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Meherrin River near Lawrenceville

Highest listed crest 42.00 ftFlood stage 15.0 ft187 crests since 1889

The Meherrin River near Lawrenceville crested at major flood stage 10 times among the 187 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1889 to 2025. The highest, 42.00 ft on August 17, 1940, was major flooding, 27.00 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Meherrin River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
42.00 ft
August 17, 1940; 38,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
15.0 ft
Major flooding from 29.0 ft
Crests at major
10
15th of 242 gauges in Virginia
Most recent flood crest
July 16, 2025
15.05 ft, minor flooding
Location
Brunswick County
Virginia

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Meherrin River near Lawrenceville
Action stage12.013Dec 16, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)15.0144Jul 16, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage25.020Jan 11, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage29.010Oct 14, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

187 crests from 1889 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Meherrin River near Lawrenceville, 1889 to 2025 1020304050ft Flood stage 15.0 ftMajor 29.0 ft Jun 2, 1889: 31.20 ft, major flooding; 18,000 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1908: 31.90 ft, major flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1928: 25.00 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1929: 22.10 ft, minor flooding; 6,990 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1929: 22.66 ft, minor flooding; 7,270 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1931: 15.88 ft, minor flooding; 4,320 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1932: 23.42 ft, minor flooding; 8,600 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1933: 17.98 ft, minor flooding; 5,200 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1934: 19.63 ft, minor flooding; 5,880 cubic feet per secondDec 1, 1934: 24.17 ft, minor flooding; 9,420 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1936: 25.84 ft, moderate flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1937: 30.92 ft, major flooding; 17,300 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 1938: 28.70 ft, moderate flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 1939: 20.95 ft, minor flooding; 6,480 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1940: 42.00 ft, major flooding; 38,000 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 1940: 17.02 ft, minor flooding; 4,450 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 1942: 15.65 ft, minor flooding; 3,970 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 1943: 18.36 ft, minor flooding; 4,970 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1944: 18.15 ft, minor flooding; 4,890 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1945: 26.40 ft, moderate flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 1946: 18.70 ft, minor flooding; 6,190 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 1947: 19.10 ft, minor flooding; 5,280 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1948: 22.37 ft, minor flooding; 7,660 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 1948: 19.44 ft, minor flooding; 5,430 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1949: 15.95 ft, minor flooding; 4,110 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1951: 15.12 ft, minor flooding; 3,800 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 1951: 21.38 ft, minor flooding; 6,800 cubic feet per secondNov 22, 1952: 22.70 ft, minor flooding; 7,930 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1954: 15.70 ft, minor flooding; 4,350 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1955: 25.30 ft, moderate flooding; 10,600 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1955: 18.88 ft, minor flooding; 5,560 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1957: 18.53 ft, minor flooding; 6,060 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1958: 24.09 ft, minor flooding; 9,890 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1958: 22.67 ft, minor flooding; 8,660 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1959: 21.90 ft, minor flooding; 8,030 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 1961: 16.75 ft, minor flooding; 5,150 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1962: 25.30 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1963: 20.77 ft, minor flooding; 7,280 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 1964: 14.98 ft, action stage; 4,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 1965: 18.95 ft, minor flooding; 6,250 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1966: 19.17 ft, minor flooding; 6,360 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1967: 15.83 ft, minor flooding; 4,670 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1968: 17.21 ft, minor flooding; 5,360 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1969: 16.27 ft, minor flooding; 4,880 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1971: 