Cheat River at Rowlesburg, WV
River level and flood forecast · Preston County
The river is 7.8 ft below flood stage (16 ft).
Forecast to rise to 8.4 ft Mon 2 PM, below the 16 ft flood stage.
Flow: 11,000 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 1:57 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 16 ft |
| Action stage | 12.5 ft |
| Record crest (November 5, 1985) | 36.9 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 36.9 ftWater levels reach the historic Election Day Flood of November 5, 1985.
- 36 ftWith the exception of areas like Oak, Maple and Wilson Streets, the entire town of Rowlesburg is under water. Areas closest to the Cheat River are inundated by up to 20 feet of water.
- 33 ftWater reaches the road deck of the Maple Avenue Bridge (Route 51). Backwater flooding occurs on Saltlick Creek upstream from the confluence of the Cheat River.
- 30 ftWater surrounds buildings on Maple Avenue (Route 51) east the Maple Avenue Bridge along Saltlick Creek. Parts of East Main Street and Elm Street are covered with 13 feet of water.
- 28 ftWater covers the intersection at the east end of the Maple Avenue Bridge with County Route 80/8 and Maple Avenue flooded.
- 25 ftWater reaches the lowest bridge girders on both the railroad bridge and the Maple Avenue Bridge (Route 51). Approximately 3 feet of water covers the east end of Main Street and 8 feet of water on Catherine Street (Route 72) near town park.
- 24.2 ftWater levels reach the flood levels of the flood of January 19, 1996.
- 24 ftWater covers portions of Elm, East Main and Catherine Streets in Rowlesburg and Route 72 both South and North of Rowlesburg. Water covers parts of the intersection of Maple Avenue and County Road 80/8 at the east end of the Maple Avenue Bridge. Downstream in Manheim, Center Avenue floods.
- 23.58 ftWater levels reach the flood levels of the flood of February 9, 1994.
- 22 ftRoute 72 (Buffalo Street) is closed near Feltys Hill at the south end of Rowlesburg. Water approaches the intersection of Maple Street and County Road 80/8 at the east end of the Maple Avenue Bridge.
- 20 ftWater flows under houses in low lying areas of Rowlesburg. Water affects homes along Poplar, Elm, Catherine, Diamond, Church, Buffalo and Main Streets. Nearly 3 feet of water covers Rowlesburg Town Park ball fields.
- 18 ftState route 72 is closed at the north end of Rowlesburg, and water surrounds houses near Rowlesburg town park.
- 16 ftFlooding reaches pavilions in Rowlesburg town park.
- 15 ftFlooding begins in the Rowlesburg town park.
Highest crests on record
- 36.9 ft — November 5, 1985
- 24.2 ft — January 19, 1996
- 23.58 ft — February 9, 1994
- 20.94 ft — May 8, 1994
- 20.9 ft — February 19, 2000
Recent crests: 16.7 ft (February 1, 2025) · 16.12 ft (March 1, 2021) · 14.8 ft (March 4, 2015) · 16.1 ft (May 16, 2014) · 17.3 ft (January 26, 2010)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (ROWW2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.