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Harpeth River at Bellevue

Highest listed crest 33.23 ftFlood stage 20.0 ft95 crests since 1921

The Harpeth River at Bellevue crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 95 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1921 to 2017. The highest, 33.23 ft on May 2, 2010, was major flooding, 13.23 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Harpeth River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
33.23 ft
May 2, 2010; 46,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
20.0 ft
Major flooding from 28.0 ft
Crests at major
1
40th of 100 gauges in Tennessee
Most recent flood crest
May 2, 2010
33.23 ft, major flooding
Location
Davidson County
Near Brentwood (9.7 mi), Franklin (10.6 mi), Nashville (11.4 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Harpeth River at Bellevue
Action stage14.062Apr 23, 2017The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)20.010Feb 6, 2004Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage24.02Mar 13, 1975Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage28.01May 2, 2010Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

95 crests from 1921 to 2017. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Harpeth River at Bellevue, 1921 to 2017 010203040ft Flood stage 20.0 ftMajor 28.0 ft Apr 17, 1921: 12.50 ft, below flood stage; 7,740 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1922: 18.80 ft, action stage; 13,400 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1923: 13.70 ft, below flood stage; 8,580 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 1924: 17.10 ft, action stage; 11,300 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1925: 13.30 ft, below flood stage; 8,300 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1926: 11.80 ft, below flood stage; 7,250 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1927: 21.70 ft, minor flooding; 18,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1928: 17.40 ft, action stage; 11,600 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1929: 22.30 ft, minor flooding; 20,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1932: 19.00 ft, action stage; 13,700 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1933: 19.00 ft, action stage; 13,700 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1934: 16.32 ft, action stage; 11,100 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1935: 18.18 ft, action stage; 15,000 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1936: 15.43 ft, action stage; 9,880 cubic feet per secondJan 3, 1937: 19.30 ft, action stage; 17,300 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1938: 15.55 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 1939: 15.59 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1940: 15.46 ft, action stage; 9,780 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1941: 7.73 ft, below flood stage; 3,520 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1942: 8.56 ft, below flood stage; 4,360 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1943: 15.56 ft, action stage; 9,930 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 1944: 17.78 ft, action stage; 13,700 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1945: 17.43 ft, action stage; 12,700 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1946: 19.81 ft, action stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 1947: 15.55 ft, action stage; 9,740 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 1948: 24.34 ft, moderate flooding; 40,000 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 1949: 15.21 ft, action stage; 8,820 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1950: 18.46 ft, action stage; 15,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1951: 16.46 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondDec 9, 1951: 17.72 ft, action stage; 13,300 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1953: 14.64 ft, action stage; 8,380 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1954: 18.21 ft, action stage; 14,700 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1955: 22.18 ft, minor flooding; 28,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 1956: 20.15 ft, minor flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondJan 29, 1957: 17.04 ft, action stage; 11,700 cubic feet per secondNov 18, 1957: 15.45 ft, action stage; 9,160 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1959: 11.59 ft, below flood stage; 6,210 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1960: 18.74 ft, action stage; 16,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1961: 14.29 ft, action stage; 8,020 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1962: 20.98 ft, minor flooding; 23,700 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1963: 16.57 ft, action stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1964: 13.96 ft, below flood stage; 7,740 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1965: 16.98 ft, action stage; 11,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 1966: 11.08 ft, below flood stage; 5,860 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1967: 18.12 ft, action stage; 14,300 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 1968: 11.56 ft, below flood stage; 6,590 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1969: 12.89 ft, below flood stage; 7,390 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1969: 18.76 ft, action stage; 16,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1971: 13.50 ft, below flood stage; 8,000 cubic feet per secondJul 28, 1972: 14.50 ft, action stage; 9,000 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1973: 19.62 ft, action stage; 19,000 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 1973: 19.59 ft, action stage; 19,200 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1975: 24.27 ft, moderate flooding; 39,600 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 1975: 16.16 ft, action stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1977: 18.61 ft, action stage; 16,900 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1978: 18.07 ft, action stage; 15,800 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1979: 21.87 ft, minor flooding; 27,400 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1980: 20.59 ft, minor flooding; 22,300 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1981: 9.50 ft, below flood stage; 5,100 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1982: 13.68 ft, below flood stage; 9,040 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1983: 18.97 ft, action stage; 17,400 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1984: 21.02 ft, minor flooding; 23,800 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 1984: 13.27 ft, below flood stage; 8,590 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 1986: 14.12 ft, action stage; 9,550 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 1987: 15.45 ft, action stage; 11,300 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 1987: 17.20 ft, action stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1989: 18.75 ft, action stage; 18,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1990: 20.09 ft, minor flooding; 20,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1991: 17.60 ft, action stage; 14,600 cubic feet per secondDec 3, 1991: 18.08 ft, action stage; 15,600 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1993: 16.63 ft, action stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1994: 18.94 ft, action stage; 17,100 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1995: 15.66 ft, action stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1995: 13.61 ft, below flood stage; 8,890 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1997: 19.09 ft, action stage; 17,500 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1998: 16.67 ft, action stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1999: 18.40 ft, action stage; 15,900 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2000: 12.97 ft, below flood stage; 8,240 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2001: 17.90 ft, action stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 2002: 17.69 ft, action stage; 14,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 2003: 19.53 ft, action stage; 18,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 6, 2004: 20.04 ft, minor flooding; 20,100 cubic feet per secondDec 1, 2004: 17.29 ft, action stage; 13,700 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 2006: 15.08 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2007: 8.51 ft, below flood stage; 4,750 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2008: 14.41 ft, action stage; 9,730 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2009: 14.84 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2010: 33.23 ft, major flooding; 46,500 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2011: 15.81 ft, action stage; 11,400 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 2012: 11.00 ft, below flood stage; 6,760 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2013: 17.73 ft, action stage; 14,500 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2014: 16.54 ft, action stage; 12,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 2015: 15.42 ft, action stage; 10,900 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2015: 13.27 ft, below flood stage; 8,620 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2017: 16.04 ft, action stage; 11,700 cubic feet per second Highest, 33.23 ft, May 2, 2010 1940196019802000

