River stage
Clay, Elk River
- River level
- 5.91 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +4.74 ft
- Recent high
- 11.02 ft
- Recent low
- 0.62 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS CLYW2
- 30-day change
- +3.50 ft
- Average
- 2.20 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 32.40 ft
In brief
The Elk River at Clay, WV read 5.91 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 10.09 ft below action stage. That is 3.50 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge CLYW2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32.40 ft | 1918-03-14 |
| 2 | 31.00 ft | 1861-01-01 |
| 3 | 30.30 ft | 2016-06-24 |
| 4 | 26.60 ft | 1932-02-05 |
| 5 | 26.50 ft | 1932-07-04 |
| 6 | 25.40 ft | 1939-02-04 |
| 7 | 23.60 ft | 1924-05-12 |
| 8 | 23.50 ft | 1932-04-16 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
Water floods some basements near and downstream from the Pisgah Pridge. Sections of Elkhurst/Elk River Road start to flood.
- 20.00 ft
Homes 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.
- 25.00 ft
The 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.
- 29.00 ft
Route 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.
- 30.00 ft
Most business and buildings in Clay next to the river are flooded. Major flooding occurring.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Elk River flooding at Clay?
No. The Elk River at Clay is at 5.91 ft, 10.09 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Clay?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 16 ft, minor flooding 18 ft, moderate flooding 20 ft and major flooding 29 ft.
What is the highest the Elk River has been at Clay?
The highest crest on record is 32.4 ft, on 1918-03-14.
Is the Elk River high or low right now at Clay?
At 5.91 ft it is higher than 93% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge CLYW2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03196800). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.