Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN, VA
River level and flood forecast · Isle of Wight County
Normal0.3 ftas of Mon 3:15 PM
The river is 4.7 ft below flood stage (5 ft).
Flow: 167 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 | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 5 ft |
| Action stage | 3 ft |
| Record crest (October 10, 2016) | 10.78 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftRiver stage sensor operating limit
- 16 ftBusinesses along Main Street and South Street begin to flood.
- 13 ftGazebo near the Riverwalk is now flooded.
- 8 ftWater overflows rip rap on right downstream side of bridge across US 58/258 in vicinity of the gage. Lowlands upstream of bridge now inundated. Roadway entrance to water treatment plant and public boat ramp begin to flood.
- 4.5 ftWater covers the docks/pier near the Gazebo.
- 3.5 ftWater covers boat ramp docks at public boat ramp.
- 3 ftWater begins to flow over retaining wall on left downstream side of bridge in vicinity of the gage.
Highest crests on record
- 10.78 ft — October 10, 2016
- 8.89 ft — September 21, 2020
- 8.05 ft — November 14, 2020
- 7.53 ft — February 20, 2021
- 6.39 ft — June 13, 2013
Recent crests: 4.7 ft (March 22, 2025) · 5.5 ft (March 10, 2024) · 7.53 ft (February 20, 2021) · 8.05 ft (November 14, 2020) · 8.89 ft (September 21, 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 (FKLV2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.