Elk River at Queen Shoals, WV
River level and flood forecast · Kanawha County
Normal8.1 ftas of Mon 8 PM
The river is 10.9 ft below flood stage (19 ft).
Forecast to fall to 5.5 ft by Sat, Oct 17, 12 PM.
Flow: 4,210 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 2:36 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 29 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 23 ft |
| Flood stage | 19 ft |
| Action stage | 17 ft |
| Record crest (June 24, 2016) | 33.31 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 31 ftIn Clendenin, the Columbia Gas transmission area just north of town along WV State Route 4, floods around 31 feet.
- 30 ftIn Clendenin, many homes and businesses above the Big Sandy Creek between WV State Route 4 and the river are inundated. In Barren Creek, much of River Haven Road floods along with several homes between this road and the river. In Queen Shoals, several homes flood along WV State Route 4 0.3 miles above the Queen Road bridge.
- 29.5 ftIn Queen Shoals, row of homes on WV State Route 4 above the Queen Road bridge flood. In Reamer, homes between Brown Street and the river are inundated.
- 29 ftMajor flooding occurs along the entire reach of the Elk River. In Clendenin, most homes and businesses between Maywood Avenue and the river are inundated. In Youngs Bottom, several homes between Robbie Lane and the river flood. In Procious, portions of WV Route 4 and Scenic River Road flood.
- 28 ftIn Corton, the Eastern Gas transmission area located on River Haven Road, floods around 28 feet.
- 27 ftIn Clendenin, many homes and businesses between Maywood Avenue and the river flood. In Procious, homes on both sides of the river begin to flood. In Queen Shoals, low sections of WV State Route 4 approximately 1 mile below the gauge floods. Low sections of WV State Route 4 flood between Barren Creek and Corton.
- 25 ftIn Clendenin, lower portions of Elk Avenue, Virginia Avenue, and Jarrett Street flood. The first floor of businesses adjacent to the river flood.
- 22 ftIn Falling Rock, US Route 119 at the intersection with Jordan Creek Road floods. In Queen Shoals, low spot on Flat Fork Groves Road floods.
- 20 ftIn Clendenin, basements in some businesses adjacent to the river flood. WV State Route 4 between US Route 119 and Beech Street floods. Sections of US Route 119 are inundated due to backwater flooding of Big Sandy Creek.
- 19 ftIn Queen Shoals, the lower floor of the abandoned church opposite side of the river from the gauge floods.
- 12 ftThe North and South Clendenin boat ramp access parking lots flood between 12 and 15 feet.
Highest crests on record
- 33.31 ft — June 24, 2016
- 22.83 ft — March 1, 2021
- 20.24 ft — December 7, 2013
- 19.9 ft — February 7, 2025
- 19.33 ft — September 28, 2018
Recent crests: 19.9 ft (February 7, 2025) · 22.83 ft (March 1, 2021) · 19.33 ft (September 28, 2018) · 33.31 ft (June 24, 2016) · 20.24 ft (December 7, 2013)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (QUSW2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.