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French Broad River at Rosman

Highest listed crest 14.95 ftFlood stage 9.0 ft104 crests since 1916

The French Broad River at Rosman crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 104 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1916 to 2024. The highest, 14.95 ft on October 4, 1964, was major flooding, 5.95 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the French Broad River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
14.95 ft
October 4, 1964; 13,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
9.0 ft
Major flooding from 14.0 ft
Crests at major
4
32nd of 314 gauges in North Carolina
Most recent flood crest
September 27, 2024
14.74 ft, major flooding
Location
Transylvania County
North Carolina

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, French Broad River at Rosman
Action stage7.027Dec 24, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)9.068Feb 3, 2016Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.02Sep 29, 1964Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage14.04Sep 27, 2024Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

104 crests from 1916 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the French Broad River at Rosman, 1916 to 2024 6810121416ft Flood stage 9.0 ftMajor 14.0 ft Jul 1, 1916: 13.90 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 1928: 12.50 ft, minor floodingApr 6, 1936: 9.40 ft, minor flooding; 4,280 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 1936: 7.50 ft, action stage; 2,560 cubic feet per secondOct 19, 1937: 10.15 ft, minor flooding; 5,400 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1938: 8.10 ft, action stage; 3,050 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 1939: 8.50 ft, action stage; 3,370 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1939: 10.55 ft, minor flooding; 6,100 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1940: 8.62 ft, action stage; 3,460 cubic feet per secondAug 13, 1940: 11.80 ft, minor flooding; 9,040 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 1940: 11.86 ft, minor flooding; 9,410 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1942: 10.38 ft, minor flooding; 5,740 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 1942: 9.86 ft, minor flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 1946: 7.45 ft, action stage; 2,460 cubic feet per secondJan 20, 1947: 7.80 ft, action stage; 2,730 cubic feet per secondAug 3, 1948: 9.08 ft, minor flooding; 3,620 cubic feet per secondSep 6, 1948: 8.00 ft, action stage; 2,800 cubic feet per secondNov 6, 1948: 7.98 ft, action stage; 2,790 cubic feet per secondNov 19, 1948: 8.84 ft, action stage; 3,400 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 1948: 8.19 ft, action stage; 2,910 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1949: 9.49 ft, minor flooding; 4,080 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1949: 8.45 ft, action stage; 3,100 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1949: 8.53 ft, action stage; 3,150 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1949: 7.97 ft, action stage; 2,780 cubic feet per secondSep 1, 1950: 11.17 ft, minor flooding; 5,700 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 1950: 10.23 ft, minor flooding; 4,500 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1952: 11.15 ft, minor flooding; 5,660 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1952: 10.11 ft, minor flooding; 3,880 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1953: 10.11 ft, minor flooding; 4,380 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1954: 8.40 ft, action stage; 3,060 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1957: 10.80 ft, minor flooding; 5,180 cubic feet per secondDec 20, 1957: 8.90 ft, action stage; 3,380 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1959: 9.12 ft, minor flooding; 3,530 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 1959: 8.10 ft, action stage; 2,880 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1961: 9.43 ft, minor flooding; 3,760 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 1961: 8.72 ft, action stage; 3,260 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 1961: 9.13 ft, minor flooding; 3,540 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 1964: 13.31 ft, moderate flooding; 9,600 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1964: 14.95 ft, major flooding; 13,500 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1965: 11.12 ft, minor flooding; 5,620 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 1966: 12.50 ft, minor flooding; 7,970 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1967: 10.55 ft, minor flooding; 4,870 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 1967: 9.07 ft, minor flooding; 3,500 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 1967: 9.44 ft, minor flooding; 3,770 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1968: 9.80 ft, minor flooding; 4,080 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1969: 9.51 ft, minor flooding; 3,830 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 1970: 10.62 ft, minor flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 1970: 7.16 ft, action stageOct 11, 1971: 10.61 ft, minor floodingDec 7, 1971: 9.58 ft, minor flooding; 3,900 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1972: 10.01 ft, minor floodingJan 1, 1973: 9.