Poor Fork Cumberland River at Cumberland, KY
River level and flood forecast · Harlan County
Normal3.8 ftas of Mon 4:30 PM
The river is 8.2 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Flow: 80 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 16 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 14 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 9.5 ft |
| Record crest (April 4, 1977) | 15.88 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 15.88 ftFlooding will exceed the highest flood on record. Downtown streets and the approach of KY 2179 bridge flood.
- 14 ftLow lying private yards are flooded.
- 13.5 ftWater begins affecting some low lying businesses.
- 12 ftLow lying areas flood. A parking lot of a business floods.
- 11 ftRiver is at bankfull.
Highest crests on record
- 15.88 ft — April 4, 1977
- 14.64 ft — December 30, 1969
- 12.63 ft — March 18, 2002
- 12.3 ft — January 11, 1974
- 12.13 ft — February 6, 2020
Recent crests: 12.13 ft (February 6, 2020) · 10.09 ft (April 23, 2017) · 11.17 ft (March 5, 2015) · 10.73 ft (February 16, 2003) · 12.63 ft (March 18, 2002)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CMBK2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.