Elk River at Queen Shoals
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
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Observed (OBS) 06/13/2025 9:00 PM EDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 06/13/2025 10:33 AM EDTRecord: 37.2 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 29 ft Moderate Flooding 23 ft Minor Flooding 19 ft Action 17 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
River Forecasts typically include ONLY 2 days of future rain from forecast issuance time (lower right of graph). Occasionally 3 days of future rain included.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 31 - In Clendenin, the Columbia Gas transmission area just north of town along WV State Route 4, floods around 31 feet.
- 30 - In Clendenin, many homes and businesses above the Big Sandy Creek between WV State Route 4 and the river are inundated. In Barren Creek, much of River Haven Road floods along with several homes between this road and the river. In Queen Shoals, several homes flood along WV State Route 4 0.3 miles above the Queen Road bridge.
- 29.5 - In Queen Shoals, row of homes on WV State Route 4 above the Queen Road bridge flood. In Reamer, homes between Brown Street and the river are inundated.
- 29 - Major flooding occurs along the entire reach of the Elk River. In Clendenin, most homes and businesses between Maywood Avenue and the river are inundated. In Youngs Bottom, several homes between Robbie Lane and the river flood. In Procious, portions of WV Route 4 and Scenic River Road flood.
- 28 - In Corton, the Eastern Gas transmission area located on River Haven Road, floods around 28 feet.
- 27 - In Clendenin, many homes and businesses between Maywood Avenue and the river flood. In Procious, homes on both sides of the river begin to flood. In Queen Shoals, low sections of WV State Route 4 approximately 1 mile below the gauge floods. Low sections of WV State Route 4 flood between Barren Creek and Corton.
- 25 - In Clendenin, lower portions of Elk Avenue, Virginia Avenue, and Jarrett Street flood. The first floor of businesses adjacent to the river flood.
- 22 - In Falling Rock, US Route 119 at the intersection with Jordan Creek Road floods. In Queen Shoals, low spot on Flat Fork Groves Road floods.
- 20 - In Clendenin, basements in some businesses adjacent to the river flood. WV State Route 4 between US Route 119 and Beech Street floods. Sections of US Route 119 are inundated due to backwater flooding of Big Sandy Creek.
- 19 - In Queen Shoals, the lower floor of the abandoned church opposite side of the river from the gauge floods.
- 12 - The North and South Clendenin boat ramp access parking lots flood between 12 and 15 feet.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 38.4720, -81.2842 |
| RFC | OHRFC |
| State | WV |
| WFO | RLX |
| County | Kanawha |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| US Geological Survey | USGS--Water Resources of the United States |
| USGS | 03197000 |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 19.90 ft | on 02-07-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 22.83 ft | on 03-01-2021 | |
| 3. | 19.33 ft | on 09-28-2018 | |