19.58 ft, minor flooding; 6,570 cubic feet per secondOct 26, 1971: 31.24 ft, major flooding; 17,700 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 1972: 32.99 ft, major flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 1974: 24.71 ft, minor flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 1975: 26.09 ft, moderate flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondJan 29, 1976: 20.74 ft, minor flooding; 7,290 cubic feet per secondOct 22, 1976: 16.65 ft, minor flooding; 5,080 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 1978: 31.91 ft, major flooding; 18,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1979: 28.89 ft, moderate flooding; 14,800 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1979: 25.32 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1981: 15.54 ft, minor flooding; 4,550 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1982: 15.76 ft, minor flooding; 4,650 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1983: 23.42 ft, minor flooding; 9,370 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 1984: 24.74 ft, minor flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 1985: 21.71 ft, minor flooding; 8,070 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 1985: 28.98 ft, moderate flooding; 15,000 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1987: 28.26 ft, moderate flooding; 14,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1989: 19.51 ft, minor flooding; 6,610 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 1990: 18.80 ft, minor flooding; 6,210 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1991: 21.83 ft, minor flooding; 8,160 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1992: 19.06 ft, minor flooding; 6,360 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1993: 27.39 ft, moderate flooding; 13,200 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1994: 24.60 ft, minor flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1995: 15.47 ft, minor flooding; 4,510 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1996: 20.39 ft, minor flooding; 7,130 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 1996: 27.71 ft, moderate flooding; 13,500 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1997: 23.91 ft, minor flooding; 9,760 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1997: 16.70 ft, minor flooding; 5,100 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 1998: 14.84 ft, action stage; 4,230 cubic feet per secondFeb 6, 1998: 22.30 ft, minor flooding; 8,520 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1998: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 6,600 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1998: 19.90 ft, minor flooding; 6,830 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1998: 28.39 ft, moderate flooding; 14,300 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 1999: 23.05 ft, minor flooding; 9,190 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1999: 29.97 ft, major flooding; 16,200 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2000: 18.15 ft, minor flooding; 5,860 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2000: 15.20 ft, minor flooding; 4,390 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2001: 21.06 ft, minor flooding; 7,610 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2001: 22.89 ft, minor flooding; 8,960 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2001: 19.31 ft, minor flooding; 6,510 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 2002: 15.11 ft, minor flooding; 4,320 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2003: 17.17 ft, minor flooding; 5,390 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2003: 21.95 ft, minor flooding; 8,250 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2003: 20.40 ft, minor flooding; 7,140 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2003: 16.63 ft, minor flooding; 5,120 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2003: 30.25 ft, major flooding; 16,500 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2003: 16.42 ft, minor flooding; 4,970 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2003: 15.09 ft, minor flooding; 4,360 cubic feet per secondAug 11, 2003: 17.01 ft, minor flooding; 5,300 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 2003: 28.67 ft, moderate flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2003: 16.52 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 2004: 16.60 ft, minor flooding; 5,070 cubic feet per secondAug 15, 2004: 15.94 ft, minor flooding; 4,950 cubic feet per secondSep 1, 2004: 28.04 ft, moderate flooding; 13,900 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 2004: 15.77 ft, minor flooding; 4,620 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 2005: 15.30 ft, minor flooding; 4,400 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2005: 17.13 ft, minor flooding; 5,320 cubic feet per secondDec 6, 2005: 15.82 ft, minor flooding; 4,680 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2006: 19.56 ft, minor flooding; 6,650 cubic feet per secondOct 8, 2006: 22.36 ft, minor flooding; 8,520 