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Hydrograph River at a Glance Download
James River (VA) at Richmond-Westham Stage (ft)Flow (kcfs)Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 12:30AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 12:45AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 1:00AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 1:15AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 1:30AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 1:45AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 2:00AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 2:15AM May 20, 2022Highest Observation: 5.47 ft at 2:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.46 ft at 2:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.46 ft at 3:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.46 ft at 3:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.46 ft at 3:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.46 ft at 3:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.46 ft at 4:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 4:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 4:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 4:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 5:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 5:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 5:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.45 ft at 5:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.44 ft at 6:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.44 ft at 6:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.44 ft at 6:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.44 ft at 6:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.44 ft at 7:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 7:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 7:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 7:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 8:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 8:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 8:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 8:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.43 ft at 9:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.42 ft at 9:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.42 ft at 9:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.42 ft at 9:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.41 ft at 10:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.41 ft at 10:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.41 ft at 10:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.41 ft at 10:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.41 ft at 11:00AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.4 ft at 11:15AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.4 ft at 11:30AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.39 ft at 11:45AM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.39 ft at 12:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.39 ft at 12:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.38 ft at 12:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.38 ft at 12:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.38 ft at 1:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.37 ft at 1:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.36 ft at 1:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.36 ft at 1:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.35 ft at 2:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.35 ft at 2:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 2:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 2:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 3:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 3:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 3:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 3:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.34 ft at 4:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.33 ft at 4:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.33 ft at 4:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.33 ft at 4:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.32 ft at 5:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.32 ft at 5:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.32 ft at 5:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.32 ft at 5:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.31 ft at 6:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.31 ft at 6:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.31 ft at 6:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.31 ft at 6:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.3 ft at 7:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.3 ft at 7:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.3 ft at 7:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.3 ft at 7:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 8:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 8:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 8:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 8:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 9:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 9:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 9:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 9:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.29 ft at 10:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 10:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 10:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 10:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 11:00PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 11:15PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 11:30PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.28 ft at 11:45PM May 20, 2022Observed: 5.27 ft at 12:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.27 ft at 12:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.27 ft at 12:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.27 ft at 12:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.27 ft at 1:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.27 ft at 1:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.26 ft at 1:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.26 ft at 1:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.26 ft at 2:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.26 ft at 2:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.25 ft at 2:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.25 ft at 2:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.25 ft at 3:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.25 ft at 3:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.24 ft at 3:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.24 ft at 3:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.23 ft at 4:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.23 ft at 4:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.23 ft at 4:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.23 ft at 4:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.23 ft at 5:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.23 ft at 5:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.22 ft at 5:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.22 ft at 5:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.22 ft at 6:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 6:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 6:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 6:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 7:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 7:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 7:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 7:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.21 ft at 8:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 8:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 8:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 8:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 9:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 9:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 9:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 9:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 10:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 10:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 10:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 10:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 11:00AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 11:15AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 11:30AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.2 ft at 11:45AM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.19 ft at 12:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.19 ft at 12:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.19 ft at 12:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 12:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 1:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 1:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 1:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 1:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 2:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 2:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 2:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 2:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.18 ft at 3:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.17 ft at 3:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.17 ft at 3:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.17 ft at 3:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.16 ft at 4:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.16 ft at 4:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.16 ft at 4:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.15 ft at 4:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.15 ft at 5:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.15 ft at 5:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.15 ft at 5:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.15 ft at 5:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.15 ft at 6:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.14 ft at 6:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.14 ft at 6:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.13 ft at 6:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.13 ft at 7:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.13 ft at 7:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.12 ft at 7:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.12 ft at 7:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.12 ft at 8:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.12 ft at 8:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.12 ft at 8:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.11 ft at 8:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.11 ft at 9:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.11 ft at 9:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.11 ft at 9:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.1 ft at 9:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.1 ft at 10:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.1 ft at 10:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.09 ft at 10:30PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.09 ft at 10:45PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.09 ft at 11:00PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.08 ft at 11:15PM May 21, 2022Observed: 5.08 ft at 11:30PM May 21, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 2:00AM May 22, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 8:00AM May 22, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 2:00PM May 22, 2022Highest Forecast: 5.2 ft 8:00PM May 22, 2022Highest Forecast: 5.2 ft 2:00AM May 23, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 8:00AM May 23, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 2:00PM May 23, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 8:00PM May 23, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 2:00AM May 24, 2022Forecast: 5.1 ft 8:00AM May 24, 2022USGS--Water Resources of the United StatesRMDV2(plotting HGIRG) Graph Created (12:15AM May 22, 2022)ObservedForecast (issued 10:35AM May 21)Latest observed value: 5.08 ft at 11:30 PM EDT 21-May-2022. Flood Stage is 12 ft
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About this graph
Tabular Data (UTC)
Tabular Data (EDT)
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: NGVD29
Metadata
NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 72 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

