River Conditions
Illustrated map of Smith Mountain Lake

River stage

Radford, New River

River level
3.85 ft
Status
Below flood stage
7-day change
+1.65 ft
Recent high
9.53 ft
Recent low
1.81 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS RDFV2

30-day change
+1.89 ft
Average
2.36 ft
Readings
122
Data span
122 days
Record crest
35.96 ft

In brief

The New River at Radford, VA read 3.85 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 8.15 ft below action stage. That is 1.89 ft higher than 30 days earlier.

Source: National Weather Service gauge RDFV2

River level timeline

0471013SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08OCT 13ACTION 12.00 ftHIGH 9.53LOW 1.864.23 ftLAST READING

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 12.00 ftMinor flooding 14.00 ftModerate flooding 16.00 ftMajor flooding 20.00 ft CURRENT 3.85 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 35.96 ft 1940-08-14
2 31.03 ft 2024-09-28
3 24.10 ft 1977-11-07
4 24.04 ft 1995-01-15
5 23.83 ft 2018-10-12
6 21.73 ft 1989-09-23
7 21.71 ft 2020-05-22
8 21.13 ft 2013-01-31

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

What happens at each level

  1. 12.50 ft

    Water begins to affect parts of Parrott River Road several miles downstream from Radford on left bank of the river.

  2. 14.00 ft

    Riverside parking lots are affected

  3. 16.00 ft

    Significant flooding occures in Bissett Park.

  4. 17.00 ft

    All of Dedmon Center lower parking lots are flooded.

  5. 20.00 ft

    Flooding along sections of Hazel Hollow road (State Route 626) on Pulaski County side of the river.

  6. 22.00 ft

    Water approaches the main road in Bissett Park.

  7. 25.00 ft

    Dedmon Center at Radford University affected.

  8. 28.00 ft

    Green Hill Apartments parking lot floods and Radford University student apartment parking lots are affected.

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the New River flooding at Radford?

No. The New River at Radford is at 3.85 ft, 8.15 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Radford?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 12 ft, minor flooding 14 ft, moderate flooding 16 ft and major flooding 20 ft.

What is the highest the New River has been at Radford?

The highest crest on record is 35.96 ft, on 1940-08-14.

Is the New River high or low right now at Radford?

At 3.85 ft it is higher than 98% of readings over the last 122 days.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge RDFV2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03171000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.