Tug Fork River at Welch, WV
River level and flood forecast · Mcdowell County
Normal3.7 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM
The river is 13.3 ft below flood stage (17 ft).
Flow: 153 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 20 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 19 ft |
| Flood stage | 17 ft |
| Action stage | 15 ft |
| Record crest (February 16, 2025) | 22.1 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftHemphill area is flooded. Other homes and businesses along the river in Welch are flooded.
- 19 ftFlooding of homes near bridge next to gage. Tug Road, Slick Rock Road, and Wilson Street in Hemphill area are flooded.
- 18 ftWilson Street and Slick Rock Road begin to flood in the Hemphill area.
- 17 ftChurch parking lot in Hemphill begins to flood. Route 16 dip between Hemphill and Welch starts to flood.
Highest crests on record
- 22.1 ft — February 16, 2025
- 22.1 ft — May 2, 2002
- 19.77 ft — July 8, 2001
- 15.17 ft — November 19, 2003
- 13.41 ft — May 16, 1996
Recent crests: 22.1 ft (February 16, 2025) · 12.92 ft (February 6, 2020) · 10.86 ft (January 31, 2013) · 10.17 ft (April 14, 2004) · 15.17 ft (November 19, 2003)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (WLCW2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.