South Fork South Branch Potomac River near SF Moorefield, WV
River level and flood forecast · Hardy County
Normal5.8 ftas of Mon 4:15 PM
The river is 4.2 ft below flood stage (10 ft).
Forecast to fall to 3.2 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 2 PM.
Flow: 1,930 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 | 14 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12 ft |
| Flood stage | 10 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (November 5, 1985) | 19.99 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftNear record flooding expected. The entire town on the left bank of the South Fork will be flooded. Water will begin to inundate Washington and Elm, Winchester and North Main, and Ashley and Spring Streets.
- 16 ftNarly half of the town will be inundated. Maple Avenue will be flooded north of Jackson to the intersection with Spring Avenue. Kuyendall Lane and Main Street will be under water and a large part of Main Street and adjacent roads will be inundated. Water will be approaching the main floor of the chicken processing plant.
- 14.5 ftWater reaches the railroad bridge just south of town.
- 14 ftWater will be approaching the northern boundary of the business district.
- 12 ftWater will begin to inundate the sewage treatment plant. Water begins to flood Town Run Road and areas from the high school northward begin to flood. On the south end of town, Rohrbaugh Street south of the railroad tracks will begin to flood.
- 10 ftWater begins to flood pastureland south of town.
- 8 ftThe river overflows mainly low lying areas.
Highest crests on record
- 19.99 ft — November 5, 1985
- 16.1 ft — June 18, 1949
- 14.9 ft — March 17, 1936
- 13.5 ft — March 29, 1924
- 12.27 ft — September 7, 1996
Recent crests: 10.8 ft (June 3, 2018) · 10.94 ft (September 19, 2003) · 12.27 ft (September 7, 1996) · 10.5 ft (January 19, 1996) · 19.99 ft (November 5, 1985)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamSouth Fork South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine, WV
- South Branch Potomac River near Moorefield, WV
- Parker Hollow Run at Needmore, WV
- South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg, WV
- North Fork South Branch Potomac River at Cabins, WV
- South Mill Creek near Mozer, WV
- Waites Run near Wardensville, WV
- Linton Creek near Laurel Dale, WV
- North Fork Shenandoah River near Mount Jackson, VA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MOFW2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.