South Fork Holston River at Riverside nr Chilhowie, VA
River level and flood forecast · Smyth County
Normal2.6 ftas of Mon 7:30 PM
The river is 4.4 ft below flood stage (7 ft).
Flow: 181 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Jan 1, 12 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 11 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9 ft |
| Flood stage | 7 ft |
| Action stage | 5 ft |
| Record crest (September 27, 2024) | 10.87 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 12 ftWATER REACHES THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ROUTE 645 BRIDGE AT THE GAGE.
- 10 ftFLOODING OF ROUTE 660 NEAR THE GAGE.
- 7 ftROUTE 660 DOWNSTREAM FROM THE GAGE BEGINS TO FLOOD.
Highest crests on record
- 10.87 ft — September 27, 2024
- 10.2 ft — November 6, 1977
- 9 ft — June 12, 1923
- 8.89 ft — April 5, 1977
- 8.68 ft — January 15, 1995
Recent crests: 4.94 ft (February 13, 2025) · 10.87 ft (September 27, 2024) · 4.25 ft (April 12, 2024) · 5.21 ft (January 10, 2024) · 4.03 ft (February 18, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SHLV2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.