South Fork Shenandoah River at Front Royal, VA
River level and flood forecast · Warren County
Normal1.6 ftas of Mon 3:15 PM
The river is 10.4 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Forecast to rise to 2.5 ft Tue 8 AM, below the 12 ft flood stage.
Flow: 880 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 | 18 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 14 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (October 16, 1942) | 34.8 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 24 ftCatlett Mountain Road begins to flood.
- 22 ftWater approaches structures on Rivermont Acres Drive.
- 20 ftBackwater from the river reaches South River Road. Floodwaters cover the Indian Hollow Road bridge.
- 18 ftSignificant portions of the railroad tracks running along the southwest side of Front Royal are flooded.
- 17 ftBackwater from the river reaches Rivermont Acres Drive. Water also approaches the Shenandoah Farms subdivision and covers a walking trail near the Front Royal boat ramp.
- 16 ftFloodwaters approach lower portions of Shenandoah Shores Estates.
- 14 ftRailroad tracks along the river south of Front Royal begin to flood. Water approaches structures in Riverton.
- 12 ftBackwater begins to creep up Luray Avenue toward the railroad trestle. A riverside parking area at the end of Luray Avenue is flooded.
- 10 ftHay fields near the gauge begin to flood.
- 8 ftA boat ramp near the end of Luray Avenue south of Front Royal floods. A second boat ramp near Bentonville also floods.
Highest crests on record
- 34.8 ft — October 16, 1942
- 32.57 ft — September 7, 1996
- 32.43 ft — November 6, 1985
- 26.01 ft — March 18, 1936
- 25.2 ft — January 20, 1996
Recent crests: 12.4 ft (October 1, 2024) · 8.06 ft (March 2, 2021) · 14.34 ft (September 19, 2018) · 16.52 ft (June 4, 2018) · 12.07 ft (May 17, 2014)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamSouth Fork Shenandoah River at Luray, VA
- DownstreamShenandoah River at Millville, WV
- Passage Creek near Buckton, VA
- North Fork Shenandoah River near Strasburg, VA
- Cedar Creek (VA) near Winchester, VA
- Spout Run near Millwood, VA
- Battle Run near Laurel Mills, VA
- Opequon Creek near Berryville, VA
- Dry Marsh Run near Berryville, VA
- Hogue Creek near Hayfield, VA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (FROV2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.