James River level at Richmond
Virginia · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02037500 — JAMES RIVER NEAR RICHMOND, VA · NWS forecast point RMDV2
Reading taken · as of 58 min ago
Right around its normal summer float level
At 1,550 CFS, this gauge is inside the middle half of the 89 years USGS has recorded for this date (1937–2026), at 105% of the 1,480 CFS median.
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Flood stages at Richmond
National Weather Service categories for gauge RMDV2, WFO AKQ. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
-
Major flood 22.0 ft · 167,000 CFS
- 22.0 ft Major flooding begins. Downstream industries, shops and streets along the riverfront are flooded at and above this level.
- 23.0 ft Richmond City Water Filtration Plant endangered.
- 27.0 ft Near record flooding begins.
- 28.6 ft Flood of record during Hurricane Agnes.
- 32.0 ft River stage sensor operating limit
-
Moderate flood 15.0 ft · 66,700 CFS
- 15.0 ft Begin moderate flooding. Residences near gage threatened by flood waters.
- 16.0 ft Water is getting into the parking lot at Huguenot Flatwater Park and Pony Pasture. Additionally, portions of the Willow Oaks County Club is flooded. Sections of Riverside Drive are closed due to flooding.
- 17.0 ft Water infiltrates several homes near the gage, downstream of the Huguenot Bridge.
- 18.2 ft CSX Railroad tracks flooded.
-
Minor flood 12.0 ft · 42,000 CFS
- 12.0 ft Flood stage. Minor flooding along both banks. No damage at this level.
- 13.0 ft Approximately 20 acres of lowland flooded in vicinity of gage.
- 13.5 ft Portions of Huguenot Flatwater park begin to flood.
- 14.0 ft Portions of Riverside Drive begin to flood.
-
Action 9.0 ft · 22,600 CFS
- Right now 3.57 ft
NWS forecast: 3.60 ft by .
Flow history at Richmond
Daily values from USGS 02037500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for RMDV2 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Richmond
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 28.62 ft | 313,000 CFS | Jun 23, 1972 |
| 24.95 ft | 222,000 CFS | Aug 21, 1969 |
| 24.77 ft | 218,000 CFS | Nov 7, 1985 |
| 23.42 ft | 175,000 CFS | Mar 19, 1936 |
| 22.65 ft | 152,000 CFS | Apr 27, 1937 |
| 21.91 ft | 163,000 CFS | Apr 18, 1987 |
| 21.80 ft | 150,000 CFS | Sep 20, 1944 |
| 21.80 ft | 151,000 CFS | Aug 18, 1940 |
| 21.76 ft | 162,000 CFS | Oct 7, 1972 |
| 21.23 ft | 152,000 CFS | Sep 8, 1996 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About James River at Richmond
In Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Pony Pasture and Belle Isle; urban Class III-IV.
James River at Richmond — common questions
3 questions
Does rain upstream change James River at Richmond quickly?
Yes. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is James River at Richmond high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late September here is 1,480 CFS, from 89 years of record (1937–2026). Today sits inside the middle half of those years, at 105% of the median. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 02037500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for RMDV2 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.