Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

South Fork New River near Jefferson

Highest listed crest 22.50 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft109 crests since 1916

The South Fork New River near Jefferson crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 109 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1916 to 2025. The highest, 22.50 ft on August 14, 1940, was major flooding, 14.50 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
22.50 ft
August 14, 1940; 52,800 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 16.0 ft
Crests at major
3
39th of 314 gauges in North Carolina
Most recent flood crest
September 27, 2024
18.27 ft, major flooding
Location
Ashe 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, South Fork New River near Jefferson
Action stage5.072May 13, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.027Nov 12, 2022Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.02Jan 15, 1995Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage16.03Sep 27, 2024Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

109 crests from 1916 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Fork New River near Jefferson, 1916 to 2025 0510152025ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 16.0 ft Jul 15, 1916: 18.00 ft, major flooding; 35,200 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1920: 7.00 ft, action stage; 7,090 cubic feet per secondDec 9, 1924: 5.10 ft, action stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondJan 18, 1926: 5.10 ft, action stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1929: 5.30 ft, action stage; 4,300 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 1931: 3.90 ft, below flood stage; 2,440 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1932: 4.80 ft, below flood stage; 3,580 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1934: 5.00 ft, action stage; 3,390 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 1935: 8.50 ft, minor flooding; 7,870 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 1936: 6.11 ft, action stage; 3,730 cubic feet per secondOct 19, 1937: 5.90 ft, action stage; 3,490 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1939: 6.40 ft, action stage; 4,090 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 1940: 22.50 ft, major flooding; 52,800 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1945: 9.19 ft, minor flooding; 9,280 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1946: 6.12 ft, action stage; 3,900 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 1947: 6.66 ft, action stage; 4,800 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1949: 8.76 ft, minor flooding; 8,460 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1950: 5.96 ft, action stage; 3,750 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 1950: 8.59 ft, minor flooding; 8,060 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1952: 6.20 ft, action stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1953: 6.64 ft, action stage; 4,230 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1954: 6.12 ft, action stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1955: 7.20 ft, action stage; 5,150 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1956: 4.98 ft, below flood stage; 2,250 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1957: 7.95 ft, action stage; 6,540 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 1957: 6.05 ft, action stage; 3,400 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1959: 9.55 ft, minor flooding; 9,860 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 6.84 ft, action stage; 4,530 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1961: 5.59 ft, action stage; 2,920 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 1961: 5.42 ft, action stage; 2,690 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1963: 7.60 ft, action stage; 6,400 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1964: 5.38 ft, action stage; 2,900 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 1964: 7.16 ft, action stage; 5,110 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1966: 9.47 ft, minor flooding; 9,550 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1967: 5.46 ft, action stage; 2,760 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1968: 5.24 ft, action stage; 2,510 cubic feet per secondOct 19, 1968: 6.50 ft, action stage; 4,080 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 1970: 7.73 ft, action stage; 6,080 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 1970: 5.21 ft, action stage; 2,480 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1972: 8.27 ft, minor flooding; 7,010 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1973: 7.63 ft, action stage; 5,910 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1973: 9.87 ft, minor flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1974: 7.63 ft, action stage; 5,910 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1975: 6.23 ft, action stage; 3,700 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 1975: 8.24 ft, minor flooding; 6,950 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 1976: 7.26 ft, action stage; 5,280 cubic feet per secondNov 7, 1977: 14.83 ft, moderate flooding; 26,300 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1979: 9.52 ft, minor flooding; 9,660 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1980: 7.60 ft, action stage; 5,820 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1981: 6.79 ft, action stage; 4,520 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1982: 5.48 ft, action stage; 2,770 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1983: 8.77 ft, minor flooding; 8,020 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1984: 6.87 ft, action stage; 4,640 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1985: 5.83 ft, action stage; 3,190 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 1985: 5.77 ft, action stage; 3,110 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1987: 6.35 ft, action stage; 3,870 cubic feet per secondNov 18, 1987: 4.69 ft, below flood stage; 1,950 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1989: 9.99 ft, minor flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 1989: 7.51 ft, action stage; 5,680 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1990: 9.75 ft, minor flooding; 10,200 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1992: 7.42 ft, action stage; 5,530 cubic feet per secondNov 23, 1992: 8.30 ft, minor flooding; 7,100 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1994: 11.85 ft, minor flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 1995: 13.73 ft, moderate flooding; 21,000 