Cumberland River at Pineville, KY
River level and flood forecast · Bell County
The river is 25.0 ft below flood stage (1002 ft).
Forecast to hold near 977.0 ft through Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.
Flow: 385 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:22 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 1019 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 1010 ft |
| Flood stage | 1002 ft |
| Action stage | 995 ft |
| Record crest (April 5, 1977) | 1021.8 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 1033 ftWater will overtop the floodwall. Evacuation of the Pineville central business district is necessary.
- 1023.5 ftUS 25 E floods.
- 1021.8 ftFlooding will exceed the highest flood of record.
- 1019 ftProtected areas of town and Highway 25 E flood. Floodgates are closed.
- 1018.2 ftHomes begin flooding along Fourmile Road.
- 1016.3 ftStewart Branch Road and homes along Highway 25 E begin flooding.
- 1014.6 ftStructures begin flooding along Straight Creek.
- 1013 ftFlooding threatens US 25 E, Stewart branch Road and Wallsend.
- 1012 ftStructures begin flooding along Dorton Branch.
- 1006.4 ftFourmile Road floods.
- 1005.7 ftDorton Branch Road floods.
- 1005 ftKY Route 66 north of Straight Creek bridge floods.
- 1002 ftLow lying roads flood, including portions of Straight Creek, Dorton Branch, and Fourmile Road.
Highest crests on record
- 1021.8 ft — April 5, 1977
- 1019.06 ft — February 7, 2020
- 1017.32 ft — March 18, 2002
- 1014.56 ft — February 16, 2025
- 1013.67 ft — February 11, 1994
Recent crests: 1014.56 ft (February 16, 2025) · 1013.33 ft (March 29, 2021) · 1002.19 ft (March 2, 2021) · 1006.49 ft (April 13, 2020) · 1019.06 ft (February 7, 2020)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PVLK2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.