| 4. | 33.31 ft | on 06-24-2016 | |
| 5. | 20.24 ft | on 12-07-2013 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 19.90 ft | on 02-07-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 22.83 ft | on 03-01-2021 | |
| 3. | 19.33 ft | on 09-28-2018 | |
| 4. | 33.31 ft | on 06-24-2016 | |
| 5. | 20.24 ft | on 12-07-2013 | |
| 6. | 17.28 ft | on 04-17-2007 | 1 |
| 7. | 23.34 ft | on 11-19-2003 | 1 |
| 8. | 21.01 ft | on 11-13-2003 | 1 |
| 9. | 21.09 ft | on 02-17-2003 | 1 |
| 10. | 25.36 ft | on 03-02-1997 | 1 |
| 11. | 19.64 ft | on 07-31-1996 | 1 |
| 12. | 19.14 ft | on 01-19-1996 | 1 |
| 13. | 19.85 ft | on 05-08-1994 | 1 |
| 14. | 21.22 ft | on 12-03-1991 | 1 |
| 15. | 21.08 ft | on 12-09-1978 | 1 |
| 16. | 20.74 ft | on 01-26-1978 | 1 |
| 17. | 17.24 ft | on 10-09-1976 | 1 |
| 18. | 19.68 ft | on 02-28-1972 | 1 |
| 19. | 19.11 ft | on 12-31-1969 | 1 |
| 20. | 24.73 ft | on 03-15-1967 | 1 |
| 21. | 19.18 ft | on 08-09-1958 | 1 |
| 22. | 23.03 ft | on 01-30-1957 | 1 |
| 23. | 19.26 ft | on 03-06-1955 | 1 |
| 24. | 19.26 ft | on 07-22-1954 | 1 |
| 25. | 17.20 ft | on 01-28-1952 | 1 |
| 26. | 21.90 ft | on 02-01-1951 | 1 |
| 27. | 21.00 ft | on 02-01-1950 | 1 |
| 28. | 17.39 ft | on 02-15-1948 | 1 |
| 29. | 19.47 ft | on 01-01-1945 | 1 |
| 30. | 18.20 ft | on 12-30-1942 | 1 |
| 31. | 26.50 ft | on 02-03-1939 | 1 |
| 32. | 23.90 ft | on 10-29-1937 | 1 |
| 33. | 21.50 ft | on 03-25-1936 | 1 |
| 34. | 17.88 ft | on 03-12-1935 | 1 |
| 35. | 29.20 ft | on 07-05-1932 | 1 |
| 36. | 22.34 ft | on 10-03-1929 | 1 |
| 37. | 37.20 ft | on 03-13-1918 | 1 |
| 38. | 22.80 ft | on 11-16-1913 | 1 |
| 39. | 22.00 ft | on 03-27-1913 | 1 |
| 40. | 21.50 ft | on 01-08-1913 | 1 |
| 41. | 23.50 ft | on 01-30-1911 | 1 |
| 42. | 32.00 ft | on 01-01-1888 | 1 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 37.20 ft | on 03-13-1918 | 1 |
| 2. | 33.31 ft | on 06-24-2016 | |
| 3. | 32.00 ft | on 01-01-1888 | 1 |
| 4. | 29.20 ft | on 07-05-1932 | 1 |
| 5. | 26.50 ft | on 02-03-1939 | 1 |
| 6. | 25.36 ft | on 03-02-1997 | 1 |
| 7. | 24.73 ft | on 03-15-1967 | 1 |
| 8. | 23.90 ft | on 10-29-1937 | 1 |
| 9. | 23.50 ft | on 01-30-1911 | 1 |
| 10. | 23.34 ft | on 11-19-2003 | 1 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 37.20 ft | on 03-13-1918 | 1 |
| 2. | 33.31 ft | on 06-24-2016 | |
| 3. | 32.00 ft | on 01-01-1888 | 1 |
| 4. | 29.20 ft | on 07-05-1932 | 1 |
| 5. | 26.50 ft | on 02-03-1939 | 1 |
| 6. | 25.36 ft | on 03-02-1997 | 1 |
| 7. | 24.73 ft | on 03-15-1967 | 1 |
| 8. | 23.90 ft | on 10-29-1937 | 1 |
| 9. | 23.50 ft | on 01-30-1911 | 1 |
| 10. | 23.34 ft | on 11-19-2003 | 1 |
| 11. | 23.03 ft | on 01-30-1957 | 1 |
| 12. | 22.83 ft | on 03-01-2021 | |
| 13. | 22.80 ft | on 11-16-1913 | 1 |
| 14. | 22.34 ft | on 10-03-1929 | 1 |
| 15. | 22.00 ft | on 03-27-1913 | 1 |
| 16. | 21.90 ft | on 02-01-1951 | 1 |
| 17. | 21.50 ft | on 03-25-1936 | 1 |
| 18. | 21.50 ft | on 01-08-1913 | 1 |
| 19. | 21.22 ft | on 12-03-1991 | 1 |
| 20. | 21.09 ft | on 02-17-2003 | 1 |
| 21. | 21.08 ft | on 12-09-1978 | 1 |
| 22. | 21.01 ft | on 11-13-2003 | 1 |
| 23. | 21.00 ft | on 02-01-1950 | 1 |
| 24. | 20.74 ft | on 01-26-1978 | 1 |
| 25. | 20.24 ft | on 12-07-2013 | |
