River stage
Clifton Forge, Cowpasture River
- River level
- 2.88 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +1.48 ft
- Recent high
- 4.41 ft
- Recent low
- 1.37 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS COWV2
- 30-day change
- +1.37 ft
- Average
- 1.54 ft
- Readings
- 121
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 19.15 ft
In brief
The Cowpasture River at Clifton Forge, VA read 2.88 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 5.12 ft below action stage. That is 1.37 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge COWV2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.15 ft | 1985-11-05 |
| 2 | 18.62 ft | 1936-03-18 |
| 3 | 16.91 ft | 1996-09-07 |
| 4 | 15.70 ft | 1969-08-20 |
| 5 | 14.39 ft | 1998-01-08 |
| 6 | 14.11 ft | 1992-04-22 |
| 7 | 14.07 ft | 1942-05-17 |
| 8 | 13.85 ft | 1973-12-27 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 9.00 ft
Lowland flooding occurs along much of the river.
- 12.00 ft
Parts of Riverland Road and Bluebird Lane upstream from the gage begin to flood.
- 15.00 ft
Some homes and properties upstream from the gage may be affected by flooding.
- 18.00 ft
Extensive flooding of the road and homes threatened along parts of Riverland Road and Bluebird Lane upstream from the gage.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cowpasture River flooding at Clifton Forge?
No. The Cowpasture River at Clifton Forge is at 2.88 ft, 5.12 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Clifton Forge?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 8 ft, minor flooding 10 ft, moderate flooding 15 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the Cowpasture River has been at Clifton Forge?
The highest crest on record is 19.15 ft, on 1985-11-05.
Is the Cowpasture River high or low right now at Clifton Forge?
At 2.88 ft it is higher than 98% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge COWV2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02016000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.