Gauley River at Above Belva, WV
USGS gauge 03192000 · drainage 1,316 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 9:00 PM EDT · 80 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 9:00 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 | 1,290 cfs | ▼ -60 cfs (-4.7%) | 2.86 ft | -0.06 ft |
| 3 h | 1,470 cfs | ▼ -240 cfs (-16.3%) | 3.04 ft | -0.24 ft |
| 6 h | 1,870 cfs | ▼ -640 cfs (-34.2%) | 3.39 ft | -0.59 ft |
| 12 h | 2,050 cfs | ▼ -820 cfs (-40.0%) | 3.54 ft | -0.74 ft |
| 24 h | 1,360 cfs | ▼ -130 cfs (-9.6%) | 2.93 ft | -0.13 ft |
Last 7 days
| Measure | Flow | Time | Relative to latest reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest reading | 5,000 cfs | Oct 12, 1:00 AM EDT | 116 h earlier |
| Lowest reading | 1,100 cfs | Oct 14, 10:30 PM EDT | 46 h earlier |
Source: computed from USGS continuous readings (Water Data API) to Oct 16, 9:00 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 | 1,674 cfs | |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 1,743 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 1,549 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 2,788 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 4,229 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 2,868 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 2,645 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 1,940 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 | 1,840 cfs | 4,770 cfs |
| 2025 | 827 cfs | 1,540 cfs |
| 2024 | 1,344 cfs | 3,830 cfs |
| 2023 | 1,652 cfs | 4,720 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 | 4,190 cfs | Oct 12, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 4,200 cfs | Sep 30, 2026 (12 days earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | Sep 30, 2026 | 12 days earlier |
| Days above the 75th percentile for their date | 18 of 30 | last 30 days |
| October 1 to 15, mean flow | 2,176 cfs | rank 20 highest of 98 years |
| Peak daily mean compared with annual instantaneous peaks of record | Below the lowest of 97 | lowest annual peak 16,700 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1928 to 2026 (35,790 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1918 | 112,000 cfs | 30.00 ft |
| Jul 5, 1932 | 105,000 cfs | 28.60 ft |
| Jun 27, 1940 | 92,300 cfs | 26.35 ft |
| Jun 23, 2016 | 80,900 cfs | 27.18 ft |
| Jul 19, 1954 | 67,500 cfs | 24.80 ft |
| Oct 28, 1937 | 65,300 cfs | 21.37 ft |
| Jan 7, 1946 | 63,200 cfs | 21.00 ft |
| Mar 5, 1955 | 60,400 cfs | 22.99 ft |
| Feb 14, 1948 | 60,300 cfs | 20.62 ft |
| Oct 2, 1929 | 59,900 cfs | 20.30 ft |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2025 | 26,500 cfs | 13.66 ft |
| Feb 17, 2023 | 23,800 cfs | 12.80 ft |
| May 8, 2022 | 23,900 cfs | 12.81 ft |
| Mar 1, 2021 | 33,100 cfs | 15.66 ft |
| Feb 12, 2020 | 25,700 cfs | 13.40 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 97 annual peaks, 1918 to 2025. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Historic crests Official NWS
| Date | Crest stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 1932 | 28.60 ft | 105,000 cfs |
| Jun 26, 1940 | 26.35 ft | 92,300 cfs |
| Jul 19, 1954 | 24.80 ft | 67,500 cfs |
| Mar 5, 1955 | 22.99 ft | 60,400 cfs |
| Oct 27, 1938 | 21.37 ft | 65,300 cfs |
| Jan 6, 1946 | 21.00 ft | 63,200 cfs |
| Feb 13, 1948 | 20.62 ft | 60,300 cfs |
| Jan 28, 1957 | 20.02 ft | 49,300 cfs |
| Nov 19, 2003 | 19.23 ft | 46,190 cfs |
| Jul 29, 2001 | 19.09 ft | 45,770 cfs |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point BVAW2 (Gauley River near Belva), 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, 2.80 ft and 1,230 cfs.
Source: USGS rating table for the gauge (NWIS rating depot, expanded shifted rating, 2,633 rows, thinned to 92 points), fetched Oct 16, 10:12 PM EDT. Ratings are provisional and change with the channel.
Flood stages Official NWS
| Category | Gage height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Action | 18.0 ft |
| Minor | 20.0 ft |
| Moderate | 24.0 ft |
| Major | 27.0 ft |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point BVAW2 (Gauley River near Belva), 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 |
|---|---|
| 20.0 ft | Low sections of Highway 39 above and below the Town of Belva start to flood. |
| 22.0 ft | The welding shop and home next to it start to flood. |
| 24.0 ft | Between 24 and 25 feet, the homes along the river in Belva start to flood. |
| 27.0 ft | Railroad tracks, Route 39, businesses, and homes are flooded in Belva. |
| 30.0 ft | Almost all of Belva is flooded. |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point BVAW2 (Gauley River near Belva). 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.