River Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake Norman

River stage

French Broad River

River level
Normal
Status
Below flood stage

Latest readings 2026-10-13 | NWS · USGS

Gauges reporting
10 of 10
Above flood stage
0
Above action stage
0
Overall
Below flood stage
Publisher
NWS · USGS

In brief

On Oct 13, 2026, 10 of 10 gauges on the French Broad River reported, and none was above flood stage.

Source: National Weather Service and USGS gauges

French Broad River levels, gauge by gauge

The French Broad River is measured at 10 gauges across North Carolina, Tennessee. Flood stages are set per gauge, so the same river is "high" at one town and normal at the next.

LocationState Level Flood stage Status
Asheville NC 3.95 ft 9.50 ft normal, rising
Blantyre NC 8.10 ft 16.00 ft normal, rising
Fletcher NC 7.90 ft 13.00 ft normal, rising
Hot Springs NC 4.36 ft 9.50 ft normal, rising
Marshall NC 3.97 ft 8.00 ft normal, rising
Rosman NC 2.33 ft 9.00 ft normal, rising
NWS gauge MCIT1 TN 5.00 ft — no flood stage set
Douglas Dam TN 876.60 ft — below flood stage
Douglas Dam TN 972.84 ft — no flood stage set
Newport TN 5.05 ft 10.00 ft normal, rising

Recent levels on the French Broad River

The gauge with the fullest recent record on this river is Asheville, NC, with 122 days of readings.

Full history for Asheville →

Other rivers nearby

Frequently asked questions

Is the French Broad River flooding right now?

No. Every one of the 10 reporting gauges on the French Broad River is below flood stage as of 2026-10-13.

How high is the French Broad River?

The river is measured at several points and each reads a different height. Asheville is at 3.95 ft; Blantyre is at 8.10 ft; Fletcher is at 7.90 ft; Hot Springs is at 4.36 ft.

Where is the French Broad River measured?

The National Weather Service and USGS operate 10 gauges on the French Broad River across North Carolina, Tennessee.

What does flood stage mean?

Flood stage is the height at which a river begins to cause problems at that specific location. It is set per gauge, so the same river can be above flood stage in one town and normal a few miles downstream. Action stage is the lower level at which forecasters start watching closely.

River stages and flood categories from the NOAA National Weather Service; daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.