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Harpeth River at Bellevue 1920s: 2 2 1930s: 0 1940s: 1 1950s: 2 1960s: 1 1970s: 2 1980s: 2 1990s: 1 2000s: 1 2010s: 1 1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  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 95 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Harpeth River at Bellevue
1May 2, 201033.23+13.23Major46,500
2Feb 13, 194824.34+4.34Moderate40,000
3Mar 13, 197524.27+4.27Moderate39,600
4Mar 23, 192922.30+2.30Minor20,200
5Mar 22, 195522.18+2.18Minor28,900
6May 4, 197921.87+1.87Minor27,400
7Mar 13, 192721.70+1.70Minor18,800
8May 8, 198421.02+1.02Minor23,800
9Feb 27, 196220.98+0.98Minor23,700
10Mar 21, 198020.59+0.59Minor22,300
11Feb 18, 195620.15+0.15Minor20,500
12Feb 4, 199020.09+0.09Minor20,400
13Feb 6, 200420.04+0.04Minor20,100
14Jan 8, 194619.81−0.19Action19,300
15Mar 16, 197319.62−0.38Action19,000
16Nov 28, 197319.59−0.41Action19,200
17Feb 16, 200319.53−0.47Action18,700
18Jan 3, 193719.30−0.70Action17,300
19Mar 3, 199719.09−0.91Action17,500
20Feb 4, 193219.00−1.00Action13,700
21Apr 20, 193319.00−1.00Action13,700
22May 20, 198318.97−1.03Action17,400
23Mar 28, 199418.94−1.06Action17,100
24Mar 10, 192218.80−1.20Action13,400
25Dec 31, 196918.76−1.24Action16,100
26Mar 6, 198918.75−1.25Action18,400
27Jun 17, 196018.74−1.26Action16,000
28Mar 4, 197718.61−1.39Action16,900
29Feb 1, 195018.46−1.54Action15,600
30Jan 23, 199918.40−1.60Action15,900
31Jan 21, 195418.21−1.79Action14,700
32Mar 13, 193518.18−1.82Action15,000
33Mar 7, 196718.12−1.88Action14,300
34Dec 3, 199118.08−1.92Action15,600
35Jan 25, 197818.07−1.93Action15,800
36Feb 17, 200117.90−2.10Action14,800
37Feb 18, 194417.78−2.22Action13,700
38Apr 29, 201317.73−2.27Action14,500
39Dec 9, 195117.72−2.28Action13,300
40Jan 25, 200217.69−2.31Action14,400
41Feb 20, 199117.60−2.40Action14,600
42Jan 1, 194517.43−2.57Action12,700
43Jun 29, 192817.40−2.60Action11,600
44Dec 1, 200417.29−2.71Action13,700
45Dec 26, 198717.20−2.80Action13,900
46Jan 4, 192417.10−2.90Action11,300
47Jan 29, 195717.04−2.96Action11,700
48Mar 27, 196516.98−3.02Action11,500
49Jun 5, 199816.67−3.33Action12,600
50May 4, 199316.63−3.37Action12,600

The worst floods along the Harpeth River

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

May 2, 2010: 33.23 ft here, major flooding

  • Kingston SpringsTN · May 2, 2010 · 46.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • FranklinTN · May 2, 2010 · 35.32 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • FranklinTN · May 2, 2010 · 32.31 ft · Moderate · its highest

February 13, 1948: 24.34 ft here, moderate flooding

March 13, 1975: 24.27 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Harpeth River

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

Flood gauges on the Harpeth River
FranklinTN30.035.32 ft, May 2, 20100
FranklinTN27.032.31 ft, May 2, 20100
Bellevue this gaugeTN20.033.23 ft, May 2, 20101
Kingston SpringsTN20.046.00 ft, May 2, 20102

Other gauges in Davidson County

Flood gauges in Davidson County
Glendale Lane9.09.77 ft, Aug 31, 20170
State Fairgrounds in Nashville8.013.44 ft, May 2, 20100
Edenwold49.050.70 ft, Feb 24, 20190
Nashville40.056.20 ft, Jan 1, 192722
Omohundro41.044.69 ft, Feb 24, 20190
Hermitage48.049.11 ft, Feb 24, 20190
Penington Bend47.048.83 ft, Feb 24, 20190
Edenwold12.013.87 ft, May 2, 20100
Antioch14.026.10 ft, May 1, 20102
Woodbine14.021.77 ft, May 1, 20101
Nolensville13.022.56 ft, May 1, 20101
Charlotte Avenue in Nashville15.019.99 ft, May 2, 20101
Belle Meade7.010.17 ft, Feb 24, 20190
Blackman Road9.09.72 ft, Aug 31, 20170
Bordeaux18.025.82 ft, May 2, 20101
Whites Creek14.015.05 ft, Sep 1, 20170

Davidson County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Tennessee

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BELT1, 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.