James River (VA) at Holcomb Rock, VA
River level and flood forecast · Bedford County
The river is 14.0 ft below flood stage (22 ft).
Forecast to rise to 8.2 ft Mon 8 PM, below the 22 ft flood stage.
Flow: 7,490 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 3 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 28 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 24 ft |
| Flood stage | 22 ft |
| Action stage | 18 ft |
| Record crest (November 5, 1985) | 42.15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 32 ftWater floods railroad tracks along right bank.
- 28 ftWater reaches mail floor of powerhouse.
- 23 ftPower equipment yard and access flooded at holcomb rock dam.
- 22 ftTwo feet of water in powerhouse lower floor.
Highest crests on record
- 42.15 ft — November 5, 1985
- 35.5 ft — August 20, 1969
- 32.38 ft — June 22, 1972
- 30.99 ft — January 20, 1996
- 30.78 ft — March 18, 1936
Recent crests: 23.63 ft (February 17, 2025) · 16.56 ft (September 28, 2024) · 17.02 ft (January 10, 2024) · 18.91 ft (April 14, 2020) · 20.27 ft (February 24, 2019)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (HRKV2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.