Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenSouth Branch Potomac River near Petersburg water level
River gauge, South Branch Potomac River, West Virginia, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 991 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.90 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 02:00 PM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 10:43 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg, where the gauge shows 5.29 ft.
It is 8.71 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.90 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 02:00 PM. The 30-day range is 5.27 ft – 6.07 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 22.83 ftJune 17, 1949
- Forecast peak
- 5.20 ftWednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 14.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 22.50 ft
- Significant flooding is occurring. More than a hundred buildings in Petersburg are flooded.
- 20.00 ft
- Several city blocks on the south side of Petersburg are flooded. Backwater may also flood portions of the eastern sections of the city.
- 18.00 ft
- Water 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.
- 17.00 ft
- Water reaches structures at the Grant County Airport. Flooding also begins south of the river on the south side of Petersburg.
- 15.00 ft
- Two structures are flooded upstream of Petersburg. Water also approaches the runway at the Petersburg Airport.
- 14.00 ft
- Water approaches structures upstream of Petersburg. Water also begins to cover Fish Hatchery Road near the river.
- 12.00 ft
- Water overflows the natural banks into nearby lowlands. River Road alongside the river begins to flood in its lowest spots.
- 5.29 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: 10 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.83 ft | June 17, 1949 |
| 2 | 22.20 ft | September 6, 1996 |
| 3 | 21.80 ft | November 5, 1985 |
| 4 | 21.20 ft | November 24, 1877 |
| 5 | 20.30 ft | March 17, 1936 |
| 6 | 20.00 ft | January 19, 1996 |
| 7 | 19.20 ft | January 1, 1924 |
| 8 | 16.93 ft | April 16, 2018 |
| 9 | 16.16 ft | October 6, 1972 |
| 10 | 15.18 ft | February 4, 1932 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the South Branch Potomac River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Potomac River at FranklinRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River | 2.11 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 26 mi |
| South Branch Potomac River near MoorefieldRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River | 8.00 ft | No reference yet | −0.15 ft | 14 mi |
| South Branch Potomac River near SpringfieldRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River | 2.52 ft | Below flood stage | −0.20 ft | 42 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North F South Branch Potomac River at CabinsRiver gauge, North F South Branch Potomac River | 306 cfs | High | −59.0 cfs | 3.1 mi |
| South F South Branch Potomac River near MoorefieldRiver gauge, South F South Branch Potomac River | 3.29 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 12 mi |
| Blackwater River at DavisRiver gauge, Blackwater River | 2.53 ft | Below flood stage | −0.21 ft | 18 mi |
| Dry Fork at GladwinRiver gauge, Dry Fork | 4.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.25 ft | 19 mi |
| North Branch Potomac River at SteyerRiver gauge, North Branch Potomac River | 2.66 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 23 mi |
| Dry Fork at HendricksRiver gauge, Dry Fork | 2.81 ft | Below flood stage | −0.20 ft | 25 mi |
| South F South Branch Potomac River at BrandywineRiver gauge, South F South Branch Potomac River | 1.72 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 25 mi |
| Abram Creek at OakmontRiver gauge, Abram Creek | 3.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 26 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 8.71 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 near Petersburg today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 02:00 AM EDT, the water level was 5.29 ft. Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg rising or falling?
Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.72 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg 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 near Petersburg?
The highest level on record is 22.83 ft on June 17, 1949.
Is South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.90 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 02:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01606500(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.99122, -79.17587(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
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 5.29 ft | 2026-10-21 06:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 991 cfs | 2026-10-21 06:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg (usgs:01606500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/west-virginia/south-branch-potomac-river-near-petersburg
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