River Conditions
Illustrated map of Allegheny Reservoir

River stage

Parsons, Cheat River

River level
6.67 ft
Status
Below flood stage
7-day change
+3.32 ft
Recent high
10.10 ft
Recent low
2.80 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS PSNW2

30-day change
+2.58 ft
Average
4.19 ft
Readings
122
Data span
122 days
Record crest
24.30 ft

In brief

The Cheat River at Parsons, WV read 6.67 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 8.43 ft below action stage. That is 2.58 ft higher than 30 days earlier.

Source: National Weather Service gauge PSNW2

Water 59 °F (15 °C) · about normal for this date · +1 °F in 24 hours

River level timeline

1591317SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08OCT 13ACTION 15.10 ftHIGH 10.10LOW 2.957.24 ftLAST READING

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 15.10 ftMinor flooding 18.50 ftModerate flooding 21.50 ftMajor flooding 23.50 ft CURRENT 6.67 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 24.30 ft 1985-11-05
2 20.50 ft 1888-07-10
3 19.80 ft 1996-01-19
4 19.08 ft 1954-10-16
5 18.97 ft 1994-02-09
6 18.90 ft 1917-03-12
7 17.58 ft 2019-06-30
8 17.50 ft 1924-03-29

Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.

What happens at each level

  1. 15.00 ft

    Water affects the low end of Parsons City Park closest to the Shavers Fork.

  2. 16.90 ft

    Water rises to the level reached on July 29, 2017.

  3. 17.50 ft

    Water covers much of Parsons City Park closest to Shavers Fork and back yards of homes on lower end of 4th Street.

  4. 18.50 ft

    Water floods areas of 4th Street, Water Street and Central Avenue.

  5. 19.50 ft

    Water levels reach the flood levels of the flood of February 19, 2000.

  6. 20.00 ft

    Flooding affects portions of Water Street, Walnut Street, 4th Street, River Avenue and Buchanan Street.

  7. 21.50 ft

    Water begins to flood low lying sections of Parsons along Walnut, 2nd, 3rd and Water Streets and in the south end of Parsons, Poplar and Missouri Streets. Flooding also occurs along areas near River Avenue, Currance Street and around the Parsons Nursery.

Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cheat River flooding at Parsons?

No. The Cheat River at Parsons is at 6.67 ft, 8.43 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Parsons?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 15.1 ft, minor flooding 18.5 ft, moderate flooding 21.5 ft and major flooding 23.5 ft.

What is the highest the Cheat River has been at Parsons?

The highest crest on record is 24.3 ft, on 1985-11-05.

Is the Cheat River high or low right now at Parsons?

At 6.67 ft it is higher than 92% of readings over the last 122 days.

How warm is the water at Parsons, Cheat River?

The water temperature at Parsons, Cheat River is 59 °F (14.8 °C), measured 7:30 pm by USGS, which is about average for this date over the past ten years. It has risen 1.0 °F in the last 24 hours.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge PSNW2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03069500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.