South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap
Virginia — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Wise County, Virginia on the South Fork Powell River. Live water level data from USGS, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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This is an NWS forecast point (LID: GAPV2). Live data may be limited. View on NWS AHPS →
Flood Stages
Major Flood
19 ft
Moderate Flood
15 ft
Minor Flood
11 ft
Action Stage
8 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
21.5 ft
Lowest part of residence at the end of 4th Street might begin to take water.
20 ft
Water reaches the surface of the bridge downstream from the campground.
19 ft
Water may begin entering living spaces of homes on Wallens Ridge Blvd near the Proctor Street bridge.
17.5 ft
Water reaches the road surface of the bridge upstream from the campground. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge downstream from the campground.
17 ft
Lowest home along Wallens Ridge Blvd near the foot bridge may begin to take water.
16.5 ft
Water reaches the surface of the U.S. Hwy 23 Business bridge, and may begin to enter the main floor of the facility just downstream on the right bank.
16 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge upstream from the campground. Water begins to flood portions of the car wash lot adjacent to that bridge. Water begins surrounding homes on Wallens Ridge Blvd near the Proctor Street bridge.
14 ft
Water might be entering the basement of the Jessie Lea RV Park office structure off of Shawnee Ave W. The surface of the Proctor Street bridge is flooded.
13 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the U.S. Hwy 23 Business bridge. Water floods the parking lot and reaches the wall of the facility just downstream on the right bank of the bridge. Flooding of Wallens Ridge Blvd near the Proctor Street bridge. Increased flooding of structures along both Spring Street and Fox Ave.
12.6 ft
Church and a few houses and Frog Level Park, all along Cherokee Ave West and West 6th St N, may flood, especially if the nearby Powell River is in flood.
12.5 ft
Flooding of most of the area between Woods Ave W and Shawnee Ave W, including portions of Shawnee Ave W. Pair of homes on the south side of Shawnee Ave W may flood. The lower gravel parking lot of Jessie Lea RV Park on Shawnee Ave W campground is inundated.
12 ft
Water enters lower gravel parking lot of campground just upstream from junction with the Powell River. Water begins to flood the parking lot of the facility just downstream of the U.S. Hwy 23 Business bridge, on the right bank.
11 ft
Parking lot near the bridge along Proctor Street is flooded. Flooding begins of the lowest structures along both Spring Street and Fox Avenue just downstream from the East Stone Gap Road bridge.
10 ft
Flooding of portions of Spring Street and Fox Avenue, which are across the river from each other, northeast side of town.
8 ft
Green spaces and walkways along the river begin to flood.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 15, 2025 | 12.62 ft | — |
| Feb 15, 2025 | 12.62 ft | — |
About This Gauge
NWS LID
GAPV2
River
South Fork Powell River
County
Wise, VA
Coordinates
36.8651°N, 82.7712°W
Get Flood Alerts for South Fork Powell 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 South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap?
The South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap gauge is maintained by USGS 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 South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap?
The NWS-defined flood stage for South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap is 11 feet. Action stage begins at 8 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 15 feet, and major flooding at 19 feet.
How do I get alerts when South Fork Powell River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap 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 South Fork Powell River at Big Stone Gap gauge located?
The gauge is located in Wise County, Virginia at coordinates 36.8651°N, 82.7712°W. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of VA DEM