Rivers in Virginia
James River (VA) at Buchanan
Below flood stage
2.04ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 10:00 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 17.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 2.90 ftThu, Sep 24, 8:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 38.84 ft1985
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 26.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 21.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 17.00 ft |
| Action | 11.00 ft |
- 22.00 ftAdditional buildings upstream of gage, and farmland flooding begins in vicinity of the gage.
- 20.00 ftFarmlands and residential basements of buildings upstream (right bank) become flooded.
- 17.00 ftRight bank above gage and flats above town on left bank are inundated. Mostly agricultural lands affected.
- 16.00 ftRoute 43 (Parkway Drive) is closed as water starts to reach the road.
- 6.00 ftStages above 6 feet are considered too high for all but expert boaters.
- 4.00 ftCaution is suggested for James River boaters..between 4 and 6 feet.
- 2.40 ftStages between 2.4 and 4 feet are considered ideal for boating activities.
- 2.00 ftBelow this stage the river may be too low for boating activities.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 12% |
| Moderate flooding | 8% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
117 crests on NOAA’s list since 1900.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 5, 1985 | 38.84 ft |
| 2 | March 27, 1913 | 31.00 ft |
| 3 | June 22, 1972 | 30.49 ft |
| 4 | January 20, 1996 | 29.26 ft |
| 5 | March 18, 1936 | 26.80 ft |
| 6 | September 29, 2004 | 25.66 ft |
| 7 | March 1, 1902 | 25.00 ft |
| 8 | April 16, 1986 | 24.81 ft |
| 9 | December 27, 1973 | 24.17 ft |
| 10 | February 23, 2003 | 24.03 ft |
| 11 | January 23, 1935 | 23.82 ft |
| 12 | April 22, 1992 | 23.64 ft |
| 13 | August 20, 1969 | 23.37 ft |
| 14 | April 6, 1977 | 22.81 ft |
| 15 | February 17, 2025 | 22.71 ft |
| 16 | January 16, 1995 | 22.67 ft |
| 17 | January 27, 1978 | 22.31 ft |
| 18 | March 13, 1963 | 22.30 ft |
| 19 | June 28, 2006 | 21.98 ft |
| 20 | May 12, 1924 | 21.50 ft |
| 21 | November 26, 1900 | 21.40 ft |
| 22 | March 8, 1967 | 20.77 ft |
| 23 | March 5, 1993 | 20.66 ft |
| 24 | May 29, 1973 | 20.38 ft |
| 25 | June 24, 2016 | 20.33 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 17, 2025: 22.71 ft
- February 7, 2025: 11.75 ft
- February 1, 2025: 13.72 ft
- September 28, 2024: 15.20 ft
- April 13, 2024: 12.22 ft
- January 10, 2024: 15.18 ft
- February 18, 2023: 14.00 ft
- February 13, 2023: 13.38 ft
- May 28, 2022: 11.40 ft
- February 5, 2022: 11.71 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.