James River (VA) at Richmond-Westham, VA
River level and flood forecast · Henrico County
The river is 8.6 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Forecast to rise to 6.1 ft Wed 8 PM, below the 12 ft flood stage.
Flow: 1,250 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 | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (June 23, 1972) | 28.62 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 32 ftRiver stage sensor operating limit
- 28.62 ftFlood of record during Hurricane Agnes.
- 27 ftNear record flooding begins.
- 23 ftRichmond City Water Filtration Plant endangered.
- 22 ftMajor flooding begins. Downstream industries, shops and streets along the riverfront are flooded at and above this level.
- 18.2 ftCSX Railroad tracks flooded.
- 17 ftWater infiltrates several homes near the gage, downstream of the Huguenot Bridge.
- 16 ftWater is getting into the parking lot at Huguenot Flatwater Park and Pony Pasture. Additionally, portions of the Willow Oaks County Club is flooded. Sections of Riverside Drive are closed due to flooding.
- 15 ftBegin moderate flooding. Residences near gage threatened by flood waters.
- 14 ftPortions of Riverside Drive begin to flood.
- 13.5 ftPortions of Huguenot Flatwater park begin to flood.
- 13 ftApproximately 20 acres of lowland flooded in vicinity of gage.
- 12 ftFlood stage. Minor flooding along both banks. No damage at this level.
Highest crests on record
- 28.62 ft — June 23, 1972
- 24.95 ft — August 21, 1969
- 24.77 ft — November 7, 1985
- 23.42 ft — March 19, 1936
- 22.65 ft — April 27, 1937
Recent crests: 14.95 ft (May 15, 2025) · 17.23 ft (February 18, 2025) · 14.2 ft (October 2, 2024) · 12.54 ft (September 29, 2024) · 16.45 ft (January 11, 2024)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamJames River (VA) at Cartersville, VA
- James River (VA) at KANAWHA CANAL near Richmond, VA
- Fine Creek near FINE CREEK MILLS, VA
- South Anna River near Ashland, VA
- Totopotomoy Creek near STUDLEY, VA
- Pamunkey River near Hanover, VA
- Appomattox River at Mattoax, VA
- North Anna River at HART CORNER NR DOSWELL, VA
- Little River near DOSWELL, VA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (RMDV2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.