River stage
Franklin, South Branch Potomac River
- River level
- 2.71 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +1.11 ft
- Recent high
- 4.23 ft
- Recent low
- 1.54 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS FKLW2
- 30-day change
- +1.09 ft
- Average
- 1.79 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 22.58 ft
In brief
The South Branch Potomac River at Franklin, WV read 2.71 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.29 ft below action stage. That is 1.09 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge FKLW2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.58 ft | 1985-11-04 |
| 2 | 19.16 ft | 1996-09-06 |
| 3 | 16.06 ft | 1996-01-19 |
| 4 | 12.26 ft | 2003-11-19 |
| 5 | 12.14 ft | 2003-09-19 |
| 6 | 11.40 ft | 1949-06-17 |
| 7 | 9.98 ft | 1996-05-17 |
| 8 | 9.71 ft | 1993-04-16 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 5.00 ft
Water begins to overflow the low water crossing on County Route 220/12 at the south end of town.
- 6.50 ft
Water begins to cover Taylor Hollow Road in Franklin.
- 7.00 ft
A low spot on Dickenson Mountain Road (Route 220/12) 300 feet downstream from the bridge begins to flood.
- 8.00 ft
The Franklin city park begins to flood.
- 9.00 ft
Several roads in or near Franklin are flooded, including Dickenson Mountain Road (Route 220/12), parts of US Route 220, County Route 220/13, and Taylor Hollow Road.
- 11.00 ft
Homes along Dickenson Mountain Road are flooded.
- 13.00 ft
The lowest end of the Route 220/12 bridge begins to flood.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the South Branch Potomac River flooding at Franklin?
No. The South Branch Potomac River at Franklin is at 2.71 ft, 3.29 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Franklin?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 6 ft, minor flooding 7 ft, moderate flooding 9 ft and major flooding 11 ft.
What is the highest the South Branch Potomac River has been at Franklin?
The highest crest on record is 22.58 ft, on 1985-11-04.
Is the South Branch Potomac River high or low right now at Franklin?
At 2.71 ft it is higher than 98% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge FKLW2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 01605500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.