Rivers in Virginia

Jackson River at Covington

Alleghany County, VirginiaNWS CVGV2USGS 02013100Blacksburg office

Below flood stage
4.80ftStage

Observed Mon, Sep 21, 2:30 PM EDT

Flood stage
17.00 ft
Forecast crest
5.30 ftThu, Sep 24, 8:00 AM EDT
Record crest
24.36 ft1972

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood23.00 ft
Moderate flood20.00 ft
Minor flood17.00 ft
Action14.00 ft
  1. 21.00 ftFlooding in Covington affects about 3 blocks in from the river.
  2. 17.00 ftMinor overbank flooding occurs.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding11%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Crest history

47 crests on NOAA’s list since 1936.

#DateStage
1June 21, 197224.36 ft
2November 4, 198523.31 ft
3June 24, 201622.41 ft
4December 27, 197322.09 ft
5March 18, 193620.97 ft
6January 19, 199620.85 ft
7March 7, 196719.97 ft
8April 5, 197719.85 ft
9January 26, 197817.86 ft
10September 29, 200417.27 ft
11February 25, 197915.13 ft
12February 22, 200314.97 ft
13May 7, 201314.45 ft
14January 15, 199514.23 ft
15April 16, 198713.72 ft
16February 14, 198413.69 ft
17March 20, 197513.60 ft
18October 18, 197513.36 ft
19April 16, 201813.30 ft
20March 4, 199312.93 ft
21January 25, 201012.59 ft
22April 15, 200712.46 ft
23March 3, 199712.34 ft
24June 27, 200612.15 ft
25April 28, 198912.12 ft

Most recent crests

  • February 24, 2019: 10.74 ft
  • April 16, 2018: 13.30 ft
  • May 25, 2017: 11.91 ft
  • June 24, 2016: 22.41 ft
  • March 5, 2015: 10.63 ft
  • February 3, 2014: 10.62 ft
  • May 7, 2013: 14.45 ft
  • December 7, 2011: 11.14 ft
  • April 13, 2011: 10.49 ft
  • January 25, 2010: 12.59 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 72 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.