Top10 Highest Historical Crests:
James River near Richmond, VA
Latitude: 37.563
Longitude: -77.547
Last Flood: 4/22/2019
Period of Record: 1816-Present
Flood Stage: 12
Number of Floods: 193
Date of Flood
Crest (ft)
Streamflow (cfs)
Weather Summary
6/23/1972
28.62
313,000
Hurricane Agnes made landfall again over southeastern New York on June 22 and moved westward into
Pennsylvania. Rainfall totals from June 20-25 range from 2-3 inches in the Upper Potomac to 18 inches near
Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
8/21/1969
24.95
222,000
Remnants of Hurricane Camille produced 12-20 inches of rainfall. In Virginia, most of the rainfall occurred in a 3-
5 hour period and caused several record-setting floods.
11/7/1985
24.77
218,000
Hurricane Juan produced more than 1 inch of rain in VA with more than 7 inches reported in higher elevations. A
coastal low pressure system produced an additional 1-7 inches of rain and caused widespread major flooding in
Virginia and Maryland.
3/19/1936
23.42
175,000
Two successive rainstorms combined with snowmelt flooded the Eastern Seaboard from Virginia to Maine. A
total of 150 to 200 lives were lost and damage estimates were over $1 million.
4/27/1937
22.65
152,000
Heavy rains caused widespread flooding across most of Virginia. The Rappahannock basin was hit the hardest,
but the Potomac River at Wisconsin Avenue rose to 14.3 feet. Six people died and total damages were well over
$1.5 million.
4/18/1987
21.91
163,000
Persistent heavy rain showers associated with a strong mid-latitude cyclone caused major flooding at several
locations
9/20/1944
21.8
150,000
The weather summary is unavailable at this time.
8/18/1940
21.8
151,000
As a strong Category 1 storm, the Southeast Hurricane produced over 1 inches of rain just south of our basins
and caused widespread flooding across Virginia.
10/7/1972
21.76
162,000
A weak low pressure system and a cold front produced 6-8 inches of rain in the Shenandoah Valley, with locally
heavier amounts of up to 11 inches.
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Created on
1/14/2020
9:41:38 AM
at
Drainage Area: 6753 square miles
Gage Datum: 98.82 ft MSL
County of Gage: Henrico
County of Forecast Point: Independent City
James Basin
Data represent all historical events.
