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Dan River near Wentworth

Highest listed crest 31.60 ftFlood stage 19.0 ft87 crests since 1940

The Dan River near Wentworth crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 87 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1940 to 2025. The highest, 31.60 ft on June 22, 1972, was major flooding, 12.60 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Dan River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
31.60 ft
June 22, 1972; 54,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
19.0 ft
Major flooding from 29.0 ft
Crests at major
1
76th of 314 gauges in North Carolina
Most recent flood crest
September 18, 2024
19.96 ft, minor flooding
Location
Rockingham County
Near Eden (7.9 mi), Reidsville (9.8 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Dan River near Wentworth
Action stage17.012Feb 16, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)19.049Sep 18, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage25.09Nov 13, 2020Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage29.01Jun 22, 1972Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

87 crests from 1940 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Dan River near Wentworth, 1940 to 2025 010203040ft Flood stage 19.0 ftMajor 29.0 ft Aug 15, 1940: 26.90 ft, moderate flooding; 34,700 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1941: 19.20 ft, minor flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1942: 20.04 ft, minor flooding; 18,600 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1943: 19.76 ft, minor flooding; 18,100 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1944: 16.63 ft, below flood stage; 13,100 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1945: 27.78 ft, moderate flooding; 38,100 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1946: 16.45 ft, below flood stage; 12,800 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 1947: 21.47 ft, minor flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1953: 20.47 ft, minor flooding; 19,600 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1954: 20.75 ft, minor flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 1954: 22.79 ft, minor flooding; 22,700 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1957: 22.38 ft, minor flooding; 21,500 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 1957: 20.90 ft, minor flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 1958: 20.90 ft, minor flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1959: 21.72 ft, minor flooding; 22,500 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1960: 24.20 ft, minor flooding; 26,400 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1962: 19.69 ft, minor flooding; 15,900 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1963: 24.20 ft, minor flooding; 26,400 cubic feet per secondOct 20, 1968: 18.20 ft, action stage; 13,600 cubic feet per secondAug 11, 1970: 24.82 ft, minor flooding; 28,300 cubic feet per secondOct 31, 1970: 22.16 ft, minor flooding; 20,900 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1972: 31.60 ft, major flooding; 54,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1973: 20.38 ft, minor flooding; 18,100 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1974: 21.09 ft, minor flooding; 19,300 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1975: 24.61 ft, minor flooding; 27,600 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1976: 13.73 ft, below flood stage; 9,330 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 1976: 20.12 ft, minor flooding; 17,700 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 1978: 23.07 ft, minor flooding; 23,700 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 1979: 28.12 ft, moderate flooding; 39,400 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1980: 21.58 ft, minor flooding; 20,200 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 1981: 13.17 ft, below flood stage; 8,790 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1982: 16.13 ft, below flood stage; 12,700 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1983: 20.13 ft, minor flooding; 17,800 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1984: 19.39 ft, minor flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 1985: 25.56 ft, moderate flooding; 30,800 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1987: 26.58 ft, moderate flooding; 34,000 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1989: 22.77 ft, minor flooding; 23,100 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1991: 24.44 ft, minor flooding; 27,400 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1992: 21.03 ft, minor flooding; 19,500 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1993: 22.01 ft, minor flooding; 21,500 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1994: 21.98 ft, minor flooding; 21,400 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 1995: 17.58 ft, action stage; 14,400 cubic feet per secondSep 6, 1996: 21.96 ft, minor flooding; 21,400 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1997: 19.45 ft, minor flooding; 16,800 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1998: 20.14 ft, minor flooding; 18,100 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 1999: 14.47 ft, below flood stage; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2000: 10.88 ft, below flood stage; 7,390 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 2001: 13.53 ft, below flood stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2002: 7.80 ft, below flood stage; 4,740 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 2003: 19.62 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2003: 26.91 ft, moderate flooding; 35,200 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2003: 21.83 ft, minor floodingSep 29, 2004: 24.42 ft, minor flooding; 27,200 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2005: 16.17 ft, below flood stage; 13,000 cubic feet per secondOct 8, 2005: 14.75 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 2006: 16.90 ft, below flood stage; 13,689 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2007: 22.78 ft, minor flooding; 24,600 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2008: 17.30 ft, action stage; 15,415 cubic feet per secondJan 7, 2009: 17.08 ft, action stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 2010: 20.40 ft, minor flooding; 20,212 cubic feet per secondOct 28, 2010: 17.72 ft, action stage; 16,000 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2012: 14.76 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondJan 18, 2013: 20.12 ft, minor flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondJan 12, 2014: 17.05 ft, action stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 2015: 17.03 ft, action stage; 14,400 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2015: 19.45 ft, minor flooding; 18,700 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 2015: 21.71 ft, minor flooding; 21,400 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2015: 20.05 ft, minor flooding; 18,300 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2017: 23.14 ft, minor flooding; 24,200 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2017: 17.76 ft, action stage; 15,384 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2018: 24.88 ft, minor flooding; 28,902 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2018: 24.27 ft, minor flooding; 27,100 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 2018: 18.14 ft, action stage; 15,300 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2018: 17.18 ft, action stage; 14,255 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2019: 22.63 ft, minor flooding; 22,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2020: 28.39 ft, moderate flooding; 40,900 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2020: 26.50 ft, moderate flooding; 36,100 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2020: 19.05 ft, minor flooding; 17,200 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 2020: 27.62 ft, moderate flooding; 38,500 cubic feet per secondDec 1, 2020: 17.70 ft, action stage; 15,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 2021: 17.69 ft, action stage; 15,200 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 2022: 15.39 ft, below flood stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 24.84 ft, minor flooding; 28,800 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 2024: 20.51 ft, minor flooding; 18,600 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2024: 19.96 ft, minor flooding; 19,400 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2024: 16.03 ft, below flood stage; 13,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2025: 16.76 ft, below flood stage; 14,800 cubic feet per second Highest, 31.60 ft, Jun 22, 1972 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Dan River near Wentworth 1940s: 6 1950s: 7 1960s: 3 1970s: 9 9 1980s: 6 1990s: 7 2000s: 5 2010s: 9 2020s: 7 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 87 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Dan River near Wentworth
1Jun 22, 197231.60+12.60Major54,200
2Feb 7, 202028.39+9.39Moderate40,900
3Sep 23, 197928.12+9.12Moderate39,400
4Sep 18, 194527.78+8.78Moderate38,100
5Nov 13, 202027.62+8.62Moderate38,500
6Mar 21, 200326.91+7.91Moderate35,200
7Aug 15, 194026.90+7.90Moderate34,700
8Mar 2, 198726.58+7.58Moderate34,000
9May 22, 202026.50+7.50Moderate36,100
10Aug 19, 198525.56+6.56Moderate30,800
11Sep 18, 201824.88+5.88Minor28,902
12Jan 10, 202424.84+5.84Minor28,800
13Aug 11, 197024.82+5.82Minor28,300
14Mar 30, 197524.61+5.61Minor27,600
15Mar 30, 199124.44+5.44Minor27,400
16Sep 29, 200424.42+5.42Minor27,200
17Oct 12, 201824.27+5.27Minor27,100
18Mar 13, 196024.20+5.20Minor26,400
19Mar 13, 196324.20+5.20Minor26,400
20Apr 25, 201723.14+4.14Minor24,200
21Jan 26, 197823.07+4.07Minor23,700
22Oct 16, 195422.79+3.79Minor22,700
23Jan 1, 200722.78+3.78Minor24,600
24Oct 2, 198922.77+3.77Minor23,100
25Feb 24, 201922.63+3.63Minor22,900
26Sep 18, 195722.38+3.38Minor21,500
27Oct 31, 197022.16+3.16Minor20,900
28Mar 4, 199322.01+3.01Minor21,500
29Mar 28, 199421.98+2.98Minor21,400
30Sep 6, 199621.96+2.96Minor21,400
31Apr 11, 200321.83+2.83Minor—
32Oct 1, 195921.72+2.72Minor22,500
33Sep 30, 201521.71+2.71Minor21,400
34Apr 10, 198021.58+2.58Minor20,200
35Oct 10, 194721.47+2.47Minor20,000
36Apr 5, 197421.09+2.09Minor19,300
37Apr 22, 199221.03+2.03Minor19,500
38Nov 20, 195720.90+1.90Minor19,900
39Dec 29, 195820.90+1.90Minor19,900
40Jan 23, 195420.75+1.75Minor19,700
41Jan 28, 202420.51+1.51Minor18,600
42Mar 24, 195320.47+1.47Minor19,600
43Sep 30, 201020.40+1.40Minor20,212
44Feb 3, 197320.38+1.38Minor18,100
45Apr 18, 199820.14+1.14Minor18,100
46Apr 10, 198320.13+1.13Minor17,800
47Oct 10, 197620.12+1.12Minor17,700
48Jan 18, 201320.12+1.12Minor19,700
49Dec 25, 201520.05+1.05Minor18,300
50May 22, 194220.04+1.04Minor18,600

