River stage
Asheville, French Broad River
- River level
- 3.95 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +2.93 ft
- Recent high
- 5.58 ft
- Recent low
- 0.82 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS AVLN7
- 30-day change
- +3.02 ft
- Average
- 1.29 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 24.82 ft
In brief
The French Broad River at Asheville, NC read 3.95 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 2.55 ft below action stage. That is 3.02 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge AVLN7
Water 65 °F (18 °C) · 3 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.82 ft | 2024-09-27 |
| 2 | 23.10 ft | 1916-07-16 |
| 3 | 18.00 ft | 1976-06-01 |
| 4 | 15.00 ft | 1952-08-01 |
| 5 | 14.55 ft | 2004-09-08 |
| 6 | 14.00 ft | 1945-04-01 |
| 7 | 13.27 ft | 1928-08-16 |
| 8 | 12.33 ft | 1978-11-16 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 6.50 ft
Action Stage. The French Broad River is exceeding its banks and beginning to flood low-lying areas, including the Woodfin Riverside Park, the floodplain adjacent to Craggy Dam Reservoir, Carrier Park, and French Broad River Park.
- 7.50 ft
Action stage flooding continues. French Broad River floodwaters continue to flood Woodfin Riverside Park, the floodplain adjacent to Craggy Dam Reservoir, Carrier Park, and French Broad River Park as well as other low-lying areas within the flood plain. Floodwaters may be approaching Amboy Rd. and Lyman St. Local small tributaries including Smith Mill Creek near Emma Rd. may be exceeding bankfull levels.
- 8.00 ft
Action stage flooding continues. The French Broad River is beginning to flood low-lying areas near Pearson Bridge Rd. and may be approaching industrial property.
- 9.50 ft
Minor Flood Stage. The French Broad River is flooding areas between Riverside Dr., and Lyman St. on the right bank and Riverview Dr., Craven St. and Emma Rd. on the left bank, including railroad and industrial property. Parts of Emma Rd. between Pearson Bridge Rd. and Craven St. may be flooding.
- 10.50 ft
Minor Flooding continues. French Broad River floodwaters may be approaching industrial buildings on the right bank between Woodfin and Pearson Bridge Rd. Floodwaters may also be approaching industrial buildings between Haywood Rd. and Amboy Rd.
- 12.00 ft
Minor Flooding continues. French Broad River floodwaters are impacting industrial and commercial property between Woodfin and Pearson Bridge Rd. as well as along Riverside Dr. Floodwaters may begin to enter adjacent industrial and commercial structures and buildings.
- 13.00 ft
Moderate Flood Stage. French Broad River floodwaters may be inundating the ground floor of industrial and commercial buildings between the river and I-26, especially south of Pearson Bridge Rd.
- 15.00 ft
Moderate Flooding continues. Significant flooding of commercial and industrial buildings along Riverside Dr. is ongoing. Floodwaters are beginning to impact commercial and industrial buildings along Lyman St. and between Lyman St. and Depot St. Floodwaters have reached levels similar to those that occurred during Hurricane Frances in early September, 2004.
- 18.00 ft
Major Flood Stage. Significant flooding is ongoing along the French Broad River from Carrier Park to Woodfin. Most buildings within the floodplain in this area are likely experiencing significant lower-level inundation. Roadways adjacent to the river including Riverside Dr., Lyman St., Craven Dr., Riverview Dr., and Emma Rd. are likely impassable.
- 19.00 ft
Major Flooding continues. Devastating impacts are likely ongoing from Woodfin to I-240 and Carrier Park. Floodwaters are likely impacting residences as well as businesses on the left bank of the river while significant right-bank inundation continues and worsens.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the French Broad River flooding at Asheville?
No. The French Broad River at Asheville is at 3.95 ft, 2.55 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Asheville?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 6.5 ft, minor flooding 9.5 ft, moderate flooding 13 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the French Broad River has been at Asheville?
The highest crest on record is 24.82 ft, on 2024-09-27.
Is the French Broad River high or low right now at Asheville?
At 3.95 ft it is higher than 98% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Asheville, French Broad River?
The water temperature at Asheville, French Broad River is 65 °F (18.1 °C), measured 6:30 pm by USGS, which is 3 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has held steady over the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge AVLN7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03451500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.