Kayak Love

West Virginia · river

South Branch Potomac River at Franklin

USGS monitoring location. Launch access and paddling suitability have not been verified.

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

98

Favorable weather

Weather score out of 100

Weather only. This is a monitoring station, not a verified launch. Access, hazards and suitable flow are unknown.

Weather observation: Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT.

River observation: Sun, 08 Nov 2026 15:50:00 GMT.

Page checked: Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:00:12 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Wind

2 mph

gusting to 8 mph

Air temp

59°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

50.5 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Wednesday · 100

  • Sun

    85

  • Mon

    30

  • Tue

    93

  • Wed

    100

    Best

  • Thu

    69

  • Fri

    42

  • Sat

    9

Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
11a28
12p214
1p720
2p1022
3p821
4p723
5p622
6p59
7p313
8p317
9p417
10p516

Is this flow normal for November 8?

Today's 50.5 cfs is Right about the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 49 cfs, across 85 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind — 2 mph — light wind at the forecast location±0
  • Cold — 59°F air temperature — cool weather; water temperature is not measured-2

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, and uses available public readings. 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 West Virginia →