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 2006: 17.67 ft, minor flooding; 5,550 cubic feet per secondNov 18, 2006: 19.73 ft, minor flooding; 6,660 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 2006: 19.33 ft, minor flooding; 6,440 cubic feet per secondJan 3, 2007: 16.57 ft, minor flooding; 5,040 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 2007: 15.46 ft, minor flooding; 4,510 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 2007: 15.59 ft, minor flooding; 4,570 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2008: 15.35 ft, minor flooding; 4,450 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 2008: 15.08 ft, minor flooding; 4,360 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2008: 16.45 ft, minor flooding; 4,980 cubic feet per secondDec 13, 2008: 19.97 ft, minor flooding; 6,670 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2009: 14.70 ft, action stage; 4,160 cubic feet per secondNov 14, 2009: 22.71 ft, minor flooding; 8,860 cubic feet per secondDec 4, 2009: 18.76 ft, minor flooding; 5,860 cubic feet per secondDec 10, 2009: 17.51 ft, minor flooding; 5,100 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 2009: 15.49 ft, minor flooding; 4,050 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 2009: 18.07 ft, minor flooding; 5,430 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2010: 22.25 ft, minor flooding; 8,420 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2010: 13.31 ft, action stage; 3,110 cubic feet per secondAug 25, 2012: 13.32 ft, action stage; 3,520 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 2013: 19.54 ft, minor flooding; 6,240 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2013: 18.05 ft, minor flooding; 5,600 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 2013: 15.91 ft, minor flooding; 4,650 cubic feet per secondJan 12, 2014: 16.11 ft, minor flooding; 4,700 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2014: 16.86 ft, minor flooding; 5,040 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2014: 16.59 ft, minor flooding; 4,900 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2014: 25.92 ft, moderate flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 2014: 15.54 ft, minor flooding; 4,500 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2015: 14.97 ft, action stage; 4,260 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 2015: 16.70 ft, minor flooding; 5,020 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2015: 25.10 ft, moderate flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2016: 18.06 ft, minor flooding; 5,560 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2016: 16.56 ft, minor flooding; 4,930 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2016: 17.40 ft, minor flooding; 5,300 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2016: 19.31 ft, minor flooding; 6,220 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2016: 22.46 ft, minor flooding; 8,010 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 2017: 15.94 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2017: 15.14 ft, minor flooding; 4,320 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2017: 16.77 ft, minor flooding; 5,070 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2018: 16.27 ft, minor flooding; 4,760 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2018: 27.39 ft, moderate flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondAug 3, 2018: 12.54 ft, action stage; 3,300 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 2018: 22.37 ft, minor flooding; 7,950 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 2018: 30.17 ft, major flooding; 16,500 cubic feet per secondOct 27, 2018: 12.74 ft, action stage; 3,270 cubic feet per secondNov 6, 2018: 14.63 ft, action stage; 3,960 cubic feet per secondNov 14, 2018: 21.83 ft, minor flooding; 6,870 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2018: 16.69 ft, minor flooding; 4,990 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 2018: 16.04 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 2019: 12.50 ft, action stage; 3,280 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 2019: 13.50 ft, action stage; 3,670 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2019: 15.47 ft, minor flooding; 4,470 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2019: 21.43 ft, minor flooding; 7,120 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2019: 12.37 ft, action stage; 3,230 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2019: 16.99 ft, minor flooding; 5,110 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2019: 22.36 ft, minor flooding; 7,820 cubic feet per secondFeb 8, 2020: 21.94 ft, minor flooding; 7,470 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2020: 18.33 ft, minor flooding; 5,700 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 2020: 19.49 ft, minor flooding; 6,242 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2020: 18.00 ft, minor flooding; 5,560 cubic feet per secondNov 14, 2020: 17.63 ft, minor flooding; 5,390 cubic feet per secondDec 6, 2020: 17.71 ft, minor flooding; 5,430 cubic feet per secondDec 17, 2020: 16.27 ft, minor flooding; 4,780 