stage_ft	flow_cfs	observed_at	flood_category	forecast_peak_stage_ft	forecast_peak_flow_cfs	forecast_peak_at	forecast_issued_at	forecast_flood_category	ingested_at
ZUNV2	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Blackwater River (VA) near ZUNI	VA	SERFC	AKQ	36.906389	-76.820278	15.05	20.9	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZUMM5	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Zumbro River at Zumbro Falls	MN	NCRFC	ARX	44.2856	-92.43	5.64	511	2026-11-03 17:30:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZUIN5	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Zuni River above Black Rock Reservoir	NM	CBRFC	ABQ	35.100278	-108.751667	3.28	25.6	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	no_flooding	3.24	22.5	2026-11-03 19:00:00.000000	2026-11-03 17:09:00.000000	no_flooding	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZTNK2	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Pennsylvania Run near Zoneton	KY	OHRFC	LMK	38.087566	-85.642458	1.31	∅	2026-11-03 16:15:00.000000	not_defined	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZSRM2	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Zekiah Swamp Run near Newtown	MD	MARFC	LWX	38.490556	-76.927222	0.7	6	2026-11-03 16:15:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZSRC1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	South San Ramon Creek above Amador Valley Blvd	CA	CNRFC	MTR	37.72237	-121.92261	∅	∅	∅	obs_not_current	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZPRF1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Hillsborough River Above Crystal Springs Near Zephyrhills	FL	SERFC	TBW	28.185556	-82.184167	53.47	∅	2026-11-03 17:15:00.000000	not_defined	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZPHF1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills at State Park	FL	SERFC	TBW	28.149722	-82.231944	4.23	608	2026-11-03 17:00:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZPAM5	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	North Fork Zumbro River near Mazeppa	MN	NCRFC	ARX	44.2575	-92.4913	851.46	69.7	2026-11-03 16:30:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZOOM8	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Canyon Creek at Billings (Zoo Montana)	MT	MBRFC	BYZ	45.7314	-108.624	1.74	∅	2026-11-03 17:00:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZONI3	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Eagle Creek (IN) at Zionsville	IN	OHRFC	IND	39.946389	-86.260278	1.35	11.799999999999999	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	no_flooding	1.3	9.299999999999999	2026-11-04 00:00:00.000000	2026-11-03 14:28:00.000000	no_flooding	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZOLO3	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Zollner Creek near Mt Angel	OR	NWRFC	PQR	45.100556	-122.820556	∅	∅	∅	out_of_service	∅	∅	∅	∅	out_of_service	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZNRC1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	New River near New River Westmorland	CA	CNRFC	PSR	33.104722	-115.663611	4.9	238	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	no_flooding	5.15	282	2026-11-04 00:00:00.000000	2026-11-03 15:07:00.000000	no_flooding	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZMBO1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Zimber Ditch at North Canton	OH	OHRFC	CLE	40.870278	-81.416389	4.03	∅	2026-11-03 16:30:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZLPP1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Connoquenessing Creek at Zelienople	PA	OHRFC	PBZ	40.816944	-80.2425	1.69	82.60000000000001	2026-11-03 17:15:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZLMC1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Line M - Lindbergh Avenue	CA	CNRFC	MTR	37.697885	-121.809463	∅	∅	∅	obs_not_current	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZLJC1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Line J1 below Dublin Blvd	CA	CNRFC	MTR	37.70494	-121.92401	0.42	∅	2026-11-03 17:00:00.000000	not_defined	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZLGC1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Line G1 - Dublin Blvd	CA	CNRFC	MTR	37.70564	-121.90457	∅	∅	∅	obs_not_current	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZKAF1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Gulf Tide Station Near Chassahowitzka	FL	SERFC	TBW	28.657	-82.7366	-0.43	∅	2026-11-03 16:15:00.000000	not_defined	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZFSF1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Peace River at Zolfo Springs	FL	SERFC	TBW	27.504167	-81.801111	16.48	2890	2026-11-03 16:30:00.000000	minor	17.5	3400	2026-11-04 12:00:00.000000	2026-11-03 14:33:00.000000	minor	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZENK1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Rattlesnake Creek (KS) near Zenith	KS	ABRFC	DDC	38.0936	-98.5461	11.95	3.9	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZEEM4	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Macatawa River near Zeeland	MI	NCRFC	GRR	42.779192	-86.018372	2.67	17.1	2026-11-03 17:00:00.000000	no_flooding	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZCRM7	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Castor River above Zalma	MO	LMRFC	PAH	37.146667	-90.075556	1.18	∅	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	not_defined	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZCCC1	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Zaca Creek near Buelton	CA	CNRFC	LOX	34.648611	-120.183333	1.57	∅	2026-11-03 16:45:00.000000	not_defined	∅	∅	∅	∅	fcst_not_current	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629
ZBQN7	2026-11-03 18:15:07.446769	Atlantic Coast at Zeeks Basin	NC	SERFC	ILM	33.954722	-77.935	∅	∅	∅	out_of_service	∅	∅	∅	∅	out_of_service	2026-11-03 18:15:10.131629

Coverage

Complete: 100.0%
Gap days: 0
Days with data: 46

Show coverage history

Coverage: 100.0%Days with data: 46Gaps: 0

2026

gaplessmore

Related data

Related infrastructure data
Dataset	Description
River Forecasts (Official Hydrographs)NOAA NWPS · hourly (as issued)	The official River Forecast Center hydrograph at every NWS forecast point, one row per issuance and valid time: forecast stage in feet and flow in cubic feet per second, typically six-hourly steps several days ahead. Every issuance is kept, so the latest issued_at at or before a moment is the forecast as it stood then, and comparing issuances shows how a crest forecast moved. Flow forecast at a gauge upstream of a dam is a forecast of the plant's water; a crest above flood stage is a forecast of riverside exposure. Source: NOAA National Water Prediction Service.
River Gauge Readings (Full Observed Series)NOAA NWPS · 15-minute	Every observed stage and flow reading at every NWS river gauge, at each gauge's own reporting interval (usually 15 minutes, 5 at some): stage in feet and flow in cubic feet per second. This is the complete observed record; the 15-minute gauge snapshots keep only the latest reading at each snapshot and miss readings from gauges that transmit in batches. Flow is the physical driver of hydroelectric output, and a gauge upstream of a dam leads the plant by the river's travel time. Stage is relative to each gauge's own datum and is not comparable between gauges; flow is. Source: NOAA National Water Prediction Service.
River Gauge Registry (Flood Thresholds)NOAA NWPS · daily	The reference record for every NWS river gauge, refreshed daily: whether its flood thresholds are rated on stage or flow, the action, minor, moderate, and major thresholds, the low-water line, the USGS site number where USGS runs the gauge, whether it is an official forecast point, and the county, state, and River Forecast Center. Join it to the gauge snapshots on lid to express a reading as distance from flood stage, and use the USGS site number to reach 15-minute discharge history. Source: NOAA National Water Prediction Service.
Advanced MetersEIA · annual (report year)	EIA-861 advanced metering: AMR, AMI and other meter counts, AMI energy served and customer access, by utility and customer class. Advanced_Meters, one row per utility, state, balancing authority and customer class. customer_class is residential, commercial, industrial, transportation (direct_connected in the distributed generation tables) or EIA's own total, so summing classes without excluding total counts everything twice. event_time is 1 January of the report year. release is final or early_release: EIA posts an early release of a year in August and replaces it with the final file in the autumn, and the mirror keeps the newest row per key. A key cell EIA leaves blank is '' or 0, and duplicate_index numbers rows that still share a key, in workbook order.