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Harpeth River at Franklin

Highest listed crest 35.32 ftFlood stage 30.0 ft35 crests since 1948

The Harpeth River at Franklin crested above flood stage 6 times among the 35 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1948 to 2010. The highest, 35.32 ft on May 2, 2010, was moderate flooding, 5.32 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
35.32 ft
May 2, 2010; 19,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
30.0 ft
Major flooding from 38.0 ft
Crests at major
0
6 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
May 2, 2010
35.32 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Williamson County
Near Franklin (0.9 mi), Brentwood (7.3 mi), Nolensville (11.1 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 Franklin
Action stage22.020Jan 23, 2006The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)30.04Jan 23, 1999Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage34.02May 2, 2010Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage38.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

35 crests from 1948 to 2010. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Harpeth River at Franklin, 1948 to 2010 10203040ft Flood stage 30.0 ftMajor 38.0 ft Feb 13, 1948: 35.20 ft, moderate flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1975: 33.65 ft, minor flooding; 20,200 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 1975: 25.54 ft, action stage; 9,220 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1977: 25.93 ft, action stage; 9,580 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1978: 21.13 ft, below flood stage; 6,270 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1979: 26.54 ft, action stage; 10,100 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1980: 30.64 ft, minor flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1981: 16.44 ft, below flood stage; 3,780 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1982: 17.59 ft, below flood stage; 4,270 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 1982: 24.77 ft, action stage; 8,680 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1984: 29.49 ft, action stage; 13,200 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 1984: 19.64 ft, below flood stage; 5,260 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 1986: 18.56 ft, below flood stage; 4,700 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1986: 22.56 ft, action stage; 7,080 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 1987: 23.33 ft, action stage; 7,610 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1989: 28.67 ft, action stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1990: 30.93 ft, minor flooding; 15,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1991: 26.17 ft, action stage; 9,810 cubic feet per secondDec 3, 1991: 27.07 ft, action stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1993: 14.67 ft, below flood stage; 3,100 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1994: 26.94 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1995: 24.77 ft, action stage; 8,670 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1995: 22.65 ft, action stage; 7,160 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1997: 27.21 ft, action stage; 10,800 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1998: 21.49 ft, below flood stage; 6,400 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1999: 30.90 ft, minor flooding; 13,900 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2000: 18.64 ft, below flood stage; 4,730 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2001: 25.90 ft, action stage; 9,520 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 2002: 25.80 ft, action stage; 9,010 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 2003: 27.50 ft, action stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 6, 2004: 29.26 ft, action stage; 12,900 cubic feet per secondDec 1, 2004: 24.86 ft, action stage; 8,180 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 2006: 23.28 ft, action stage; 7,080 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2007: 15.08 ft, below flood stage; 3,550 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2010: 35.32 ft, moderate flooding; 19,200 cubic feet per second Highest, 35.32 ft, May 2, 2010 1950196019701980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Harpeth River at Franklin 1940s: 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 1 1990s: 2 2 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  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

Highest listed crests, Harpeth River at Franklin
1May 2, 201035.32+5.32Moderate19,200
2Feb 13, 194835.20+5.20Moderate20,000
3Mar 13, 197533.65+3.65Minor20,200
4Feb 4, 199030.93+0.93Minor15,100
5Jan 23, 199930.90+0.90Minor13,900
6Mar 21, 198030.64+0.64Minor14,500
7May 7, 198429.49−0.51Action13,200
8Feb 6, 200429.26−0.74Action12,900
9Mar 6, 198928.67−1.33Action12,300
10Feb 16, 200327.50−2.50Action10,700
11Mar 3, 199727.21−2.79Action10,800
12Dec 3, 199127.07−2.93Action10,700
13Mar 28, 199426.94−3.06Action10,500
14May 4, 197926.54−3.46Action10,100
15Feb 19, 199126.17−3.83Action9,810
16Mar 4, 197725.93−4.07Action9,580
17Feb 17, 200125.90−4.10Action9,520
18Jan 24, 200225.80−4.20Action9,010
19Oct 17, 197525.54−4.46Action9,220
20Dec 1, 200424.86−5.14Action8,180
21Dec 26, 198224.77−5.23Action8,680
22Mar 8, 199524.77−5.23Action8,670
23Dec 25, 198723.33−6.67Action7,610
24Jan 23, 200623.28−6.72Action7,080
25Oct 6, 199522.65−7.35Action7,160
26Nov 26, 198622.56−7.44Action7,080
27Jun 5, 199821.49−8.51Below flood stage6,400
28May 9, 197821.13−8.87Below flood stage6,270
29Nov 28, 198419.64−10.36Below flood stage5,260
30Mar 20, 200018.64−11.36Below flood stage4,730
31Feb 17, 198618.56−11.44Below flood stage4,700
32Jan 23, 198217.59−12.41Below flood stage4,270
33Mar 30, 198116.44−13.56Below flood stage3,780
34Mar 2, 200715.08−14.92Below flood stage3,550
35Mar 23, 199314.67−15.33Below flood stage3,100

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: 35.32 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Kingston SpringsTN · May 2, 2010 · 46.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • BellevueTN · May 2, 2010 · 33.23 ft · Major · its highest
  • FranklinTN · May 2, 2010 · 32.31 ft · Moderate · its highest

February 13, 1948: 35.20 ft here, moderate flooding

March 13, 1975: 33.65 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Harpeth River

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

Flood gauges on the Harpeth River
Franklin this gaugeTN30.035.32 ft, May 2, 20100
FranklinTN27.032.31 ft, May 2, 20100
BellevueTN20.033.23 ft, May 2, 20101
Kingston SpringsTN20.046.00 ft, May 2, 20102

Other gauges in Williamson County

Flood gauges in Williamson County
Franklin27.032.31 ft, May 2, 20100

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FRAT1, 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.