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 2020: 20.79 ft, minor flooding; 6,839 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 2021: 16.49 ft, minor flooding; 4,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2021: 18.70 ft, minor flooding; 5,860 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2021: 18.68 ft, minor flooding; 5,860 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2021: 15.66 ft, minor flooding; 4,565 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 2022: 15.18 ft, minor flooding; 4,362 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2022: 13.80 ft, action stage; 3,890 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2023: 15.85 ft, minor flooding; 4,810 cubic feet per secondDec 18, 2023: 15.41 ft, minor flooding; 4,610 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2023: 16.12 ft, minor flooding; 4,930 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 2024: 25.51 ft, moderate flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 2024: 18.15 ft, minor flooding; 5,900 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2024: 15.24 ft, minor flooding; 4,540 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2024: 16.89 ft, minor flooding; 5,290 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2024: 20.67 ft, minor flooding; 7,180 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 2024: 22.29 ft, minor flooding; 8,580 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 2024: 17.43 ft, minor flooding; 5,550 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2024: 16.50 ft, minor flooding; 5,110 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 2025: 19.29 ft, minor flooding; 6,462 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2025: 15.44 ft, minor flooding; 4,623 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 2025: 15.05 ft, minor flooding; 4,447 cubic feet per second Highest, 42.00 ft, Aug 17, 1940 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Meherrin River near Lawrenceville 1880s: 1 1890s: 0 1900s: 1 1910s: 0 1920s: 3 1930s: 9 1940s: 11 1950s: 10 1960s: 8 1970s: 10 1980s: 8 1990s: 16 2000s: 40 40 2010s: 30 2020s: 27 1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
  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 187 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Meherrin River near Lawrenceville
1Aug 17, 194042.00+27.00Major38,000
2Oct 7, 197232.99+17.99Major20,000
3Apr 28, 197831.91+16.91Major18,600
4Aug 28, 190831.90+16.90Major19,000
5Oct 26, 197131.24+16.24Major17,700
6Jun 2, 188931.20+16.20Major18,000
7Apr 27, 193730.92+15.92Major17,300
8May 28, 200330.25+15.25Major16,500
9Oct 14, 201830.17+15.17Major16,500
10Sep 18, 199929.97+14.97Major16,200
11Nov 5, 198528.98+13.98Moderate15,000
12Feb 27, 197928.89+13.89Moderate14,800
13Jul 27, 193828.70+13.70Moderate14,500
14Sep 20, 200328.67+13.67Moderate14,700
15Mar 21, 199828.39+13.39Moderate14,300
16Apr 18, 198728.26+13.26Moderate14,100
17Sep 1, 200428.04+13.04Moderate13,900
18Sep 8, 199627.71+12.71Moderate13,500
19Mar 5, 199327.39+12.39Moderate13,200
20May 20, 201827.39+12.39Moderate14,200
21Jul 19, 194526.40+11.40Moderate11,800
22Jul 16, 197526.09+11.09Moderate11,800
23May 18, 201425.92+10.92Moderate11,200
24Jan 21, 193625.84+10.84Moderate11,200
25Jan 11, 202425.51+10.51Moderate11,800
26Oct 2, 197925.32+10.32Moderate11,000
27Aug 20, 195525.30+10.30Moderate10,600
28Jan 8, 196225.30+10.30Moderate11,000
29Dec 25, 201525.10+10.10Moderate10,300
30Apr 27, 192825.00+10.00Moderate10,000
31Feb 15, 198424.74+9.74Minor10,400
32Sep 8, 197424.71+9.71Minor10,400
33Mar 4, 199424.60+9.60Minor10,300
34Dec 1, 193424.17+9.17Minor9,420
35May 8, 195824.09+9.09Minor9,890
36Apr 30, 199723.91+8.91Minor9,760
37Mar 7, 193223.42+8.42Minor8,600
38Apr 17, 198323.42+8.42Minor9,370
39Sep 7, 199923.05+8.05Minor9,190
40Mar 31, 200122.89+7.89Minor8,960
41Nov 14, 200922.71+7.71Minor8,860
42Nov 22, 195222.70+7.70Minor7,930
43Dec 31, 195822.67+7.67Minor8,660
44Oct 3, 192922.66+7.66Minor7,270
45Oct 10, 201622.46+7.46Minor8,010
46Feb 16, 194822.37+7.37Minor7,660
47Sep 19, 201822.37+7.37Minor7,950
48Oct 8, 200622.36+7.36Minor8,520
49Jun 12, 201922.36+7.36Minor7,820
50Feb 6, 199822.30+7.30Minor8,520

The worst floods along the Meherrin River

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

August 17, 1940: 42.00 ft here, major flooding

  • EmporiaVA · Aug 17, 1940 · 31.50 ft · Major · its highest

October 7, 1972: 32.99 ft here, major flooding

  • EmporiaVA · Oct 8, 1972 · 27.38 ft · Major

April 28, 1978: 31.91 ft here, major flooding

  • EmporiaVA · Apr 29, 1978 · 26.62 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Meherrin River

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

Flood gauges on the Meherrin River
Lawrenceville this gaugeVA15.042.00 ft, Aug 17, 194010
EmporiaVA23.031.50 ft, Aug 17, 19403

Other gauges in Brunswick County

Flood gauges in Brunswick County
MCKENNEY12.517.92 ft, Oct 13, 20180
Rawlings10.023.25 ft, Oct 6, 19729

Brunswick County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Virginia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge LAWV2, 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.