| 26. | 19.90 ft | on 02-07-2025 | (P) |
| 27. | 19.85 ft | on 05-08-1994 | 1 |
| 28. | 19.68 ft | on 02-28-1972 | 1 |
| 29. | 19.64 ft | on 07-31-1996 | 1 |
| 30. | 19.47 ft | on 01-01-1945 | 1 |
| 31. | 19.33 ft | on 09-28-2018 | |
| 32. | 19.26 ft | on 03-06-1955 | 1 |
| 33. | 19.26 ft | on 07-22-1954 | 1 |
| 34. | 19.18 ft | on 08-09-1958 | 1 |
| 35. | 19.14 ft | on 01-19-1996 | 1 |
| 36. | 19.11 ft | on 12-31-1969 | 1 |
| 37. | 18.20 ft | on 12-30-1942 | 1 |
| 38. | 17.88 ft | on 03-12-1935 | 1 |
| 39. | 17.39 ft | on 02-15-1948 | 1 |
| 40. | 17.28 ft | on 04-17-2007 | 1 |
| 41. | 17.24 ft | on 10-09-1976 | 1 |
| 42. | 17.20 ft | on 01-28-1952 | 1 |
Low Water Records
| 1. | 2.20 ft | on 10-20-1930 |
| 2. | 2.40 ft | on 10-24-2013 |
| 3. | 2.50 ft | on 11-04-1953 |
| 4. | 2.82 ft | on 09-27-1959 |
| 5. | 2.86 ft | on 10-01-1939 |
Low Water Records
| 1. | 2.20 ft | on 10-20-1930 |
| 2. | 2.40 ft | on 10-24-2013 |
| 3. | 2.50 ft | on 11-04-1953 |
| 4. | 2.82 ft | on 09-27-1959 |
| 5. | 2.86 ft | on 10-01-1939 |
| 6. | 2.88 ft | on 07-31-1965 |
| 7. | 2.88 ft | on 09-30-1953 |
| 8. | 3.00 ft | on 08-17-1983 |
| 9. | 3.06 ft | on 09-05-1967 |
| 10. | 3.50 ft | on 06-13-1999 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 632.60 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 626.60 ft |
| minor Flooding | 622.60 ft |
| action | 620.60 ft |
| Latest Value | 609.27 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 603.60 ft |
Unique Local Info
| Potential River Levels Used to Estimate the Chance of Flooding and the Range of Possible River Levels |
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| 10 day (HEFS) | 10 Day (NAEFS) | River Forecast vs. River Potential |
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Note: Use the official hydrograph at the top of this web page for river levels within the next 72 hours.
See the Product Description Document link for more details on the interpretation of the 10 day graphics.
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
Resources
Hydrologic Resource Links
- River Forecast Centers
- Text Products
- Past Precipitation
- Forecast Precipitation
- Area River Monitor
- Ensemble River Forecasts
- Ensemble River Forecasts Dashboard
- Ohio Basin Water Resources Outlook
- USGS Water Watch for West Virginia
- USGS Water Watch for Ohio
- USGS Water Watch for Kentucky
- USGS Water Watch for Virginia
- Inundation Mapping Locations
- Hydrometeorlogical Design Studies Center
- USACE Huntington District Water Information
- USACE Pittsburgh District Water Information
Additional Resource Links
- NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting
- Area Hydrographs
- Snow Information
- Rainfall Monitor
- Flood Safety
- U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions For West Virginia
- U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions For Ohio
- U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions For Kentucky
- U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions For Virginia
- NOAA Climate Services
WFO Information
Weather Forecast Office
Charleston
1754 Hendrickson Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303
Official Homepage