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Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN

Highest listed crest 10.78 ftFlood stage 5.0 ft13 crests since 2012

The Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN crested above flood stage 10 times among the 13 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2012 to 2025. The highest, 10.78 ft on October 10, 2016, was moderate flooding, 5.78 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Blackwater River (VA) crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
10.78 ft
October 10, 2016; 10,600 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
5.0 ft
Major flooding from 16.0 ft
Crests at major
0
10 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
March 10, 2024
5.50 ft, minor flooding
Location
Franklin city
Virginia

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN
Action stage3.03Mar 22, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)5.09Mar 10, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.01Oct 10, 2016Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage16.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

13 crests from 2012 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN, 2012 to 2025 46810121416ft Flood stage 5.0 ftMajor 16.0 ft Aug 30, 2012: 5.16 ft, minor flooding; 5,370 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2013: 6.39 ft, minor flooding; 8,590 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 2015: 4.91 ft, action stage; 4,070 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2016: 5.75 ft, minor flooding; 5,520 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2016: 4.68 ft, action stage; 1,690 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2016: 10.78 ft, moderate flooding; 10,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 2019: 5.18 ft, minor flooding; 4,630 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 2020: 6.37 ft, minor flooding; 6,040 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 2020: 8.89 ft, minor flooding; 8,530 cubic feet per secondNov 14, 2020: 8.05 ft, minor floodingFeb 20, 2021: 7.53 ft, minor flooding; 6,090 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2024: 5.50 ft, minor floodingMar 22, 2025: 4.70 ft, action stage Highest, 10.78 ft, Oct 10, 2016 201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 5 2010s2020s
  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, Blackwater River (VA) near FRANKLIN
1Oct 10, 201610.78+5.78Moderate10,600
2Sep 21, 20208.89+3.89Minor8,530
3Nov 14, 20208.05+3.05Minor—
4Feb 20, 20217.53+2.53Minor6,090
5Jun 13, 20136.39+1.39Minor8,590
6Aug 19, 20206.37+1.37Minor6,040
7Feb 7, 20165.75+0.75Minor5,520
8Mar 10, 20245.50+0.50Minor—
9Feb 27, 20195.18+0.18Minor4,630
10Aug 30, 20125.16+0.16Minor5,370
11Jul 7, 20154.91−0.09Action4,070
12Mar 22, 20254.70−0.30Action—
13Sep 22, 20164.68−0.32Action1,690

The worst floods along the Blackwater River (VA)

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

October 10, 2016: 10.78 ft here, moderate flooding

  • FranklinVA · Oct 10, 2016 · 15.51 ft · Moderate
  • DendronVA · Oct 10, 2016 · 36.37 ft · Minor
  • ZUNIVA · Oct 10, 2016 · 24.34 ft · Minor

September 21, 2020: 8.89 ft here, minor flooding

  • DendronVA · Sep 19, 2020 · 38.30 ft · Minor
  • ZUNIVA · Sep 20, 2020 · 25.14 ft · Minor · its highest
  • FranklinVA · Sep 20, 2020 · 14.49 ft · Minor

November 14, 2020: 8.05 ft here, minor flooding

  • ZUNIVA · Nov 13, 2020 · 23.11 ft · Minor
  • FranklinVA · Nov 14, 2020 · 13.49 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Blackwater River (VA)

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

Flood gauges on the Blackwater River (VA)
DendronVA36.346.41 ft, Sep 17, 19990
ZUNIVA23.025.14 ft, Sep 20, 20200
FranklinVA10.825.11 ft, Sep 18, 19993
FRANKLIN this gaugeVA5.010.78 ft, Oct 10, 20160

Franklin city: every hazard · River floods across the country · Virginia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FKLV2, 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.