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Greenbrier River at Hilldale

Highest listed crest 26.88 ftFlood stage 20.0 ft83 crests since 1936

The Greenbrier River at Hilldale crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 83 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1936 to 2025. The highest, 26.88 ft on January 20, 1996, was major flooding, 6.88 feet above flood stage. 4 other gauges on the Greenbrier River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
26.88 ft
January 20, 1996; 93,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
20.0 ft
Major flooding from 26.0 ft
Crests at major
1
40th of 116 gauges in West Virginia
Most recent flood crest
March 2, 2021
21.34 ft, minor flooding
Location
Summers County
West Virginia

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Greenbrier River at Hilldale
Action stage16.038Feb 16, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)20.012Mar 2, 2021Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage23.03Jun 24, 2016Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage26.01Jan 20, 1996Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

83 crests from 1936 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Greenbrier River at Hilldale, 1936 to 2025 51015202530ft Flood stage 20.0 ftMajor 26.0 ft Mar 18, 1936: 21.85 ft, minor flooding; 60,800 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1937: 17.27 ft, action stage; 39,500 cubic feet per secondOct 28, 1937: 16.03 ft, action stage; 34,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1939: 17.99 ft, action stage; 42,400 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1940: 15.92 ft, below flood stage; 34,200 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1941: 9.58 ft, below flood stage; 14,600 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1942: 16.33 ft, action stage; 35,800 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1943: 17.16 ft, action stage; 38,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1944: 13.73 ft, below flood stage; 25,600 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1945: 11.93 ft, below flood stage; 20,300 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1946: 19.00 ft, action stage; 47,100 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1947: 13.73 ft, below flood stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1948: 18.65 ft, action stage; 45,300 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 1948: 18.10 ft, action stage; 43,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1950: 16.52 ft, action stage; 36,100 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1951: 15.20 ft, below flood stage; 30,900 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1952: 15.00 ft, below flood stage; 29,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1953: 20.50 ft, minor flooding; 53,500 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1954: 15.88 ft, below flood stage; 32,700 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1955: 20.50 ft, minor flooding; 53,500 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1956: 11.63 ft, below flood stage; 19,500 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 1957: 15.68 ft, below flood stage; 32,000 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1958: 14.60 ft, below flood stage; 28,600 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1959: 13.16 ft, below flood stage; 24,200 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 17.32 ft, action stage; 39,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1961: 16.00 ft, action stage; 33,300 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1962: 17.13 ft, action stage; 38,900 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1963: 21.18 ft, minor flooding; 56,900 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1964: 18.27 ft, action stage; 43,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 8, 1965: 15.28 ft, below flood stage; 31,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1967: 22.66 ft, minor flooding; 64,300 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1968: 14.82 ft, below flood stage; 29,500 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1969: 19.01 ft, action stage; 46,600 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1969: 20.06 ft, minor flooding; 51,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1971: 14.80 ft, below flood stage; 29,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1972: 20.80 ft, minor flooding; 55,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1973: 14.22 ft, below flood stage; 27,700 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 1973: 23.13 ft, moderate flooding; 66,800 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1975: 14.59 ft, below flood stage; 28,800 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1976: 15.78 ft, below flood stage; 32,600 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1977: 22.79 ft, minor flooding; 65,000 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1978: 20.44 ft, minor flooding; 53,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1979: 16.73 ft, action stage; 35,700 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1980: 14.90 ft, below flood stage; 29,800 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1981: 15.04 ft, below flood stage; 30,200 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1982: 16.70 ft, action stage; 35,600 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 1982: 12.53 ft, below flood stage; 22,600 cubic feet per secondNov 6, 1985: 25.68 ft, moderate flooding; 83,800 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1987: 17.26 ft, action stage; 39,400 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1988: 14.16 ft, below flood stage; 27,900 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1989: 17.60 ft, action stage; 40,800 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1990: 16.45 ft, action stage; 36,300 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1991: 16.92 ft, action stage; 38,100 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1992: 14.33 ft, below flood stage; 28,500 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1993: 17.17 ft, action stage; 41,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 1994: 19.51 ft, action stage; 48,800 cubic feet per secondJan 20, 1996: 26.88 ft, major flooding; 93,000 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 1996: 19.07 ft, action stage; 46,800 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 1998: 16.18 ft, action stage; 35,200 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1999: 11.80 ft, below flood stage; 20,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 2000: 16.23 ft, action stage; 35,400 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2001: 15.47 ft, below flood stage; 32,500 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2002: 15.82 ft, below flood stage; 33,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 2003: 20.48 ft, minor flooding; 53,400 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 2003: 19.51 ft, action stage; 48,800 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2005: 13.60 ft, below flood stage; 26,000 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2006: 13.79 ft, below flood stage; 26,600 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 2007: 19.43 ft, action stage; 48,400 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2010: 21.60 ft, minor flooding; 59,000 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2012: 16.26 ft, action stage; 35,488 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 2013: 19.45 ft, action stage; 48,480 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2014: 16.27 ft, action stage; 35,490 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 2015: 17.41 ft, action stage; 38,900 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2016: 25.45 ft, moderate flooding; 82,500 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2017: 16.78 ft, action stage; 36,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 2018: 16.53 ft, action stage; 35,596 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2018: 16.20 ft, action stage; 34,300 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2021: 21.34 ft, minor flooding; 55,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2022: 16.00 ft, action stage; 33,900 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 14.06 ft, below flood stage; 27,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 2025: 17.44 ft, action stage; 39,153 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2025: 18.91 ft, action stage; 44,819 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 2025: 18.13 ft, action stage; 41,777 cubic feet per second Highest, 26.88 ft, Jan 20, 1996 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Greenbrier River at Hilldale 1930s: 1 1940s: 0 1950s: 2 1960s: 3 1970s: 4 4 1980s: 1 1990s: 1 2000s: 1 2010s: 2 2020s: 1 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 83 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Greenbrier River at Hilldale
1Jan 20, 199626.88+6.88Major93,000
2Nov 6, 198525.68+5.68Moderate83,800
3Jun 24, 201625.45+5.45Moderate82,500
4Dec 27, 197323.13+3.13Moderate66,800
5Apr 5, 197722.79+2.79Minor65,000
6Mar 8, 196722.66+2.66Minor64,300
7Mar 18, 193621.85+1.85Minor60,800
8Jan 26, 201021.60+1.60Minor59,000
9Mar 2, 202121.34+1.34Minor55,900
10Mar 12, 196321.18+1.18Minor56,900
11Feb 27, 197220.80+0.80Minor55,000
12Feb 22, 195320.50+0.50Minor53,500
13Mar 6, 195520.50+0.50Minor53,500
14Feb 23, 200320.48+0.48Minor53,400
15Mar 27, 197820.44+0.44Minor53,200
16Dec 31, 196920.06+0.06Minor51,300
17Feb 10, 199419.51−0.49Action48,800
18Nov 20, 200319.51−0.49Action48,800
19Feb 1, 201319.45−0.55Action48,480
20Mar 3, 200719.43−0.57Action48,400
21Dec 2, 199619.07−0.93Action46,800
22Aug 20, 196919.01−0.99Action46,600
23Jan 8, 194619.00−1.00Action47,100
24Feb 7, 202518.91−1.09Action44,819
25Apr 15, 194818.65−1.35Action45,300
26Mar 6, 196418.27−1.73Action43,500
27Feb 16, 202518.13−1.87Action41,777
28Dec 16, 194818.10−1.90Action43,000
29Feb 4, 193917.99−2.01Action42,400
30May 6, 198917.60−2.40Action40,800
31Feb 1, 202517.44−2.56Action39,153
32Mar 12, 201517.41−2.59Action38,900
33Mar 31, 196017.32−2.68Action39,700
34Jan 21, 193717.27−2.73Action39,500
35Apr 17, 198717.26−2.74Action39,400
36Mar 24, 199317.17−2.83Action41,500
37Mar 14, 194317.16−2.84Action38,900
38Mar 22, 196217.13−2.87Action38,900
39Mar 24, 199116.92−3.08Action38,100
40May 26, 201716.78−3.22Action36,500
41Feb 25, 197916.73−3.27Action35,700
42Mar 21, 198216.70−3.30Action35,600
43Feb 12, 201816.53−3.47Action35,596
44Feb 1, 195016.52−3.48Action36,100
45Jan 1, 199016.45−3.55Action36,300
46May 17, 194216.33−3.67Action35,800
47May 17, 201416.27−3.73Action35,490
48Mar 2, 201216.26−3.74Action35,488
49Feb 20, 200016.23−3.77Action35,400
50Sep 28, 201816.20−3.80Action34,300

