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Powell River at Big Stone Gap

Highest listed crest 11.30 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft4 crests since 2020

The Powell River at Big Stone Gap crested above flood stage 2 times among the 4 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2020 to 2025. The highest, 11.30 ft on February 15, 2025, was minor flooding, 1.30 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Powell River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
11.30 ft
February 15, 2025
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 18.0 ft
Crests at major
0
2 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
February 15, 2025
11.30 ft, minor flooding
Location
Wise County
Virginia
Identifiers
NWS BSGV2
No USGS station

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Powell River at Big Stone Gap
Action stage8.02Jul 28, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.02Feb 15, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage18.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

4 crests from 2020 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Powell River at Big Stone Gap, 2020 to 2025 81012141618ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 18.0 ft Feb 6, 2020: 10.47 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 2021: 8.71 ft, action stageJul 28, 2022: 8.69 ft, action stageFeb 15, 2025: 11.30 ft, minor flooding Highest, 11.30 ft, Feb 15, 2025 202020252030
  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, Powell River at Big Stone Gap
1Feb 15, 202511.30+1.30Minor—
2Feb 6, 202010.47+0.47Minor—
3Mar 28, 20218.71−1.29Action—
4Jul 28, 20228.69−1.31Action—

The worst floods along the Powell River

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

February 15, 2025: 11.30 ft here, minor flooding

  • ArthurTN · Feb 17, 2025 · 25.57 ft · Moderate
  • JonesvilleVA · Feb 16, 2025 · 28.09 ft · Minor
  • DorchesterVA · Feb 15, 2025 · 8.46 ft · Minor · its highest

February 6, 2020: 10.47 ft here, minor flooding

  • ArthurTN · Feb 8, 2020 · 25.34 ft · Moderate
  • JonesvilleVA · Feb 6, 2020 · 27.25 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Powell River

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

Flood gauges on the Powell River
Big Stone Gap this gaugeVA10.011.30 ft, Feb 15, 20250
DorchesterVA7.08.46 ft, Feb 15, 20250
ArthurTN17.038.96 ft, Apr 6, 197711
JonesvilleVA18.044.32 ft, Apr 5, 19771

Other gauges in Wise County

Flood gauges in Wise County
Riverview14.018.06 ft, Feb 15, 20250
Indian Creek near Pound13.017.86 ft, Jul 28, 20220
Bold Camp Creek near Pound17.021.33 ft, Jul 28, 20220
Dorchester7.08.46 ft, Feb 15, 20250
Big Stone Gap11.012.62 ft, Feb 15, 20250

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BSGV2, 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.