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South Branch Potomac River at Franklin water level

River gauge, South Branch Potomac River, West Virginia, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.14ft Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
120 cfs
0 10 20 Highest onrecord 22.58 ft Minor floodstage 7.00 ft

History

2.22.4ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 19Oct 21Oct 222.22.4ftOct 16Oct 19Oct 22
Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.10 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:19 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The South Branch Potomac River at Franklin is at 2.14 ft, in the normal range.

It is 4.86 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft.

It has dropped 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.10 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 2.14 ft and 2.55 ft.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record
22.58 ftNovember 4, 1985
Forecast peak
2.20 ftTuesday, October 20 at 08:00 AM

Floating and fishing near South Branch Potomac River at Franklin

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 7.00 ft, 4.86 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

13.00 ft
The lowest end of the Route 220/12 bridge begins to flood.
11.00 ft
Homes along Dickenson Mountain Road are flooded.
9.00 ft
Several roads in or near Franklin are flooded, including Dickenson Mountain Road (Route 220/12), parts of US Route 220, County Route 220/13, and Taylor Hollow Road.
8.00 ft
The Franklin city park begins to flood.
7.00 ft
A low spot on Dickenson Mountain Road (Route 220/12) 300 feet downstream from the bridge begins to flood.
6.50 ft
Water begins to cover Taylor Hollow Road in Franklin.
5.00 ft
Water begins to overflow the low water crossing on County Route 220/12 at the south end of town.
2.14 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: 14 %.

RankLevelDate
122.58 ftNovember 4, 1985
219.16 ftSeptember 6, 1996
316.06 ftJanuary 19, 1996
412.26 ftNovember 19, 2003
512.14 ftSeptember 19, 2003
611.40 ftJune 17, 1949
79.98 ftMay 17, 1996
89.71 ftApril 16, 1993
99.52 ftMarch 2, 2007
109.15 ftJanuary 26, 1980

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:32 AM Sunset 06:34 PM Daylight 11 hr, 2 min First quarter 68%

Map

Other gauges on the South Branch Potomac River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
South Branch Potomac River near PetersburgRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River 5.34 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 26 mi
South Branch Potomac River near MoorefieldRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River 8.10 ft No reference yet −0.18 ft 38 mi
South Branch Potomac River near SpringfieldRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River 2.66 ft Below flood stage −0.27 ft 67 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
South F South Branch Potomac River at BrandywineRiver gauge, South F South Branch Potomac River 1.76 ft Below flood stage −0.06 ft 5.1 mi
North River near StokesvilleRiver gauge, North River 32.4 cfs High −4.0 cfs 21 mi
Muddy Creek at Mount ClintonRiver gauge, Muddy Creek 2.64 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 23 mi
Shavers Fork at BemisRiver gauge, Shavers Fork 4.16 ft Below flood stage −0.17 ft 25 mi
North F South Branch Potomac River at CabinsRiver gauge, North F South Branch Potomac River 350 cfs Very high −75.0 cfs 25 mi
Greenbrier River at DurbinRiver gauge, Greenbrier River 1.91 ft Below flood stage −0.12 ft 27 mi
Dry Fork at GladwinRiver gauge, Dry Fork 4.66 ft Below flood stage −0.36 ft 28 mi
Shavers Fork near Cheat BridgeRiver gauge, Shavers Fork 5.23 ft Below flood stage −0.17 ft 29 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the South Branch Potomac River at Franklin?

The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 4.86 ft below it.

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 South Branch Potomac River at Franklin today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 08:05 AM EDT, the water level was 2.14 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is South Branch Potomac River at Franklin rising or falling?

Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of South Branch Potomac River at Franklin normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at South Branch Potomac River at Franklin?

The highest level on record is 22.58 ft on November 4, 1985.

Is South Branch Potomac River at Franklin expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.10 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:01605500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
38.63567, -79.33782 (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 2.14 ft 2026-10-20 12:05 Provisional
Flow 120 cfs 2026-10-20 12:05 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Branch Potomac River at Franklin (usgs:01605500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/west-virginia/south-branch-potomac-river-at-franklin

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