Skip Navigation Linkweather.gov 
NOAA logo - Click to go to the NOAA homepage National Weather Service   NWS logo - Click to go to the NWS homepage
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

  
 
Weather Forecast Office Charleston, WV Ohio River Forecast Center

To see all current watches and warnings, click here.

Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Weekly Chance of
Exceeding Levels		 Chance of Exceeding Levels
During Entire Period
Kanawha River at Charleston South Side Bridge Observed crest: 7.7 ft at 6:30am Nov 21 Observed: 7.7 ft at 6:30am Nov 21 Observed: 7.7 ft at 6:30am Nov 22 Observed: 7.6 ft at 6:30am Nov 23 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00pm Nov 23 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00pm Nov 23 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00am Nov 24 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00am Nov 24 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00pm Nov 24 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00pm Nov 24 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00am Nov 25 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00am Nov 25 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00pm Nov 25 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00pm Nov 25 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00am Nov 26 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00am Nov 26 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00pm Nov 26 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 7:00pm Nov 26 Forecast: 7.5 ft at 1:00am Nov 27 Forecast: 7.4 ft at 7:00am Nov 27 Forecast: 7.4 ft at 1:00pm Nov 27 Forecast: 7.4 ft at 7:00pm Nov 27 Forecast: 7.4 ft at 1:00am Nov 28 Forecast: 7.4 ft at 7:00am Nov 28 Graph Created (10:41am Nov 23, 2009) Observed Forecast (issued 10:36am Nov 23) CRSW2 (plotting HGIRP) Gage 0 Datum: 558.00 Latest observed value: 7.6 ft at 6:30 AM EST 23-Nov-2009. Flood Stage is 30.0 ft. Stage (ft) Flow (kcfs)
Printable Image
About this graph
Tabular Data
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: NAVD88
Metadata
NOTE: Gauge readings received once daily during low-water and more frequently during high water.

Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions

NOTE: Forecasts for the Kanawha River at Charleston South Side Bridge are issued routinely year-round.

Vertical datum height estimated from NGVD29 to NAVD88 using the NGS VERTCON conversion program

Return to Area Map

Upstream Gauge - at Kanawha Falls Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - at Charleston Lk 6

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:40
Moderate Flood Stage:35
Flood Stage:30
Action Stage:26

Historical Crests
(1) 47.60 ft on 01/01/1840
(2) 46.87 ft on 09/29/1861
(3) 43.00 ft on 01/01/1822
(4) 41.63 ft on 09/14/1878
(5) 41.50 ft on 02/23/1897
(6) 41.25 ft on 03/05/1899
(7) 39.35 ft on 04/01/1886
(8) 38.60 ft on 12/30/1901
(9) 38.50 ft on 05/23/1901
(10) 38.10 ft on 01/01/1865

Low Water Records
(1) -0.1 ft on 09/15/1881
(1) -0.1 ft on 09/01/1861
(3) 1.0 ft on 01/01/1879
(4) 5.0 ft on 08/17/1988
(5) 6.0 ft on 11/04/1989

 Kanawha River at Charleston South Side Bridge location map

Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
48.0 MAJOR FLOODING OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
47.0 KANAWHA BOULEVARD NEAR SOUTH SIDE BRIDGE IS FLOODED.
44.0 WATER REACHES THE BASE OF HOMES ALONG KANAWHA BOULEVARD, WEST OF THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE, NEAR MAGIC ISLAND. KANAWHA BOULEVARD IS ALSO FLOODED IN THIS AREA. SECTIONS OF MCCORKLE AVENUE (ROUTE 60) NEAR THE WEST VIRGINIA LOTTERY, NEAR INTERSTATE BRIDGE AND EAST OF RAILROAD STATION ARE FLOODED.
43.0 WATER IS AT THE BASE OF UNION BUILDING ON KANAWHA BOULEVARD.
40.4 SOUTH SIDE BRIDGE PARKING LOT ALONG KANAWHA BOULEVARD IS FLOODED.
38.7 WATER IS TO BOTTOM OF HADDAD PARK BATHROOMS AND MOST OF PARK IS FLOODED.
38.0 THE CSX RAILROAD TRACKS, KANAWHA BOULEVARD, AND PARK AVENUE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHARLESTON BEGINS TO FLOOD.
32.0 U.S. ROUTE 60 PATRICK STREET AND U.S. ROUTE 119 IN THE CITY OF CHARLESTON BEGINS TO FLOOD.
31.6 PATRICK STREET AT 6TH AVENUE BEGINS TO FLOOD.
31.5 BIGLEY AVENUE AT MAGAZINE BRANCH BEGINS TO FLOOD.
29.5 CRESCENT ROAD AT MAGAZINE BRANCH BEGINS TO FLOOD.
29.3 GRANT STREET AT ELM STREET BEGINS TO FLOOD.
29.0 THE UNDERPASS AT MCCORKLE AND ROUTE 119 IS FLOODED.
27.0 IOWA STREET AT 5TH AVENUE BEGINS TO FLOOD.
26.0 RIVERBANK SIDEWALK NEAR SOUTH SIDE BRIDGE AND HADDAD PARK IS FLOODED.
23.6 THE NORTH CHARLESTON FIRE DEPARTMENT BASEMENT BEGINS TO FLOOD.
22.0 PORTIONS OF MAGIC ISLAND UNDER WATER. BACKWATER AFFECTS START ALONG THE ELK RIVER PORTION OF THE CITY.
17.5 WATER IS UP TO THE BOTTOM STEPS OF HADDAD PARK.
17.2 UPPER PIER OF HADDAD PARK IS FLOODED.
12.0 BOTTOM PIER OF HADDAD PARK IS FLOODED.
Photos
(1) View from above
(2) South Side Bridge gage
(3) South Side Bridge Staff gage
(4) Upstream View
(5) Downstream View

About This Location Collapse
Latitude: 38.347264° N, Longitude: 81.636288° W, Horizontal Datum:

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 30 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)		 Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)		 Elevation information source
NAVD88 557.997 ft 587.997 ft Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 N/A N/A Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL N/A N/A Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other 558.650 ft 588.650 ft  

Resources Collapse
Hydrologic Resources
 Additional Resources
   

Collaborative Agencies Collapse
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.

NWS Information
National Weather Service
Charleston Weather Forecast Office
400 Parkway Road
Charleston, WV 25309
(304) 746-0180
Ask Questions/Webmaster
Page last modified: 29-Jun-2009 10:11 PM 		Disclaimer
Credits
Glossary 		Privacy Policy
About Us
Career Opportunities