French Broad River at Rosman
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 7.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 9.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 13.0 ft; major flooding begins at 14.0 ft.
| Action stage | 7.0 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 9.0 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 13.0 ft |
| Major flooding | 14.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 14.9 ft on Oct 4, 1964 (historic crest)
- 14.7 ft on Sep 27, 2024 (historic crest)
- 14.1 ft on Aug 17, 1994 (historic crest)
- 14.1 ft on Aug 17, 2021 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 7.0 ft | Action/Advisory Stage. Common, nuisance flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the French Broad River is beginning. Hannah Ford, Island Ford, and Green Rds may begin to flood with up to 1 foot of inundation. Floodwaters are beginning to impact farmland, woodlands, nurseries, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, greenways, and boat-access areas with up to 2 feet of inundation. Low-water crossings may be inundated with up to 2 feet of floodwater and become impassable. |
|---|---|
| 8.0 ft | Action Stage/Advisory flooding continues. Widespread flooding of adjacent low-lying areas is ongoing along the upper French Broad River. Hannah Ford, Island Ford, and Green Rds are experiencing flooding and are likely impassible. |
| 9.0 ft | Minor Flood Stage. Common, deeper flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the French Broad River is developing with lesser impacts to vulnerable property. More significant floodwaters are beginning to impact low-lying areas, with inundation approximately 2-4 ft deep. Adjacent campgrounds, secondary roads, and outbuildings may be experiencing flooding up to 1-2 ft deep. Flooding less than 1 ft deep may begin impacting basements and primary roads, including E. Main St. and Depot St. |
| 10.0 ft | Minor flooding continues. Extensive flooding of low-lying secondary roads, including E Depot St, Hannah Ford Rd, Island Ford Rd, and Green Rd, is ongoing. |
| 11.0 ft | Minor flooding continues. The French Broad River is approaching homes along Depot St. in Rosman likely requiring evacuations. Additionally, floodwaters will inundate US 178 adjacent to the gauge site and require closure. |
| 12.0 ft | Moderate Flood Stage. Unusual, damaging flooding is developing adjacent to the French Broad River with considerable impacts to property and travel. Significant flooding reaching 4-6 ft deep is ongoing for low-lying areas and low-water crossings. Secondary roads, outbuildings, crawl spaces, and/or basements may be experiencing flooding reaching 2-4 feet deep, including along Chestnut St, Main St, and US 178. Some homes and businesses may be stranded. Significant impacts to travel are likely. |
| 13.0 ft | Moderate flooding continues. Extensive flooding of homes and businesses between US 178 and Main St is developing. Basements near the river will be inundated with at least 2-4 feet of water. Floodwaters will begin entering homes along E Depot St. Significant flooding of upstream commercial property near the confluence of the N Fork and W Fork French Broad rivers is developing. Floodwater levels will be similar to those that occurred in August 2021 immediately preceding Tropical Cyclone Fred. |
| 14.0 ft | Major Flood Stage. Extremely rare and catastrophic flooding of the French Broad River is developing with disastrous impacts to property. Extensive flooding of homes and businesses between US 178 and Main St is developing. Basements near the river will be inundated with at least 4-7 feet of water. Homes along E Depot St will see inundation up to 2 feet deep. Floodwater levels will be similar to those that occurred in August 2021 during Tropical Cyclone Fred. |
| 15.0 ft | Major flooding continues. Extremely rare and catastrophic flooding of the French Broad River is ongoing with disastrous impacts to property, including within the town of Rosman. Flood waters may surround the water treatment plant and power substation near the French Broad River. |
Forecast office: NWS Greer · River Forecast Center: Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.
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Nearby stations and gauges
- East Fork French Broad River below Rosman NWS gauge · 2.2 mi
- Tuckasegee River at Rock Bridge NWS gauge · 10.4 mi
- Tanasee Creek at TANASEE CREEK DAM NWS gauge · 10.4 mi
- South Saluda River near Cleveland NWS gauge · 11.2 mi
- Davidson River near hwy 276 near Pisgah Forest NWS gauge · 11.2 mi
- Wolf Creek (NC) at WOLF CREEK DAM NWS gauge · 11.3 mi