The worst floods along the Dan River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Dan River that crested above flood stage within a week.

June 22, 1972: 31.60 ft here, major flooding

  • South BostonVA · Jun 24, 1972 · 33.37 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • PacesVA · Jun 23, 1972 · 33.15 ft · Moderate · its highest

February 7, 2020: 28.39 ft here, moderate flooding

  • South BostonVA · Feb 9, 2020 · 30.56 ft · Moderate
  • PacesVA · Feb 9, 2020 · 29.75 ft · Moderate
  • STP near DanvilleVA · Feb 8, 2020 · 27.22 ft · Moderate
  • Pine HallNC · Feb 7, 2020 · 27.94 ft · Minor · its highest

September 23, 1979: 28.12 ft here, moderate flooding

  • South BostonVA · Sep 24, 1979 · 30.67 ft · Moderate
  • PacesVA · Sep 24, 1979 · 29.34 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Dan River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Dan River
PacesVA22.033.15 ft, Jun 23, 19720
Pine HallNC23.027.94 ft, Feb 7, 20200
South BostonVA22.033.37 ft, Jun 24, 19720
STP near DanvilleVA21.030.01 ft, Oct 12, 20180
FranciscoNC13.019.50 ft, Aug 17, 19851
Wentworth this gaugeNC19.031.60 ft, Jun 22, 19721

Other gauges in Rockingham County

Flood gauges in Rockingham County
Price8.015.49 ft, Aug 17, 19852
Eden12.019.28 ft, Aug 15, 19401

Rockingham County: every hazard · River floods across the country · North Carolina

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WENN7, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.