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1996: 10.02 ft, minor flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondNov 8, 1996: 7.42 ft, action stage; 5,530 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1998: 9.03 ft, minor flooding; 8,410 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1999: 5.34 ft, action stage; 2,650 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1999: 5.27 ft, action stage; 2,570 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 2001: 4.88 ft, below flood stage; 2,150 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2002: 5.82 ft, action stage; 3,220 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 2003: 5.99 ft, action stage; 3,440 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2004: 11.73 ft, minor flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 2005: 6.46 ft, action stage; 4,050 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2006: 6.75 ft, action stage; 4,470 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2007: 5.62 ft, action stage; 2,980 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2008: 6.26 ft, action stage; 3,780 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2009: 5.83 ft, action stage; 3,240 cubic feet per secondJan 17, 2010: 7.25 ft, action stage; 5,240 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 2010: 5.18 ft, action stage; 1,320 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2010: 6.33 ft, action stage; 2,800 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2011: 6.22 ft, action stage; 3,730 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 2011: 5.79 ft, action stage; 3,190 cubic feet per secondNov 29, 2011: 7.17 ft, action stage; 5,120 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2013: 10.02 ft, minor flooding; 10,547 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2013: 8.96 ft, minor flooding; 8,272 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2015: 7.02 ft, action stage; 4,880 cubic feet per secondNov 19, 2015: 7.00 ft, action stage; 4,850 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 2016: 6.93 ft, action stage; 4,752 cubic feet per secondOct 24, 2017: 8.22 ft, minor flooding; 6,831 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2018: 7.07 ft, action stage; 5,210 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 2018: 9.43 ft, minor flooding; 9,462 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2018: 9.20 ft, minor flooding; 9,000 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2019: 10.44 ft, minor flooding; 11,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2020: 7.66 ft, action stage; 6,162 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2020: 9.87 ft, minor flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2020: 8.90 ft, minor flooding; 8,410 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 2020: 5.64 ft, action stage; 3,240 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2020: 6.34 ft, action stage; 4,150 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 2020: 5.61 ft, action stage; 3,195 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2022: 5.11 ft, action stage; 2,610 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 2022: 8.31 ft, minor flooding; 7,300 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2023: 5.79 ft, action stage; 3,420 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 2023: 5.83 ft, action stage; 3,480 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 7.27 ft, action stage; 5,520 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2024: 5.23 ft, action stage; 2,750 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2024: 18.27 ft, major flooding; 37,100 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 2024: 5.82 ft, action stage; 3,460 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2025: 7.77 ft, action stage; 6,530 cubic feet per second Highest, 22.50 ft, Aug 14, 1940 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Fork New River near Jefferson 1910s: 1 1920s: 0 1930s: 1 1940s: 3 1950s: 2 1960s: 1 1970s: 5 1980s: 2 1990s: 6 6 2000s: 1 2010s: 6 2020s: 4 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 109 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, South Fork New River near Jefferson
1Aug 14, 194022.50+14.50Major52,800
2Sep 27, 202418.27+10.27Major37,100
3Jul 15, 191618.00+10.00Major35,200
4Nov 7, 197714.83+6.83Moderate26,300
5Jan 15, 199513.73+5.73Moderate21,000
6Aug 17, 199411.85+3.85Minor15,600
7Sep 8, 200411.73+3.73Minor14,700
8Jun 9, 201910.44+2.44Minor11,600
9Aug 12, 199610.02+2.02Minor10,800
10Jan 31, 201310.02+2.02Minor10,547
11Sep 22, 19899.99+1.99Minor10,000
12May 28, 19739.87+1.87Minor10,500
13Apr 13, 20209.87+1.87Minor10,400
14Oct 13, 19909.75+1.75Minor10,200
15Sep 30, 19599.55+1.55Minor9,860
16Sep 22, 19799.52+1.52Minor9,660
17Feb 14, 19669.47+1.47Minor9,550
18Sep 17, 20189.43+1.43Minor9,462
19Oct 12, 20189.20+1.20Minor9,000
20Sep 18, 19459.19+1.19Minor9,280
21Jan 8, 19989.03+1.03Minor8,410
22May 6, 20138.96+0.96Minor8,272
23May 21, 20208.90+0.90Minor8,410
24Feb 2, 19838.77+0.77Minor8,020
25Aug 28, 19498.76+0.76Minor8,460
26Dec 7, 19508.59+0.59Minor8,060
27Jan 9, 19358.50+0.50Minor7,870
28Nov 12, 20228.31+0.31Minor7,300
29Nov 23, 19928.30+0.30Minor7,100
30Jun 21, 19728.27+0.27Minor7,010
31Oct 18, 19758.24+0.24Minor6,950
32Oct 24, 20178.22+0.22Minor6,831
33Apr 5, 19577.95−0.05Action6,540
34May 13, 20257.77−0.23Action6,530
35Aug 10, 19707.73−0.27Action6,080
36Feb 7, 20207.66−0.34Action6,162
37Apr 4, 19737.63−0.37Action5,910
38Apr 4, 19747.63−0.37Action5,910
39Mar 13, 19637.60−0.40Action6,400
40Apr 9, 19807.60−0.40Action5,820
41Nov 16, 19897.51−0.49Action5,680
42Apr 21, 19927.42−0.58Action5,530
43Nov 8, 19967.42−0.58Action5,530
44Jan 10, 20247.27−0.73Action5,520
45Oct 9, 19767.26−0.74Action5,280
46Jan 17, 20107.25−0.75Action5,240
47Apr 14, 19557.20−0.80Action5,150
48Nov 29, 20117.17−0.83Action5,120
49Oct 17, 19647.16−0.84Action5,110
50Apr 24, 20187.07−0.93Action5,210

The worst floods along the South Fork New River

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

September 27, 2024: 18.27 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the South Fork New River

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

Flood gauges on the South Fork New River
SR 1100 near BrownwoodNC10.024.50 ft, Sep 27, 20241
US Hwy 221NC23.025.71 ft, Sep 27, 20240
Jefferson this gaugeNC8.022.50 ft, Aug 14, 19403

Other gauges in Ashe County

Flood gauges in Ashe County
Clifton7.08.74 ft, Jun 9, 20190
SR 1100 near Brownwood10.024.50 ft, Sep 27, 20241
S.R. 15066.07.44 ft, Oct 11, 20260

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge JFRN7, 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.