NOTE: Forecasts for the James River (VA) at Richmond-Westham are issued routinely year-round.

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Upstream Gauge - at Cartersville Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - at Richmond Locks
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 22
Moderate Flood Stage: 15
Flood Stage: 12
Action Stage: 9
Low Stage (in feet): -9999

Historic Crests
(1) 28.62 ft on 06/23/1972
(2) 24.95 ft on 08/21/1969
(3) 24.77 ft on 11/07/1985
(4) 23.42 ft on 03/19/1936
(5) 22.65 ft on 04/27/1937
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 12.55 ft on 03/02/2021
(2) 13.13 ft on 02/17/2021
(3) 14.02 ft on 12/26/2020
(4) 12.75 ft on 12/06/2020
(5) 13.22 ft on 12/01/2020
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) 2.00 ft on 09/22/1966
(2) 2.94 ft on 10/21/1968
(3) 2.94 ft on 10/10/1970
(4) 3.00 ft on 09/25/1936
(5) 3.00 ft on 09/17/1943
Show More Low Water Records

For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov.
Zoom Level:14
KML Image
Gauge LocationGauge Map Marker
 Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
32 River stage sensor operating limit
28.62 Flood of record during Hurricane Agnes.
27 Near record flooding begins.
23 Richmond City Water Filtration Plant endangered.
22 Major flooding begins. Downstream industries, shops and streets along the riverfront are flooded at and above this level.
18.2 CSX Railroad tracks flooded.
16 Water reaches to of the steps to the river in Huguenot Flatwater with water impacting the parking lot and covering the Huguenot Woods Trail.
15 Begin moderate flooding. Residences near gage threatened with some driveways under one to one and a half feet of water.
13.5 Portions of Huguenot Flatwater park begin to flood
13 Approximately 20 acres of lowland flooded in vicinity of gage.
12 Flood stage. Minor flooding along both banks, no damage at this level.
About This Location Collapse

Latitude: 37.563056° N, Longitude: 77.547222° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 12 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)		 Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)		 Elevation information source
NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 98.82 ft 110.82 ft Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other Not Available Not Available  

Current/Historical Observations:
Additional Information Collapse
Potential River Levels - Used to
Potential River Levels
Used to Estimate the Chance of Flooding and the Range of Possible River Levels
10 Day (HEFS) 7 Day (NAEFS) 7 Day (GEFS)
HEFS Ensemble NAEFS Ensemble  GEFS Ensemble 

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 7,10 day graphics. 

Click individual graphics to enlarge.

Gage Photos

Gage Photo

Hydromet Outlook
24 Hour Hydrometerological Outlook Link to Graphic
Hydro Forecast Discussion
Hydrologist's Forecast Discussion
Significant Flood Outlook
Significant River Flood Outlook Link to Graphic
Flash Flood Guidance
Flash Flood Guidance Link to Graphic

Additional Water and Weather Topics from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC):
MARFC Home Page, Current Hazards, Current Conditions James River, Current Conditions Appomattox River,
Water Resources, Observed precipitation, Radar, Tropical Weather, Climate,
Flood History, About the MARFC, Contact Us
Resources Collapse
Hydrologic Resources Additional Resources
Collaborative Agencies Collapse
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.
NWS Information
National Weather Service
Wakefield Weather Forecast Office
10009 General Mahone Hwy
Wakefield, VA 23888
(757) 899-4200
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