Major Flood
20 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
19 ft
Minor Flood
17 ft
Action Stage
15 ft
What Floods at Each Level
20 ft
Hemphill area is flooded. Other homes and businesses along the river in Welch are flooded.
19 ft
Flooding of homes near bridge next to gage. Tug Road, Slick Rock Road, and Wilson Street in Hemphill area are flooded.
18 ft
Wilson Street and Slick Rock Road begin to flood in the Hemphill area.
17 ft
Church parking lot in Hemphill begins to flood. Route 16 dip between Hemphill and Welch starts 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 | 22.1 ft | 13,230 cfs |
| May 2, 2002 | 22.1 ft | 14,000 cfs |
| Jul 8, 2001 | 19.77 ft | 13,850 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
WLCW2
River
Tug Fork River
County
Mcdowell, WV
Coordinates
37.4411°N, 81.6000°W
Get Flood Alerts for Tug Fork 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 Tug Fork River at Welch?
The Tug Fork River at Welch gauge is maintained by USGS (site 03212750) 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 Tug Fork River at Welch?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Tug Fork River at Welch is 17 feet. Action stage begins at 15 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 19 feet, and major flooding at 20 feet.
How do I get alerts when Tug Fork River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Tug Fork River at Welch to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Tug Fork River at Welch gauge located?
The gauge is located in Mcdowell County, West Virginia at coordinates 37.4411°N, 81.6000°W. USGS site number: 03212750. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Tug Fork River
On This River
Downstream: Dry Fork (Tug Fork) at Bradshaw
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey