Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02080500 · North Carolina · drains 8,384 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:45 PM · streamflow
The Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids is running 1,510 cfs, 53% of the median flow for October 26 (2,830 cfs, 63 years). Gage height is 2.58 ft, 6.4 ft below flood stage (9.0 ft). Flow is down 3% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (9.0 ft) is 6.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (9.0 ft) is 6.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (12.0 ft) is 9.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (15.0 ft) is 12.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (9.0 ft) is 6.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (9.0 ft) is 6.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (12.0 ft) is 9.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (15.0 ft) is 12.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Moderate (12.0 ft) is 9.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (15.0 ft) is 12.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETWater 65°F, flow 53% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:31 AM–8:31 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp65°Fmeasured Oct 26, 3:15 PM · Roanoke River At Halifax, Nc, 9 mi away
- Air temphigh 73°F / low 40°FSunny
- WindCalm1–4 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 6
- Flow53% of normalFlow steady (-3% in 24 h)
Official North Carolina fishing info: NC Wildlife Resources Commission — Where to fish
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:28 AM · Sunset 6:20 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:17 PM–2:17 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:31 AM–8:31 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:54 PM–6:54 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:17 PM–2:17 PM Minor 7:31 AM–8:31 AM · 5:54 PM–6:54 PM Calm wind 1–4 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:45 AM–2:45 AM · 1:15 PM–3:15 PM Minor 8:46 AM–9:46 AM · 6:38 PM–7:38 PM Light wind 2–7 mph · pressure rising |
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:46 AM–3:46 AM · 2:17 PM–4:17 PM Minor 10:01 AM–11:01 AM · 7:31 PM–8:31 PM Light wind 5–7 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:50 AM–4:50 AM · 3:22 PM–5:22 PM Minor 11:11 AM–12:11 PM · 8:34 PM–9:34 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:54 AM–5:54 AM · 4:26 PM–6:26 PM Minor 12:11 PM–1:11 PM · 9:44 PM–10:44 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:56 AM–6:56 AM · 5:26 PM–7:26 PM Minor 1:01 PM–2:01 PM · 10:57 PM–11:57 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:54 AM–6:54 AM · 5:21 PM–7:21 PM Minor 12:41 PM–1:41 PM · 11:09 PM–12:09 AM Light wind 1–6 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured by USGS at Roanoke River At Halifax, Nc, 9 mi away. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 36.46, -77.63 (moon times from astronomical equations, Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids local time).
Weather & wind at Roanoke River at Roanoke Rapids
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon73° / 40°SunnyWind NW 2 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday74° / 47°Patchy Fog then SunnyWind N 2 to 7 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday72° / 52°Partly SunnyWind NE 7 mphRain 3%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 36.460, -77.634 (grid AKQ), issued Oct 26, 2:38 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge RRDN7- Action stage9 ft+6.4 ft from now
- Minor stage9 ft+6.4 ft from now
- Moderate stage12 ft+9.4 ft from now
- Major stage15 ft+12.4 ft from now
- Record crest39 ft1940
October 26 in history
63 years of flow records- Today1,510 cfs
- Same date last year2,150 cfs2025
- Median2,830 cfs
- Normal range2,150 cfs – 6,160 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 196433,700 cfs2019
- Lowest since 19641,580 cfs2008
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 1,539 | +1% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 1,530 | +0% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 1,530 | +2% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 1,500 | -1% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 1,510 | -3% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 1,560 | +1% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 1,550 | +0% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 1,550 | +1% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 1,530 | -1% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 1,550 | -1% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Roanoke River at Halifax9 mi · River16.74 ftstage 16.74 ft
- Roanoke River near Scotland Neck22 mi · River4.12 ftstage 4.12 ft
- Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)38 mi · Lake · Dam near Boydton288.01 ft−11.99 ft vs guide curve (normal pool)
- Roanoke River at Hamilton43 mi · River2.60 ftstage 2.60 ft
- Island Creek Reservoir47 mi · Lake · Dam near Clarksville258.32 ft+0.25 ft vs normal
- Roanoke River at Williamston53 mi · River4.91 ftstage 4.91 ft
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02080500 — Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids, Nc
- Location
- 36.4600, -77.6336 · North Carolina
- Drainage area
- 8,384 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1964–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:45 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge RRDN7 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.