James River near Richmond
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02037500 · Virginia · drains 6,753 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 6:30 PM · streamflow
The James River at Richmond is running 1,340 cfs, 71% of the median flow for October 26 (1,880 cfs, 89 years). Gage height is 3.60 ft, 8.4 ft below flood stage (12.0 ft). Flow is about the same as 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 5.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (12.0 ft) is 8.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (15.0 ft) is 11.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (22.0 ft) is 18.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
James River near Richmond fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 71% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:33 AM–8:33 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Flow 71% of normal, flow steady, light NNE wind, pressure rising — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 6:34 PM–7:34 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 73°F / low 44°FSunny
- WindCalm2–4 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 6
- Flow71% of normalFlow steady (+0% in 24 h)
Official Virginia fishing forecast: Virginia DWR — Fishing forecasts & reports
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:29 AM · Sunset 6:18 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:16 PM–2:16 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:33 AM–8:33 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:51 PM–6:51 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:16 PM–2:16 PM Minor 7:33 AM–8:33 AM · 5:51 PM–6:51 PM Calm wind 2–4 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:45 AM–2:45 AM · 1:15 PM–3:15 PM Minor 8:49 AM–9:49 AM · 6:34 PM–7:34 PM Light wind 4–6 mph · pressure rising |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:45 AM–3:45 AM · 2:17 PM–4:17 PM Minor 10:05 AM–11:05 AM · 7:27 PM–8:27 PM Calm wind 2–4 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:49 AM–4:49 AM · 3:22 PM–5:22 PM Minor 11:14 AM–12:14 PM · 8:29 PM–9:29 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:54 AM–5:54 AM · 4:26 PM–6:26 PM Minor 12:15 PM–1:15 PM · 9:40 PM–10:40 PM Calm wind 0–1 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:56 AM–6:56 AM · 5:26 PM–7:26 PM Minor 1:04 PM–2:04 PM · 10:53 PM–11:53 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:54 AM–6:54 AM · 5:21 PM–7:21 PM Minor 12:43 PM–1:43 PM · 11:06 PM–12:06 AM Calm wind 0–5 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)
| 1 |
| Today | 6, rounded | 6/10 |
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. 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 37.56, -77.55 (moon times from astronomical equations, James River near Richmond local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:30 AM · Sunset 6:17 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:45 AM–2:45 AM
- Moon underfoot1:15 PM–3:15 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:49 AM–9:49 AM
- Moonrise6:34 PM–7:34 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 7/10Good | Major 12:45 AM–2:45 AM · 1:15 PM–3:15 PM Minor 8:49 AM–9:49 AM · 6:34 PM–7:34 PM Light wind 4–6 mph · pressure rising |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:45 AM–3:45 AM · 2:17 PM–4:17 PM Minor 10:05 AM–11:05 AM · 7:27 PM–8:27 PM Calm wind 2–4 mph · pressure steady |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:49 AM–4:49 AM · 3:22 PM–5:22 PM Minor 11:14 AM–12:14 PM · 8:29 PM–9:29 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:54 AM–5:54 AM · 4:26 PM–6:26 PM Minor 12:15 PM–1:15 PM · 9:40 PM–10:40 PM Calm wind 0–1 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:56 AM–6:56 AM · 5:26 PM–7:26 PM Minor 1:04 PM–2:04 PM · 10:53 PM–11:53 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:54 AM–6:54 AM · 5:21 PM–7:21 PM Minor 12:43 PM–1:43 PM · 11:06 PM–12:06 AM Calm wind 0–5 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:47 AM–7:47 AM · 6:12 PM–8:12 PM Minor 1:16 PM–2:16 PM Light wind 4–7 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) (Moonrise × sunset +1) | 1 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 1.5 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)
| 3 |
| 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. 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 37.56, -77.55 (moon times from astronomical equations, James River near Richmond local time).
Weather & wind at James River near Richmond
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight44°ClearWind W 3 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday73° / 49°SunnyWind N 6 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday71° / 51°Partly SunnyWind NE 3 mphRain 1%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 37.563, -77.547 (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 RMDV2- Action stage9 ft+5.4 ft from now
- Minor stage12 ft+8.4 ft from now
- Moderate stage15 ft+11.4 ft from now
- Major stage22 ft+18.4 ft from now
- Record crest28.62 ft1972
October 26 in history
89 years of flow records- Today1,340 cfs
- Same date last year1,040 cfs2025
- Median1,880 cfs
- Normal range1,260 cfs – 4,030 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 193754,400 cfs1972
- Lowest since 1937112 cfs1964
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 1,351 | -4% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 1,400 | -5% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 1,470 | -6% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 1,570 | -11% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 1,770 | -15% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 2,080 | +11% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 1,880 | -5% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 1,980 | -20% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 2,460 | -20% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 3,080 | -27% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Canterbury Lake4 mi · Lake · Tuckahoe Village2.88 ft24h +0.01 ft
- Waterfront Lake7 mi · Lake · Cox Rd at Innsbrook2.89 ft24h −0.01 ft
- Echo Lake8 mi · Lake · Dam near Glen Allen2.71 ft24h ±0.00 ft
- Wyndham Lake10 mi · Lake · Dam at Wyndham2.14 ft24h ±0.00 ft
- James River at Cartersville30 mi · River894 cfs43% of normal
- James River at Scottsville54 mi · River977 cfs64% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02037500 — James River Near Richmond, Va
- Location
- 37.5632, -77.5469 · Virginia
- Drainage area
- 6,753 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1937–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 6:30 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge RMDV2 — 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.