The worst floods along the Greenbrier River

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

January 20, 1996: 26.88 ft here, major flooding

  • AldersonWV · Jan 20, 1996 · 24.33 ft · Major · its highest
  • RenickWV · Jan 19, 1996 · 23.70 ft · Major
  • MarlintonWV · Jan 19, 1996 · 18.03 ft · Major
  • BuckeyeWV · Jan 19, 1996 · 21.03 ft · Moderate

November 6, 1985: 25.68 ft here, moderate flooding

  • RenickWV · Nov 5, 1985 · 29.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • AldersonWV · Nov 5, 1985 · 23.95 ft · Major
  • MarlintonWV · Nov 5, 1985 · 20.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • BuckeyeWV · Nov 5, 1985 · 23.20 ft · Moderate · its highest

June 24, 2016: 25.45 ft here, moderate flooding

  • AldersonWV · Jun 24, 2016 · 22.00 ft · Major
  • MarlintonWV · Jun 24, 2016 · 12.00 ft · Moderate
  • RonceverteWV · Jun 24, 2016 · 23.20 ft · Minor · its highest

Gauges on the Greenbrier River

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

Flood gauges on the Greenbrier River
AldersonWV14.024.33 ft, Jan 20, 19966
BuckeyeWV15.023.20 ft, Nov 5, 19850
DurbinWV7.07.88 ft, Feb 6, 20250
Hilldale this gaugeWV20.026.88 ft, Jan 20, 19961
MarlintonWV10.020.20 ft, Nov 5, 19852
RenickWV17.029.00 ft, Nov 5, 19852
RonceverteWV15.023.20 ft, Jun 24, 20160

Other gauges in Summers County

Flood gauges in Summers County
Pipestem12.017.25 ft, Mar 13, 20100
Hinton15.018.97 ft, Aug 15, 19401

Summers County: every hazard · River floods across the country · West Virginia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HLLW2, 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.