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 2, 1973: 10.00 ft, minor floodingMar 16, 1973: 10.17 ft, minor flooding; 4,460 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 1974: 10.25 ft, minor floodingSep 23, 1975: 10.26 ft, minor floodingOct 17, 1976: 12.19 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1977: 12.20 ft, minor floodingSep 7, 1977: 11.68 ft, minor flooding; 6,500 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 1977: 11.32 ft, minor flooding; 5,920 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1978: 10.57 ft, minor flooding; 4,930 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1979: 12.84 ft, minor flooding; 8,630 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1979: 11.24 ft, minor flooding; 5,800 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1979: 11.58 ft, minor flooding; 6,340 cubic feet per secondNov 25, 1979: 9.25 ft, minor flooding; 3,620 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1980: 8.14 ft, action stage; 2,900 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1980: 8.28 ft, action stage; 2,980 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1980: 11.58 ft, minor flooding; 6,340 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1981: 9.62 ft, minor flooding; 3,930 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1982: 7.06 ft, action stage; 2,290 cubic feet per secondDec 5, 1982: 9.27 ft, minor flooding; 3,640 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1983: 10.55 ft, minor flooding; 4,910 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 1984: 7.59 ft, action stage; 2,570 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1985: 8.03 ft, action stage; 2,830 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 1986: 6.79 ft, below flood stage; 2,140 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1987: 11.38 ft, minor flooding; 6,020 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 1988: 6.90 ft, below flood stage; 2,200 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1989: 9.39 ft, minor floodingFeb 16, 1990: 10.16 ft, minor flooding; 4,460 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1991: 11.49 ft, minor flooding; 6,190 cubic feet per secondNov 22, 1992: 10.90 ft, minor flooding; 4,220 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1994: 14.12 ft, major flooding; 11,500 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 1995: 9.92 ft, minor flooding; 5,220 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1995: 10.10 ft, minor flooding; 5,410 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1996: 9.84 ft, minor floodingJan 27, 1996: 9.77 ft, minor floodingJan 7, 1998: 12.12 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 1999: 6.53 ft, below flood stageNov 26, 1999: 8.71 ft, action stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2003: 10.11 ft, minor flooding; 5,420 cubic feet per secondNov 19, 2003: 10.71 ft, minor flooding; 5,107 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2004: 12.90 ft, minor flooding; 8,759 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 2004: 12.76 ft, minor flooding; 8,910 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2008: 8.98 ft, action stage; 4,332 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 2008: 8.09 ft, action stage; 3,592 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 2009: 12.74 ft, minor floodingDec 1, 2010: 10.30 ft, minor flooding; 5,633 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 2013: 10.31 ft, minor flooding; 5,644 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2013: 9.51 ft, minor flooding; 4,839 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 2015: 8.32 ft, action stage; 3,819 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 11.66 ft, minor flooding; 7,299 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 2016: 11.17 ft, minor flooding; 6,661 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 2021: 14.11 ft, major flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2024: 14.74 ft, major flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per second Highest, 14.95 ft, Oct 4, 1964 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, French Broad River at Rosman 1910s: 1 1920s: 1 1930s: 3 1940s: 6 1950s: 7 1960s: 11 1970s: 18 18 1980s: 6 1990s: 9 2000s: 5 2010s: 5 2020s: 2 1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 104 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, French Broad River at Rosman
1Oct 4, 196414.95+5.95Major13,500
2Sep 27, 202414.74+5.74Major12,800
3Aug 17, 199414.12+5.12Major11,500
4Aug 17, 202114.11+5.11Major11,000
5Jul 1, 191613.90+4.90Moderate11,000
6Sep 29, 196413.31+4.31Moderate9,600
7Sep 8, 200412.90+3.90Minor8,759
8Mar 4, 197912.84+3.84Minor8,630
9Sep 17, 200412.76+3.76Minor8,910
10Sep 21, 200912.74+3.74Minor—
11Aug 1, 192812.50+3.50Minor—
12Feb 13, 196612.50+3.50Minor7,970
13Mar 13, 197712.20+3.20Minor—
14Oct 17, 197612.19+3.19Minor—
15Jan 7, 199812.12+3.12Minor—
16Aug 30, 194011.86+2.86Minor9,410
17Aug 13, 194011.80+2.80Minor9,040
18Sep 7, 197711.68+2.68Minor6,500
19Dec 29, 201511.66+2.66Minor7,299
20Nov 2, 197911.58+2.58Minor6,340
21Nov 2, 198011.58+2.58Minor6,340
22Mar 29, 199111.49+2.49Minor6,190
23Nov 26, 198711.38+2.38Minor6,020
24Sep 16, 197711.32+2.32Minor5,920
25Sep 21, 197911.24+2.24Minor5,800
26Sep 1, 195011.17+2.17Minor5,700
27Feb 3, 201611.17+2.17Minor6,661
28Mar 11, 195211.15+2.15Minor5,660
29Oct 1, 196511.12+2.12Minor5,620
30Nov 22, 199210.90+1.90Minor4,220
31Apr 4, 195710.80+1.80Minor5,180
32Nov 19, 200310.71+1.71Minor5,107
33Oct 11, 197010.62+1.62Minor4,940
34Oct 11, 197110.61+1.61Minor—
35Jan 25, 197810.57+1.57Minor4,930
36Aug 18, 193910.55+1.55Minor6,100
37Jun 4, 196710.55+1.55Minor4,870
38Feb 2, 198310.55+1.55Minor4,910
39May 20, 194210.38+1.38Minor5,740
40Jan 30, 201310.31+1.31Minor5,644
41Dec 1, 201010.30+1.30Minor5,633
42Sep 23, 197510.26+1.26Minor—
43Dec 26, 197410.25+1.25Minor—
44Dec 7, 195010.23+1.23Minor4,500
45Mar 16, 197310.17+1.17Minor4,460
46Feb 16, 199010.16+1.16Minor4,460
47Oct 19, 193710.15+1.15Minor5,400
48Mar 21, 195210.11+1.11Minor3,880
49Feb 21, 195310.11+1.11Minor4,380
50Sep 22, 200310.11+1.11Minor5,420

The worst floods along the French Broad River

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

October 4, 1964: 14.95 ft here, major flooding

September 27, 2024: 14.74 ft here, major flooding

August 17, 1994: 14.12 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the French Broad River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the French Broad River
Rosman this gaugeNC9.014.95 ft, Oct 4, 19644
Grove Bridge Rd, in BlantyreNC16.028.43 ft, Sep 28, 20246
Old Fanning Bridge Rd, 3 W FletcherNC13.030.61 ft, Sep 27, 20242
Pearson Bridge Rd, 2 NW AshevilleNC9.524.82 ft, Sep 27, 20243
Rollins Rd, 1 SE MarshallNC8.021.36 ft, Sep 28, 20244
Silver Mine Ck, in Hot SpringsNC9.522.30 ft, Sep 27, 20242
NewportTN10.024.00 ft, Mar 7, 18674

Other gauges in Transylvania County

Flood gauges in Transylvania County
hwy 276 near Pisgah Forest6.014.36 ft, Aug 17, 20211
Grove Bridge Rd, in Blantyre16.028.43 ft, Sep 28, 20246
Merrill Ln, 3 S Penrose10.012.32 ft, Sep 22, 20090

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ROSN7, 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.