French Broad River at Rosman
North Carolina — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Transylvania County, North Carolina on the French Broad River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 03439000, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
14 ft
Moderate Flood
13 ft
Minor Flood
9 ft
Action Stage
7 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
15 ft
Major flooding continues. Extremely rare and catastrophic flooding of the French Broad River is ongoing with disastrous impacts to property, including within the town of Rosman. Flood waters may surround the water treatment plant and power substation near the French Broad River.
14 ft
Major Flood Stage. Extremely rare and catastrophic flooding of the French Broad River is developing with disastrous impacts to property. Extensive flooding of homes and businesses between US 178 and Main St is developing. Basements near the river will be inundated with at least 4-7 feet of water. Homes along E Depot St will see inundation up to 2 feet deep. Floodwater levels will be similar to those that occurred in August 2021 during Tropical Cyclone Fred.
13 ft
Moderate flooding continues. Extensive flooding of homes and businesses between US 178 and Main St is developing. Basements near the river will be inundated with at least 2-4 feet of water. Floodwaters will begin entering homes along E Depot St. Significant flooding of upstream commercial property near the confluence of the N Fork and W Fork French Broad rivers is developing. Floodwater levels will be similar to those that occurred in August 2021 immediately preceding Tropical Cyclone Fred.
12 ft
Moderate Flood Stage. Unusual, damaging flooding is developing adjacent to the French Broad River with considerable impacts to property and travel. Significant flooding reaching 4-6 ft deep is ongoing for low-lying areas and low-water crossings. Secondary roads, outbuildings, crawl spaces, and/or basements may be experiencing flooding reaching 2-4 feet deep, including along Chestnut St, Main St, and US 178. Some homes and businesses may be stranded. Significant impacts to travel are likely.
11 ft
Minor flooding continues. The French Broad River is approaching homes along Depot St. in Rosman likely requiring evacuations. Additionally, floodwaters will inundate US 178 adjacent to the gauge site and require closure.
10 ft
Minor flooding continues. Extensive flooding of low-lying secondary roads, including E Depot St, Hannah Ford Rd, Island Ford Rd, and Green Rd, is ongoing.
9 ft
Minor Flood Stage. Common, deeper flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the French Broad River is developing with lesser impacts to vulnerable property. More significant floodwaters are beginning to impact low-lying areas, with inundation approximately 2-4 ft deep. Adjacent campgrounds, secondary roads, and outbuildings may be experiencing flooding up to 1-2 ft deep. Flooding less than 1 ft deep may begin impacting basements and primary roads, including E. Main St. and Depot St.
8 ft
Action Stage/Advisory flooding continues. Widespread flooding of adjacent low-lying areas is ongoing along the upper French Broad River. Hannah Ford, Island Ford, and Green Rds are experiencing flooding and are likely impassible.
7 ft
Action/Advisory Stage. Common, nuisance flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the French Broad River is beginning. Hannah Ford, Island Ford, and Green Rds may begin to flood with up to 1 foot of inundation. Floodwaters are beginning to impact farmland, woodlands, nurseries, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, greenways, and boat-access areas with up to 2 feet of inundation. Low-water crossings may be inundated with up to 2 feet of floodwater and become impassable.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 1964 | 14.95 ft | 13,500 cfs |
| Oct 3, 1964 | 14.95 ft | 13,500 cfs |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 14.74 ft | 12,800 cfs |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 14.74 ft | 12,800 cfs |
| Aug 16, 1994 | 14.12 ft | 11,500 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
ROSN7
River
French Broad River
County
Transylvania, NC
Coordinates
35.1422°N, 82.8242°W
Get Flood Alerts for French Broad River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of French Broad River at Rosman?
The French Broad River at Rosman gauge is maintained by USGS (site 03439000) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for French Broad River at Rosman?
The NWS-defined flood stage for French Broad River at Rosman is 9 feet. Action stage begins at 7 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 13 feet, and major flooding at 14 feet.
How do I get alerts when French Broad River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add French Broad River at Rosman to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the French Broad River at Rosman gauge located?
The gauge is located in Transylvania County, North Carolina at coordinates 35.1422°N, 82.8242°W. USGS site number: 03439000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey