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Monongahela River at Morgantown Lock and Dam

Highest listed crest 27.70 ftFlood stage 22.0 ft21 crests since 1956

The Monongahela River at Morgantown Lock and Dam crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 21 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1956 to 2015. The highest, 27.70 ft on November 6, 1985, was major flooding, 5.70 feet above flood stage. 5 other gauges on the Monongahela River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
27.70 ft
November 6, 1985
Flood stage
22.0 ft
Major flooding from 27.0 ft
Crests at major
1
40th of 116 gauges in West Virginia
Most recent flood crest
February 19, 2000
23.70 ft, minor flooding
Location
Monongalia County
Near Morgantown (1.7 mi), Fairmont (13.8 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Monongahela River at Morgantown Lock and Dam
Action stage15.916Mar 5, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)22.04Feb 19, 2000Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage26.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage27.01Nov 6, 1985Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

21 crests from 1956 to 2015. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Monongahela River at Morgantown Lock and Dam, 1956 to 2015 16182022242628ft Flood stage 22.0 ftMajor 27.0 ft Aug 6, 1956: 18.40 ft, action stageDec 14, 1956: 20.30 ft, action stageMar 5, 1963: 23.10 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 1963: 19.40 ft, action stageMar 7, 1967: 23.70 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1967: 18.30 ft, action stageMay 24, 1968: 21.50 ft, action stageJan 11, 1974: 19.60 ft, action stageJan 26, 1978: 21.20 ft, action stageDec 9, 1978: 20.50 ft, action stageAug 18, 1980: 23.80 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 1981: 20.50 ft, action stageNov 6, 1985: 27.70 ft, major floodingJan 19, 1996: 19.90 ft, action stageFeb 19, 2000: 23.70 ft, minor flooding; 68,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 2003: 18.05 ft, action stage; 48,040 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 2003: 20.80 ft, action stage; 59,300 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 2007: 21.05 ft, action stage; 61,561 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2008: 17.74 ft, action stage; 44,576 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2009: 19.87 ft, action stage; 55,372 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2015: 18.01 ft, action stage; 45,917 cubic feet per second Highest, 27.70 ft, Nov 6, 1985 196019701980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Monongahela River at Morgantown Lock and Dam 1950s: 0 1960s: 2 2 1970s: 0 1980s: 2 1990s: 0 2000s: 1 2010s: 0 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  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, Monongahela River at Morgantown Lock and Dam
1Nov 6, 198527.70+5.70Major—
2Aug 18, 198023.80+1.80Minor—
3Mar 7, 196723.70+1.70Minor—
4Feb 19, 200023.70+1.70Minor68,100
5Mar 5, 196323.10+1.10Minor—
6May 24, 196821.50−0.50Action—
7Jan 26, 197821.20−0.80Action—
8Dec 14, 200721.05−0.95Action61,561
9Nov 20, 200320.80−1.20Action59,300
10Dec 9, 197820.50−1.50Action—
11Jun 6, 198120.50−1.50Action—
12Dec 14, 195620.30−1.70Action—
13Jan 19, 199619.90−2.10Action—
14May 4, 200919.87−2.13Action55,372
15Jan 11, 197419.60−2.40Action—
16Mar 20, 196319.40−2.60Action—
17Aug 6, 195618.40−3.60Action—
18May 7, 196718.30−3.70Action—
19Feb 23, 200318.05−3.95Action48,040
20Mar 5, 201518.01−3.99Action45,917
21Jun 5, 200817.74−4.26Action44,576

The worst floods along the Monongahela River

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

November 6, 1985: 27.70 ft here, major flooding

August 18, 1980: 23.80 ft here, minor flooding

March 7, 1967: 23.70 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Monongahela River

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

Flood gauges on the Monongahela River
Morgantown Lock and Dam this gaugeWV22.027.70 ft, Nov 6, 19851
Point Marion Lock and Dam (lower pool)PA26.034.00 ft, Jan 19, 19967
Grays Landing Lock and DamPA21.036.00 ft, Jul 1, 18883
Maxwell Lock and Dam (lower pool)PA32.044.40 ft, Nov 5, 19855
Charleroi Lock and DamPA28.042.70 ft, Nov 5, 198514
Elizabeth Lock and DamPA20.032.50 ft, Mar 18, 19369
Braddock Lock and DamPA22.035.30 ft, Mar 18, 19368

Other gauges in Monongalia County

Flood gauges in Monongalia County
Morgantown5.012.36 ft, Aug 18, 19805

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MORW2, 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.