USGS WaterWatch
WaterWatch is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) World Wide Web site that displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time information generally is updated on an hourly basis. WaterWatch provides streamgage-based maps that:
- Show the location of more than 3,000 long-term USGS streamgages;
- Use colors to represent streamflow conditions compared to historical streamflow;
- Feature a point-and-click interface allowing users to retrieve graphs of stream stage (water elevation) and flow;
- Highlight locations where extreme hydrologic events, such as floods and droughts, are occurring.
Current streamflow conditions
Real-time streamflow Current water-resources conditions: View real-time streamflows compared to past conditions.
The map depicts streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent real-time streamflow compared to percentiles of historical daily streamflow for the day of the year.
This map represents conditions relative to those that have historically occured at this time of year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.( ):
Map · Summary plot · Percent plot · Summary table · Map animation · Streamflow table · Google Earth KML
Flood and high flow The "Flood and high flow" map shows the location of streamgages where the water level is currently at or above flood stage (depicted as a black triangle) or at high flow (depicted as blue circles) The high flow conditions are expressed as percentiles that compare the current (i.e., within the past several hours) instantaneous flow value to historical daily mean flow values for all days of the year. Please note that flood conditions may be more extensive than shown on the map because the National Weather Service (NWS) has not identified a flood stage (for flood forecasting purposes) at all USGS streamgaging sites. Also, the NWS has determined flood stages for some non-USGS streamgaging sites, which are not shown on the map. The most complete depiction of streamgages at or above flood stage is on the NWS River Conditions Map.
The real-time data used to produce this map are provisional and have not been reviewed or edited. They may be subject to significant change. Also, in this regard, during winter months the flood and high flows appearing on the map in some states may result from ice effects.():
Map · Locations above flood stage · Map animation
Daily streamflow for day of year The "Daily streamflow" map shows average streamflow conditions for the previous day. The map is similar in appearance to the "Real-time streamflow map" but less likely to reflect the influence of short-term events such as reservoir releases and short-duration precipitation events.
The map depicts streamflow conditions as computed at USGS aging stations. The colors represent daily streamflow compared to percentiles of historical daily streamflow for the day of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.():
Map · Summary plot · Percent plot · Summary table · Drainage basin () map
Daily steamflow for all days of year The "Daily streamflow" map shows average streamflow conditions for the previous day. The map is similar in appearance to the "Real-time streamflow map" but less likely to reflect the influence of short-term events such as reservoir releases and short-duration precipitation events.
The map depicts streamflow conditions as computed at USGS aging stations. The colors represent daily streamflow compared to percentiles of historical daily streamflow for the day of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.():
Map · Summary plot · Percent plot · Summary table · Drainage basin (HUC) map
7-day average streamflow for day of year The "7-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past seven days. By averaging over an entire week, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts 7-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent 7-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical 7-day average streamflow for the day of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.():
Map · Summary plot · Percent plot · Summary table · Drainage basin (HUC) map
7-day average streamflow for all days of year The "7-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past seven days. By averaging over an entire week, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts 7-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent 7-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical 7-day average streamflow for all days of the year. This map represents conditions in the context of all historical data. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used. ():
Map · Summary plot · Percent plot · Summary table · Drainage basin (HUC) map
14-day average streamflow for day of year The "14-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past 14 days. By averaging over 14 days, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts 14-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent 14-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical 14-day average streamflow for the day of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.():
Map · Drainage basin (HUC) map
28-day average streamflow for day of year The "28-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past 28 days. By averaging over past 28 days, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow"" maps.
The map depicts 28-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent 28-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical 28-day average streamflow for the day of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.():
Map · Drainage basin (HUC) map
FloodWatch
Map of flood and high flow locations The "Flood and high flow" map shows the location of streamgages where the water level is currently at or above flood stage (depicted as a black triangle) or at high flow (depicted as blue circles) The high flow conditions are expressed as percentiles that compare the current (i.e., within the past several hours) instantaneous flow value to historical daily mean flow values for all days of the year. Please note that flood conditions may be more extensive than shown on the map because the National Weather Service (NWS) has not identified a flood stage (for flood forecasting purposes) at all USGS streamgaging sites. Also, the NWS has determined flood stages for some non-USGS streamgaging sites, which are not shown on the map. The most complete depiction of streamgages at or above flood stage is on the NWS River Conditions Map.()
Table of locations above flood stages
Summarize recent flood and high-flow conditions
DroughtWatch
State drought information View a map showing the 7-day average streamflow conditions in hydrologic units of the United States and Puerto Rico for the day of year. The colors represent 7-day average streamflow percentiles based on historical streamflow for the day of the year. Thus, the map shows conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used. Subregions shaded gray indicate that insufficient data were available to compute a reliable 7-day average streamflow value. During winter months, this situation frequently arises due to ice effects. The data used to produce this map are provisional and have not been reviewed or edited. They may be subject to significant change.()
7-day below normal streamflow for day of year The "below normal 7-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past 7 days. By averaging over 7 days, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts below normal 7-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent below normal 7-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical below normal 7-day average streamflow for the day of the year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.()
Map · Summary plot · Drainage basin (HUC) map
7-day below normal streamflow for all days of year The "below normal 7-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past 7 days. By averaging over 7 days, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts below normal 7-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent below normal 7-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical below normal 7-day average streamflow for all days of the year. This map represents conditions in the context of all historical data. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.()
Map · Summary plot · Drainage basin (HUC) map
14-day below normal streamflow for day of year The "below normal 14-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past 14 days. By averaging over 14 days, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts below normal 14-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent below normal 14-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical below normal 14-day average streamflow for the day of year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.()
Map · Drainage basin (HUC) map
28-day below normal streamflow for day of year The "below normal 28-day average streamflow" map shows the average streamflow conditions for the past 28 days. By averaging over 28 days, the values on the map are more indicative of longer-term streamflow conditions than either the "Real-time streamflow" or the "Daily streamflow" maps.
The map depicts below normal 28-day average streamflow conditions as computed at USGS gaging stations. The colors represent below normal 28-day average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical below normal 28-day average streamflow for the day of year. This map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year. Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used.()
Map · Drainage basin (HUC) map
Recent and Historical StreamFlow
Maps of recent 1-day, 7-day, 14-day, and 28-day average streamflow
Maps of recent monthly average streamflow The "Monthly-Average Streamflow" map upgrades and replaces the "National Water Conditions" map. The new monthly map shows the average streamflow conditions in hydrologic units of the United States and Puerto Rico for the past calendar month. The colors represent monthly average streamflow compared to percentiles of historical streamflow for the calendar month. Thus, the map represents conditions adjusted for this time of the year.
Only stations having at least 30 years of record are used. Subregions shaded gray indicate that insufficient data were available to compute a reliable monthly average. During winter months, this situation frequently arises due to ice effects. The data used to produce this map are provisional and have not been reviewed or edited. They may be subject to significant change.()
Maps of historical annual and monthly runoff for hydrologic units
Time-series plots of historical annual runoff for hydrologic units
Annual summary
Annual Streamflow Summaries
2007
2006
2005
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
