Rain & rivers: Virginia

Observed gauges / Forecast gauges / NWS warnings: feeds current

Observed gauges: Feed current; checked 03:25Z.

Forecast gauges: Feed current; checked 03:25Z.

NWS warnings: Feed current; checked 03:32Z.

Checked means retrieved, not newly issued. Each graphic retains its issue, observation, initialization or valid time. Site publishing status is separate.

Action stage

Potomac River at Alexandria, VA

Gauge: River gauge · AXTV2 · NWS LWX
Observed: Not flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.
Forecast: Forecast issued 01:27Z · highest 3 ft at 19 Oct 18:00Z: action stage
Stages: Action 2.5 ft · Flood (minor) 3.3 ft · Moderate 4.2 ft · Major 6.6 ft

Forecast hydrograph

Impacts and the full forecast are read for gauges in flood; this one is at action stage.

NWS’s statements for this gauge’s water at each stage, up to the highest observed or forecast. A gauge does not say whether a particular road or neighbourhood near it floods.

NWPS’s page for AXTV2 On the Live tracker’s map River flood warnings in Virginia

Rain and rivers in Virginia

Expected rain: 0.75 in or more at its highest in Virginia, in WPC’s forecast for the 24 hours 00:00Z to 18 Oct 00:00Z. An amount for the area its contour covers, not a total for any one street.
Rain that fell: 0.75 to 1 in at its highest in Virginia, in the 24 hours to 03:00Z, by MRMS’s radar estimate over a grid about 5 km across: a measurement of the past, not corrected to rain gauges.
Rivers: 26 gauges in flood in Virginia, by NWS’s lists read 03:25Z. Major flooding James River (VA) at Jamestown/Scotland Ferry (IN MLLW), VA. Not flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast. Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5 ft at 19 Oct 23:00Z · below flood stage (4 ft) by 20 Oct 04:00Z: major flooding. And 25 more. A gauge measures its river at that spot, not whether a road or a neighbourhood floods.

Three sources, each its own window. None is a chance of flash flooding, which is WPC’s outlook above; a flash flood is a warning’s. Gauges in the Live tracker

On the Briefing’s map

Flash-flood risk WPC’s Excessive Rainfall Outlook: a chance, in four categories
Expected rain WPC’s 24-hour rain forecast, in inches
Rain that fell MRMS’s radar estimate for the past 24 or 72 hours

River, coastal and lake gauges in Virginia

26 gauges in flood in Virginia, observed or forecast. Choose one for its forecast hydrograph.

Major flooding 2

Forecast: major flooding James River (VA) at Jamestown/Scotland Ferry (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5 ft at 19 Oct 23:00Z · below flood stage (4 ft) by 20 Oct 04:00Z: major flooding
Forecast: major flooding Lynnhaven River at Lynnhaven Inlet (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.6 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 20 Oct 03:00Z: major flooding

Moderate flooding 14

Forecast: moderate flooding Atlantic Coast at Anheuser Busch Coastal Res. Center (MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 7.9 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (7 ft) by 19 Oct 23:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Nassawadox Creek at Bayford (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 4 ft at 19 Oct 22:00Z · below flood stage (3 ft) by 20 Oct 03:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Chesapeake Bay at Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.7 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (5 ft) by 19 Oct 23:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Chincoteague Channel at Chincoteague Bay Inlet (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5 ft at 19 Oct 19:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 19 Oct 22:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Eastern Branch Elizabeth River, VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 6 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (5 ft) by 20 Oct 01:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding James River (VA) at Fort Monroe (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.7 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 20 Oct 01:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Chesapeake Bay at Kiptopeke (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.4 ft at 19 Oct 19:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 20 Oct 00:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Little Creek, VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.3 ft at 19 Oct 19:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 19 Oct 23:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Elizabeth River at Money Point (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 6 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (5 ft) by 20 Oct 01:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Elizabeth River at Pinehurst in Portsmouth (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 6 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (5 ft) by 20 Oct 01:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding James River (VA) at Sewell's Point (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.6 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 20 Oct 01:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Pagan River at Smithfield Station (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 4.3 ft at 19 Oct 22:00Z · below flood stage (3.5 ft) by 20 Oct 03:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Elizabeth River at the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 6 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (5 ft) by 20 Oct 01:00Z: moderate flooding
Forecast: moderate flooding Chesapeake Bay at Windmill Point (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 3.5 ft at 19 Oct 23:00Z · below flood stage (3 ft) by 20 Oct 03:00Z: moderate flooding

Minor flooding 10

Forecast: minor flooding James River, VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.3 ft at 20 Oct 02:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Potomac River at Lewisetta (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 3.2 ft at 20 Oct 02:00Z · below flood stage (3 ft) by 20 Oct 04:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Chesapeake Bay at Port Isobel/Tangier Island (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 3.4 ft at 19 Oct 23:00Z · below flood stage (3.25 ft) by 20 Oct 02:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Ware River at Schley (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 4.8 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 19 Oct 22:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Nansemond River at Suffolk (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 6.5 ft at 19 Oct 21:00Z · below flood stage (5.5 ft) by 20 Oct 02:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Rappahannock River at Tappahannock (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 3.3 ft at 20 Oct 01:00Z · below flood stage (3 ft) by 20 Oct 04:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Atlantic Coast at Wachapreague (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 6.7 ft at 19 Oct 19:00Z · below flood stage (6.5 ft) by 19 Oct 21:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding York River at West Point (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 5.6 ft at 19 Oct 22:00Z · below flood stage (5 ft) by 20 Oct 02:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Piankatank River at Wharf Creek near Hudgins VA, VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 3.3 ft at 19 Oct 21:00Z · below flood stage (3 ft) by 20 Oct 03:00Z: minor flooding
Forecast: minor flooding Chesapeake Bay at Yorktown (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 17:31Z · crest 4.9 ft at 19 Oct 20:00Z · below flood stage (4.5 ft) by 19 Oct 23:00Z: minor flooding

Action stage, not flooding 2

Action stage is the level at which NWS and local officials begin to act; the water is not yet at flood stage.

Forecast: action stage Potomac River at Alexandria, VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 01:27Z · highest 3 ft at 19 Oct 18:00Z: action stage
Forecast: action stage Upper Machodoc Creek at Dahlgren (IN MLLW), VANot flooding now: observed below action stage (where officials start to act), or not reporting. Listed for its forecast.Forecast issued 16 Oct 18:30Z · highest 3.2 ft at 19 Oct 13:00Z: action stage

A gauge measures its water at that one place. Flash flooding, which comes in hours from heavy rain, is in the warnings as Flash Flood Warnings; a river can be in flood with no rain falling.

Gauges observed checked 03:25Z · Data: NOAA/NWS

Gauges forecast checked 03:25Z · Data: NOAA/NWS

Gauge impacts and forecasts checked 03:25Z · Data: NOAA/NWPS

Virginia flash-flood briefing

Not an official warning service. Warnings and watches are the National Weather Service’s, outlooks and reports the Storm Prediction Center’s and the Weather Prediction Center’s (Data: NOAA/NWS, NOAA/SPC, NOAA/WPC). When a warning is issued for you, act on it, and use weather.gov or a NOAA Weather Radio for where you are.