Rivers in West Virginia
Elk River at Clay
Below flood stage
9.02ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 5:00 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 18.00 ft
- Record crest
- 32.40 ft1918
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 29.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 20.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 18.00 ft |
| Action | 16.00 ft |
- 30.00 ftMost business and buildings in Clay next to the river are flooded. Major flooding occurring.
- 29.00 ftRoute 16 in Clay starts to flood. Some business in town are flooded. Several sections of Elkhurst/Elk River Road and some camps near the river are flooded.
- 25.00 ftThe low end of the vacant car dealership, hardware store, more homes in Pisgah section, and in the northern end of Clay are flooded. Sections of Elkhurst/Elk River Road and some camps near the river are flooded.
- 20.00 ftHomes in the Pisgah section of Clay, and a few homes on the north side of Clay are flooded between 20 and 22 feet. Sections of Elkhurst/Elk River Road are flooded.
- 18.00 ftWater floods some basements near and downstream from the Pisgah Pridge. Sections of Elkhurst/Elk River Road start to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 14% |
| Moderate flooding | 9% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
32 crests on NOAA’s list since 1861.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 14, 1918 | 32.40 ft |
| 2 | January 1, 1861 | 31.00 ft |
| 3 | June 24, 2016 | 30.30 ft |
| 4 | February 5, 1932 | 26.60 ft |
| 5 | July 4, 1932 | 26.50 ft |
| 6 | February 4, 1939 | 25.40 ft |
| 7 | May 12, 1924 | 23.60 ft |
| 8 | April 16, 1932 | 23.50 ft |
| 9 | March 1, 1997 | 23.00 ft |
| 10 | October 3, 1929 | 23.00 ft |
| 11 | March 15, 1967 | 22.80 ft |
| 12 | January 2, 1919 | 22.70 ft |
| 13 | January 30, 1957 | 22.60 ft |
| 14 | July 31, 1996 | 21.84 ft |
| 15 | November 19, 2003 | 20.96 ft |
| 16 | December 3, 1991 | 20.83 ft |
| 17 | December 4, 1950 | 20.50 ft |
| 18 | March 12, 1917 | 20.30 ft |
| 19 | February 1, 1951 | 20.10 ft |
| 20 | August 9, 1958 | 20.00 ft |
| 21 | July 21, 1954 | 19.70 ft |
| 22 | March 1, 2021 | 19.63 ft |
| 23 | December 7, 2013 | 19.45 ft |
| 24 | February 26, 1972 | 18.57 ft |
| 25 | March 6, 1955 | 18.45 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 6, 2025: 17.76 ft
- March 1, 2021: 19.63 ft
- June 24, 2016: 30.30 ft
- March 5, 2015: 16.71 ft
- December 7, 2013: 19.45 ft
- January 31, 2013: 14.79 ft
- November 19, 2003: 20.96 ft
- March 1, 1997: 23.00 ft
- July 31, 1996: 21.84 ft
- January 19, 1996: 17.50 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River Forecasts typically include ONLY 2 days of future rain from <u>forecast issuance time</u> (lower right of graph). Occasionally 3 days of future rain included.
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.