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French Broad River at Grove Bridge Rd, in Blantyre, NC

River level and flood forecast · Transylvania County

Near flood stage15.3 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM

The river is 0.8 ft below flood stage (16 ft).

Forecast to rise into minor flooding Mon 2 PM and crest at 16.3 ft Mon 2 PM, then fall back below flood stage Mon 8 PM.

Flow: 3,660 cubic feet per second (USGS).

The last 7 days and the forecast

0510152025TueThuSatMonWedFriAction 15 ftFlood 16 ftModerate 19 ftMajor 23 ftNowObserved (ft)NWS forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 9:22 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

Major flood stage23 ft
Moderate flood stage19 ft
Flood stage16 ft
Action stage15 ft
Record crest (September 28, 2024)28.43 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

  • 31 ftRecord Flooding continues. The bridge at Grove Bridge Rd. and the adjacent gauge site will be inundated.
  • 27.1 ftRecord Flood Stage. At this level, floodwaters are likely impacting nearby homes and commercial buildings.
  • 25.5 ftMajor Flooding continues. Floodwater levels will be similar to levels that occurred on September 9 , 2004 with Hurricane Frances.
  • 23 ftMajor Flood Stage. Significant flooding of secondary roads is likely ongoing. Floodwaters may be inundating portions of US 64. Homes and commercial buildings within the vicinity of US 64 and adjacent secondary roads may be threatened by approaching or rising floodwaters. Floodwaters will reach levels similar to 1994 with Tropical Storm Beryl.
  • 21 ftModerate Flooding continues. Significant flooding of farmland along the French Broad River is ongoing. Floodwaters are inundating River Rd. and Big Willow Rd. and are likely threatening other roads in the local area including Grove Bridge Rd., Pleasant Grove Rd. and Tally Rd. Floodwaters will be approaching levels similar to levels reached on September 22, 2009.
  • 20 ftModerate Flooding continues. Significant flooding of farmland along the French Broad River is ongoing. Floodwaters may begin inundating the trailer park on River Ridge Rd. and may be impacting some buildings along US 64 north of Grove Bridge Rd.
  • 19.01 ft...impacts continued from 19.0 statement... Floodwaters may be threatening a trailer park on River Ridge Rd. Floodwaters may be approaching buildings north of Grove Bridge Rd along US 64 and along the river near Brevard. Associated tributaries, including the Little River near Penrose, are likely experiencing significant flooding due to high water levels on the French Broad River.
  • 19 ftModerate Flood Stage. Extensive flooding of the upper French Broad River Valley is ongoing, resulting in significant farmland inundation and affecting several roads between Rosman and Horse Shoe. Parts of Lyons Mountain Rd, Hannah Ford Rd, Green Rd, Island Ford Rd, Barclay Rd, Wilson Rd, Poplar Ln, River Rd, Pleasant Grove Rd, Butler Bridge Rd, and Big Willow Rd are likely inundated by at least 1-3 feet of floodwaters. Impacts continued in 19.01 statement...
  • 18 ftMinor Flooding continues. Widespread farmland flooding between the French Broad River and the old railroad bed is ongoing. The river may be overtopping the old railroad bed near Fodderstack Mountain Rd. and River Ridge Rd. The intersection of River Rd. and Big Willow Rd. is inundated with several inches of water.
  • 17 ftMinor Flooding continues. Floodwaters continue to inundate farmland between the French Broad River and the old railroad bed. Floodwaters may start to inundate the shoulders of River Road near the Big Willow Road intersection. Floodwaters continue to impact boat access areas at Grove Bridge Rd. and Crab Creek Rd.
  • 16 ftMinor Flood Stage. Farmland flooding continues on both sides of the French Broad River. Floodwaters begin to impact boat access areas at Grove Bridge Rd. and Crab Creek Rd.
  • 15 ftAction Stage. Most farm fields are flooding between the French Broad River and Brevard Rd. and between the French Broad River and Pleasant Grove Rd.

Highest crests on record

  1. 28.43 ft — September 28, 2024
  2. 27.1 ft — July 16, 1916
  3. 25.81 ft — September 9, 2004
  4. 25.5 ft — October 4, 1964
  5. 23.81 ft — August 18, 1994

Recent crests: 16.01 ft (December 30, 2024) · 28.43 ft (September 28, 2024) · 20.27 ft (January 10, 2024) · 17.52 ft (December 27, 2023) · 20.74 ft (August 19, 2021)

Up and down the river, and nearby

See it on the live map →Radar & warnings for Transylvania CountyNWS gauge pageUSGS gauge 03443000

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (BLAN7); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.