South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg, WV
River level and flood forecast · Grant County
Normal7.6 ftas of Mon 4 PM
The river is 6.4 ft below flood stage (14 ft).
Forecast to fall to 5.4 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 2 PM.
Flow: 3,870 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 | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 14 ft |
| Action stage | 12 ft |
| Record crest (June 17, 1949) | 22.83 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22.5 ftSignificant flooding is occurring. More than a hundred buildings in Petersburg are flooded.
- 20 ftSeveral city blocks on the south side of Petersburg are flooded. Backwater may also flood portions of the eastern sections of the city.
- 18 ftWater covers the entire runway at Grant County Airport and is in nearby structures. Hundreds of acres of lowlands are flooded. Water approaches homes on the north side of the river in Petersburg.
- 17 ftWater reaches structures at the Grant County Airport. Flooding also begins south of the river on the south side of Petersburg.
- 15 ftTwo structures are flooded upstream of Petersburg. Water also approaches the runway at the Petersburg Airport.
- 14 ftWater approaches structures upstream of Petersburg. Water also begins to cover Fish Hatchery Road near the river.
- 12 ftWater overflows the natural banks into nearby lowlands. River Road alongside the river begins to flood in its lowest spots.
Highest crests on record
- 22.83 ft — June 17, 1949
- 22.2 ft — September 6, 1996
- 21.8 ft — November 5, 1985
- 21.2 ft — November 24, 1877
- 20.3 ft — March 17, 1936
Recent crests: 12.25 ft (March 1, 2021) · 16.93 ft (April 16, 2018) · 14.38 ft (May 16, 2014) · 12.8 ft (May 8, 2013) · 11.8 ft (May 18, 2011)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamSouth Branch Potomac River at Franklin, WV
- DownstreamSouth Branch Potomac River near Springfield, WV
- North Fork South Branch Potomac River at Cabins, WV
- South Mill Creek near Mozer, WV
- South Fork South Branch Potomac River near SF Moorefield, WV
- South Branch Potomac River near Moorefield, WV
- Blackwater River (WV) at Davis, WV
- Dry Fork River at Gladwin, WV
- Linton Creek near Laurel Dale, WV
- Parker Hollow Run at Needmore, WV
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PETW2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.