SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR PETERSBURG, WV
USGS 01606500 · West Virginia · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR PETERSBURG, WV…
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USGS 01606500 · West Virginia · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 9:00 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 10:00 PM EDT to Nov 5, 9:00 PM EST; ranging 179 to 223 ft³/s; latest 182 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 9:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 115–431 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM EST | 179 | 4.02 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM EST | 179 | 4.02 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 120–414 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM EST | 182 | 4.03 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM EST | 185 | 4.04 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 113–474 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 113–474 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM EST | 188 | 4.05 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM EST | 191 | 4.06 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 107–455 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM EST | 195 | 4.07 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM EST | 198 | 4.08 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM EST | 205 | 4.1 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM EST | 201 | 4.09 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM EST | 205 | 4.1 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EST | 205 | 4.1 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM EDT | 205 | 4.1 | 105–440 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM EDT | 205 | 4.1 | 105–440 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM EDT | 205 | 4.1 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM EDT | 208 | 4.11 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM EDT | 212 | 4.12 | 106–432 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM EDT | 215 | 4.13 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM EDT | 219 | 4.14 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM EDT | 223 | 4.15 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM EDT | 223 | 4.15 | 108–441 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM EDT | 223 | 4.15 | 108–441 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM EDT | 223 | 4.15 | 101–440 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM EDT | 223 | 4.15 | 101–440 |
Map of USGS gauge 01606500 and the river around it
Where SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR PETERSBURG, WV sits, with 2 other gauges on the same river and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. West Virginia DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a West Virginia rule: 68°F.
Normal for Nov 5: 115–431 ft³/s (middle half of 98 years of record). Now: 182 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 182 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 98 years of record (1929–2026): 10th 86, 25th 115, median 202, 75th 431, 90th 788 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 63 ft³/s, highest 77,000 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+0% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
This gauge is on our page for South Branch Potomac River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 4.03 ft stage, 172 ft³/s at Nov 5, 9:00 PM EST (NWS gauge PETW2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:59 AM EST. Highest point: 4.1 ft, 195 ft³/s on Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 4.1 ft | 195 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 4.1 ft | 195 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 4 ft | 163 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 4 ft | 163 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 9:57 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.