South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 8.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 11.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 15.0 ft; major flooding begins at 19.0 ft.
| Action stage | 8.0 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 11.0 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 15.0 ft |
| Major flooding | 19.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 12.6 ft on Feb 15, 2025 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 8.0 ft | Green spaces and walkways along the river begin to flood. |
|---|---|
| 10.0 ft | Flooding of portions of Spring Street and Fox Avenue, which are across the river from each other, northeast side of town. |
| 11.0 ft | Parking lot near the bridge along Proctor Street is flooded. Flooding begins of the lowest structures along both Spring Street and Fox Avenue just downstream from the East Stone Gap Road bridge. |
| 12.0 ft | Water enters lower gravel parking lot of campground just upstream from junction with the Powell River. Water begins to flood the parking lot of the facility just downstream of the U.S. Hwy 23 Business bridge, on the right bank. |
| 12.5 ft | Flooding of most of the area between Woods Ave W and Shawnee Ave W, including portions of Shawnee Ave W. Pair of homes on the south side of Shawnee Ave W may flood. The lower gravel parking lot of Jessie Lea RV Park on Shawnee Ave W campground is inundated. |
| 12.6 ft | Church and a few houses and Frog Level Park, all along Cherokee Ave West and West 6th St N, may flood, especially if the nearby Powell River is in flood. |
| 13.0 ft | Water reaches the bottom of the U.S. Hwy 23 Business bridge. Water floods the parking lot and reaches the wall of the facility just downstream on the right bank of the bridge. Flooding of Wallens Ridge Blvd near the Proctor Street bridge. Increased flooding of structures along both Spring Street and Fox Ave. |
| 14.0 ft | Water might be entering the basement of the Jessie Lea RV Park office structure off of Shawnee Ave W. The surface of the Proctor Street bridge is flooded. |
| 16.0 ft | Water reaches the bottom of the bridge upstream from the campground. Water begins to flood portions of the car wash lot adjacent to that bridge. Water begins surrounding homes on Wallens Ridge Blvd near the Proctor Street bridge. |
| 16.5 ft | Water reaches the surface of the U.S. Hwy 23 Business bridge, and may begin to enter the main floor of the facility just downstream on the right bank. |
| 17.0 ft | Lowest home along Wallens Ridge Blvd near the foot bridge may begin to take water. |
| 17.5 ft | Water reaches the road surface of the bridge upstream from the campground. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge downstream from the campground. |
| 19.0 ft | Water may begin entering living spaces of homes on Wallens Ridge Blvd near the Proctor Street bridge. |
| 20.0 ft | Water reaches the surface of the bridge downstream from the campground. |
| 21.5 ft | Lowest part of residence at the end of 4th Street might begin to take water. |
Forecast office: NWS Morristown · River Forecast Center: Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.
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Nearby stations and gauges
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