River stage
Cartersville, James River
- River level
- 4.53 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +3.44 ft
- Recent high
- 4.22 ft
- Recent low
- 0.66 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS CARV2
- 30-day change
- +3.43 ft
- Average
- 1.22 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 37.87 ft
In brief
The James River at Cartersville, VA read 4.53 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 10.47 ft below action stage. That is 3.43 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge CARV2
Water 68 °F (20 °C) · 2 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37.87 ft | 1972-06-22 |
| 2 | 33.75 ft | 1969-08-21 |
| 3 | 32.60 ft | 1985-11-06 |
| 4 | 29.60 ft | 1944-09-20 |
| 5 | 28.96 ft | 1996-09-07 |
| 6 | 28.77 ft | 1936-03-19 |
| 7 | 28.34 ft | 1940-08-17 |
| 8 | 27.96 ft | 1987-04-18 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
Minor flooding begins. Overflow onto flood plain along left bank.
- 21.00 ft
Approach to old highway bridge and portions of the farm land on the left hand side of the river are flooded.
- 23.00 ft
Moderate flooding begins. Secondary roads parallel to left bank of river flood.
- 23.50 ft
Cartersville Boat landing parking lot and boat ramp on righthand side of the river and 200 ft downstream of State Route 45 bridge is flooded.
- 26.40 ft
Major flooding begins. Many secondary roads flooded.
- 29.00 ft
Overflow on left bank reaches railroad bed. 7-9 feet of water over the flood plain on left bank of river and downstream.
- 30.00 ft
Flood waters overtop the railroad tracks on the left hand side of the river approximately 1/4 of a mile from the river bank. Access to the Cartersville Bridge, VA Route 45 is cut off from north side.
- 32.26 ft
Stage of the 50 year flood.
- 34.35 ft
Stage of the 100 year flood.
- 45.00 ft
River stage sensor operating limit
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the James River flooding at Cartersville?
No. The James River at Cartersville is at 4.53 ft, 10.47 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Cartersville?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 15 ft, minor flooding 20 ft, moderate flooding 23 ft and major flooding 26.4 ft.
What is the highest the James River has been at Cartersville?
The highest crest on record is 37.87 ft, on 1972-06-22.
Is the James River high or low right now at Cartersville?
At 4.53 ft it is higher than 100% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Cartersville, James River?
The water temperature at Cartersville, James River is 68 °F (19.8 °C), measured 7:00 pm by USGS, which is 2 °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 CARV2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02035000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.