Kayak Love

New York · river

Chemung River at Elmira

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

84of 100

Good

Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Chemung River at Elmira
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Arnot Art Museum and Lake Street, Elmira, NY.jpg by Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Live data sources are unreachable right now — showing representative sample conditions.

Wind

12 mph

gusting to 18 mph

Air temp

71°F

32% chance of rain

River flow

1,807 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 89

  • Today

    74

  • Wed

    45

  • Thu

    89

    Best

  • Fri

    79

  • Sat

    51

  • Sun

    82

  • Mon

    65

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
12a1218
1a1421
2a1318
3a1218
4a1421
5a1117
6a1420
7a1319
8a1219
9a1318
10a1623
11a1724

Is this flow normal for September 8?

Today's 1,807 cfs is 9% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 1,995 cfs, across 67 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind12 mph — hard work, whitecaps likely-15
  • Rain32% chance in the next 6 hours-1

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in New York