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French Broad River near Fletcher water level

River gauge, French Broad River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

4.27ft Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
758 cfs
Water temperature
56 °F
10 20 30 Highest onrecord 30.61 ft Minor floodstage 13.00 ft

History

456ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20Oct 23Oct 25456ftOct 16Oct 20Oct 25
510ftSep 21Sep 29Oct 8Oct 16Oct 25Minor flood stage510ftSep 21Oct 8Oct 25Minor flood stage
510ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage510ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
5810ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20265810ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.20 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 08:00 AM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 09:43 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The gauge at French Broad River near Fletcher reads 4.27 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

That puts it 0.31 ft below the median of 4.58 ft for mid-October, based on 24 years of readings. It is 8.73 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.02 ft (+0.25 ft).

The level is falling, down 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.20 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 08:00 AM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.52 ft and 11.43 ft.

The sensor also reports a water temperature of 56 °F.

Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
4.58 ft0.31 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
3.40 ft – 5.62 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (24 years of records)
Same day last year
4.02 ft+0.25 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
3.52 ft – 11.43 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
3.47 ft – 11.43 ft
Highest on record
30.61 ftSeptember 27, 2024
Forecast peak
4.30 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 PM

What the stage means on the water

A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 13.00 ft, still 8.73 ft away.

What happens at each level

20.10 ft
Record Flood Stage. Floodwaters are approaching levels similar to those levels observed in during Hurricane Frances in early September, 2004.
20.00 ft
Major Flood Stage. Significant and damaging flooding of the French Broad River Valley is likely from Etowah upstream to Avery Creek and Biltmore Park downstream of the gauge site.
17.00 ft
Moderate Flood Stage. Significant inundation of several roads within the French Broad River Valley from Etowah to Avery Creek is ongoing. Floodwaters may be approaching vulnerable homes and businesses within the valley. Floodwater levels are similar to those levels observed during Hurricane Ivan in mid-September, 2004.
15.00 ft
Minor Flooding continues. French Broad River floodwaters may be impacting several roads within the valley, resulting in road closures including along Glenn Bridge Rd., Pinner Rd., Butler Bridge Rd., Nelson Rd., Banner Farm Rd., Brannon Rd., Old Brevard Hwy., and Ladson Rd. Widespread farmland flooding is ongoing with floodwaters impacting some residential and commercial property and outbuildings. Adjacent parks and river access points along the reach of the river are experiencing significant inundation.
13.00 ft
Minor Flood Stage. French Broad River floodwaters are now inundating Banner Farm Rd. Floodwaters may be approaching portions of Glenn Bridge Rd. Farmland and other low-lying areas within the French Broad River Valley from Etowah to Avery Creek are experiencing scattered flooding. Glenn Bridge Park and river access is experiencing scattered flooding.
12.00 ft
Action Stage continues. Glenn Bridge Park river access is experiencing minor flooding. Westfeldt Park is experiencing scattered flooding. French Broad River floodwaters are causing isolated to widely scattered farmland flooding.
11.50 ft
Action Stage Flooding continues. Butler Bridge Rd. is inundated with up to 6 inches of floodwaters from the French Broad River, forcing road closure.
10.00 ft
Action/Advisory Stage. The French Broad River has exceeded bankfull at the gauge site. Isolated farmland flooding is beginning across the French Broad River Valley from Etowah downstream to Avery Creek upstream of the gauge site.
4.27 ft
Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 11 %.

RankLevelDate
130.61 ftSeptember 27, 2024
220.13 ftSeptember 8, 2004
317.54 ftSeptember 17, 2004
415.62 ftMay 6, 2013
515.31 ftJanuary 10, 2024
615.30 ftMay 19, 2018
715.01 ftJuly 6, 2013
814.81 ftSeptember 22, 2009
914.65 ftJanuary 25, 2010
1014.34 ftFebruary 7, 2020

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:41 AM Sunset 06:50 PM Daylight 11 hr, 9 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Other gauges on the French Broad River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
French Broad River at RosmanRiver gauge, French Broad River 2.09 ft Normal −0.01 ft 25 mi
French Broad River at BlantyreRiver gauge, French Broad River 5.57 ft Normal −0.09 ft 10 mi
French Broad River at AshevilleRiver gauge, French Broad River 1.24 ft Low −0.03 ft 13 mi
French Broad River at MarshallRiver gauge, French Broad River 1.41 ft Normal −0.09 ft 25 mi
French Broad River at Hot SpringsRiver gauge, French Broad River 2.71 ft Normal −0.03 ft 35 mi
French Broad River near NewportRiver gauge, French Broad River 2.33 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 51 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Mills River near Mills RiverRiver gauge, Mills River 1.83 ft Normal −0.01 ft 3.2 mi
Mud Creek at Secondary Road 1503 near BalfourRiver gauge, Mud Creek 5.70 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 8 mi
Hominy Creek near West AshevilleRiver gauge, Hominy Creek 1.16 ft Very low −0.02 ft 9 mi
Swannanoa River at BiltmoreRiver gauge, Swannanoa River 1.36 ft Low −0.01 ft 10 mi
Davidson River near BrevardRiver gauge, Davidson River 0.71 ft Normal −0.02 ft 14 mi
Beetree Creek near SwannanoaRiver gauge, Beetree Creek 1.43 ft Normal −0.01 ft 18 mi
Pigeon River near CantonRiver gauge, Pigeon River 1.44 ft Low ±0 18 mi
East Fork Pigeon River near CantonRiver gauge, East Fork Pigeon River −0.06 ft Low −0.02 ft 18 mi

Questions and answers

How does the French Broad River near Fletcher compare with last year?

It is 0.25 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.02 ft.

What is flood stage for the French Broad River near Fletcher?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 8.73 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the French Broad River near Fletcher in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 4.58 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.40 ft and 5.62 ft, based on 24 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of French Broad River near Fletcher today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 02:30 PM EDT, the water level was 4.27 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is French Broad River near Fletcher rising or falling?

Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 3.86 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of French Broad River near Fletcher normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:03447687 (Agency page)
Coordinates
35.42917, -82.55250 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
NAVD88
Update interval
every 15 minutes
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 4.27 ft 2026-10-20 18:30 Provisional
Flow 758 cfs 2026-10-20 18:30 Provisional
Water temperature 56 °F 2026-10-20 18:30 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: French Broad River near Fletcher (usgs:03447687). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/french-broad-river-near-fletcher

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer