New River at Thurmond, WV
USGS gauge 03185400 · drainage 6,752 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT · 35 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT. Shaded band: 25th to 75th percentile of USGS daily statistics for each date; dashed: median. Flow in cfs.
Rate of rise and fall Live gauge
| Window | Flow then | Change to latest | Gage height then | Gage height change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 9,450 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 7.46 ft | +0.00 ft |
| 3 h | 9,400 cfs | ▬ +50 cfs (+0.5%) | 7.44 ft | +0.02 ft |
| 6 h | 9,500 cfs | ▬ -50 cfs (-0.5%) | 7.48 ft | -0.02 ft |
| 12 h | 10,000 cfs | ▼ -550 cfs (-5.5%) | 7.68 ft | -0.22 ft |
| 24 h | 15,800 cfs | ▼ -6,350 cfs (-40.2%) | 9.51 ft | -2.05 ft |
Last 7 days
| Measure | Flow | Time | Relative to latest reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest reading | 23,600 cfs | Oct 13, 9:45 AM EDT | 84 h earlier |
| Lowest reading | 1,930 cfs | Oct 10, 4:30 PM EDT | 149 h earlier |
Source: computed from USGS continuous readings (Water Data API) to Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT. Each row compares the latest reading with the reading closest to that many hours earlier; the arrow is steady (▬) when the change is within 1%.
Daily mean flow Live gauge
| Date (gauge-local) | Mean flow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | 10,033 cfs | |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 17,707 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 20,229 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 21,731 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 7,427 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 2,138 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 1,951 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 2,130 cfs | |
| Oct 8, 2026 | – | Partial day |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values); each mean uses readings on that gauge-local date, shown only with at least 80% of expected readings.
The same 50 days in earlier years Historical record
━ 2026 ╌ 2025 ╌ 2024 ╌ 2023
| Year | Mean flow | Highest day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3,626 cfs | 22,000 cfs |
| 2025 | 1,949 cfs | 4,100 cfs |
| 2024 | 9,904 cfs | 34,100 cfs |
| 2023 | 2,722 cfs | 7,540 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API). Each line is the 50 days from Aug 27 to Oct 15, shifted to the same calendar dates in earlier years; gaps are days without a published value. Recent days are provisional.
Compared with this gauge’s record Historical record
| Measure | Value | When or rank |
|---|---|---|
| Peak daily flow, last 7 days | 22,000 cfs | Oct 13, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 22,700 cfs | Feb 23, 2026 (8 months earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | Aug 18, 2026 | 2 months earlier |
| Days above the 75th percentile for their date | 9 of 30 | last 30 days |
| October 1 to 15, mean flow | 6,232 cfs | rank 7 highest of 46 years |
| Peak daily mean compared with annual instantaneous peaks of record | Below the lowest of 44 | lowest annual peak 40,300 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1981 to 2026 (16,675 days), data through Oct 15, 2026, computed 2026-10-17; method record-v1. Percentiles are USGS daily statistics. Recent days are provisional.
Largest annual peaks Historical record
Ten largest peaks of record
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 1996 | 100,000 cfs | 20.35 ft |
| Feb 1, 2013 | 99,000 cfs | 20.25 ft |
| Mar 14, 2010 | 98,500 cfs | 20.21 ft |
| Feb 23, 2003 | 96,600 cfs | 20.05 ft |
| Feb 25, 2019 | 92,800 cfs | 19.74 ft |
| Jun 24, 2016 | 90,500 cfs | 19.55 ft |
| Apr 17, 2018 | 90,400 cfs | 19.54 ft |
| Nov 20, 2003 | 84,600 cfs | 19.05 ft |
| Feb 7, 2020 | 84,000 cfs | 19.00 ft |
| Nov 6, 1985 | 83,400 cfs | 18.95 ft |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 11, 2024 | 47,100 cfs | 15.15 ft |
| Feb 18, 2023 | 68,500 cfs | 17.58 ft |
| Feb 5, 2022 | 49,600 cfs | 15.47 ft |
| Mar 1, 2021 | 63,800 cfs | 17.10 ft |
| Feb 7, 2020 | 84,000 cfs | 19.00 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 44 annual peaks, 1981 to 2024. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Historic crests Official NWS
| Date | Crest stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 1996 | 20.35 ft | 100,000 cfs |
| Feb 1, 2013 | 20.27 ft | 99,240 cfs |
| Jan 26, 2010 | 20.10 ft | 97,200 cfs |
| Feb 22, 2003 | 20.05 ft | 96,600 cfs |
| Feb 25, 2019 | 19.68 ft | 92,064 cfs |
| Jun 24, 2016 | 19.58 ft | 90,851 cfs |
| Feb 16, 2025 | 19.06 ft | 84,363 cfs |
| Nov 19, 2003 | 19.05 ft | 84,600 cfs |
| Nov 5, 1985 | 18.95 ft | 83,400 cfs |
| Feb 14, 1984 | 18.64 ft | 80,000 cfs |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point THMW2 (New River at Thurmond), historic crests as published by the NWS; the NWS may have recorded them on an older gauge datum. The USGS annual peaks above are a separate record and can differ in date, flow and datum.
Gage height to flow rating Historical record
Line: current USGS rating, gage height (ft, horizontal) to flow (cfs, vertical). ● latest reading, 7.46 ft and 9,450 cfs.
Source: USGS rating table for the gauge (NWIS rating depot, expanded shifted rating, 1,933 rows, thinned to 93 points), fetched Oct 16, 10:12 PM EDT. Ratings are provisional and change with the channel.
Water temperature by month Historical record
Source: USGS daily mean water temperature (parameter 00010, Water Data API), 1990 to 2021, mean of all published daily values in each calendar month (days counted under each month; (few) means fewer than 150 daily values).
Water quality sensors Live gauge
| Measure | Latest value | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 68.7 °F (20.4 °C) | Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT |
| Dissolved oxygen | 8.6 mg/L | Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT |
| Turbidity | 11 FNU | Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT |
| pH | 8.0 pH units | Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT |
| Specific conductance | 144 µS/cm | Oct 16, 9:45 PM EDT |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values). Values as reported by the gauge, provisional.
Flood stages Official NWS
| Category | Gage height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Action | 16.0 ft |
| Minor | 19.0 ft |
| Moderate | 20.0 ft |
| Major | 22.0 ft |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point THMW2 (New River at Thurmond), fetched Oct 16, 10:17 PM EDT. Compare with the gage height above; thresholds belong to that forecast point.
Flood impacts by stage Official NWS
| Stage | National Weather Service impact statement |
|---|---|
| 16.0 ft | Dunglen group camping area and boat ramp floods. |
| 19.0 ft | A few homes on WV Route 25 above the Dunglen camping area begin to flood. |
| 19.5 ft | Flooding of low areas begins along the river with backwater flooding occurring on Dunloup Creek and Arbuckle Creek. |
| 20.0 ft | Stone Cliff camping area floods. |
| 30.0 ft | Dunglen parking area floods. |
| 32.0 ft | Low sections of WV Route 25 above the Dunglen camping area flood. |
| 34.0 ft | Row of homes on WV Route 25 approximately half a mile below the Stone Cliff bridge begin to flood. |
| 37.0 ft | Parking lot in town between the railroad tracks and the river floods. |
| 38.0 ft | Railroad tracks in town begin to flood. |
| 39.0 ft | Historic vacant business district in town floods. |
| 42.0 ft | Historic train station, museum, and post office flood. Access to the town is cutoff. |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point THMW2 (New River at Thurmond). Statements are quoted from the NWS and describe that forecast point.
Sources and method
- Data: U.S. Geological Survey. Terms
- River forecasts and flood stages: National Weather Service. National Water Model guidance: NOAA. Terms
USGS daily statistics, downloaded 2026-10-12
Percentile method: trailing 24 h mean vs USGS daily percentiles for calendar date 10-16.
Percentile is estimated from USGS published daily percentiles. Readings are provisional until USGS reviews them. Not endorsed by USGS, NOAA or the National Weather Service. Not for navigation or safety-of-life decisions; the absence of an alert is not a statement that conditions are safe.