Cumberland River at Burkesville
Kentucky · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 03414100 — CUMBERLAND RIVER AT BURKESVILLE, KY · NWS forecast point BRKK2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Low and clear — wadeable, and fish will be spooky
At 3,780 CFS, this gauge is running 43% of normal for late July — below the 8,700 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 9 years of record (2014–2025).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Burkesville
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BRKK2, issued by WFO LMK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 64.0 ft · 90,000 CFS
- 64.0 ft Numerous homes and businesses are flooded in Cumberland and southeast Monroe Counties. In Burkesville, multiple buildings are flooded on Keen St as well as baseball diamonds and fields of Salem Park.
- 69.0 ft Numerous roads, homes, and businesses along the river are flooded. In Burkesville, multiple structures are flooded between the river and Main St. Much of Dougantown is flooded.
- 74.0 ft Numerous structures and primary roads are impacted across Cumberland and southeast Monroe Counties. Celina Rd just south of Burkesville is flooded. Flooding in Burkesville extends from the river to north of Main St. Most of Dougantown is flooded.
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Moderate flood 55.0 ft · 57,500 CFS
- 55.0 ft Flooding occurs on Capps Rd and Rocky Branch Rd in Burkesville. Houses are flooded on Rocky Branch Rd, Scotts Ferry Rd and Garman Ferry Rd.
- 58.0 ft Ivan Coe Rd and River Breeze Rd are flooded. Houses are flooded on Crocus Bluff Rd, River Brook Tr, Turkey Neck Bnd and Eden Sprouls Rd.
- 60.0 ft The bridge over Crocus Creek on Lawson's Bottom Rd floods cutting off tranportation over portions of Cumberland County.
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Minor flood 46.0 ft · 40,000 CFS
- 46.0 ft Whetstone Rd and Meadows of the Cumberland Rd flood. Water approaches houses near Traces on the Cumberland.
- 48.0 ft Flooding occurs on Parmley Rd, Goose Creek Rd, Reed Rd, Cabin Rd, Otter Creek Rd and Big McFarland Rd.
- 51.0 ft Flooding in the Burkesville area begins including flooding of Garman Ferry Rd, Scotts Ferry Rd and Cumberland Dr. Flood waters approach multiple properties near Traces on the Cumberland.
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Action 43.0 ft · 32,500 CFS
- 43.0 ft Water approaches low lying areas along the river and tributaries such as John Lee Fox Lane, Cloyd williams Rd, Cloyds Landing Docl and Eva Young Rd.
- 44.0 ft Willis Creek Rd, Irish Bottom Rd and Old Galloway Rd flood.
- Right now 27.52 ft
12 months of flow at Burkesville
Daily values from USGS gauge 03414100. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Burkesville
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 56.60 ft | 59,100 CFS | Feb 28, 2019 |
| 55.76 ft | — | May 3, 2010 |
| 51.15 ft | 47,100 CFS | Apr 3, 2025 |
| 47.10 ft | 39,652 CFS | Mar 13, 2020 |
| 46.51 ft | 38,700 CFS | Mar 1, 2021 |
| 46.50 ft | 38,500 CFS | May 8, 2009 |
| 46.30 ft | 38,200 CFS | Apr 12, 2011 |
| 45.90 ft | 37,400 CFS | Mar 29, 2018 |
| 45.30 ft | 36,100 CFS | Apr 16, 2015 |
| 44.20 ft | 33,730 CFS | Feb 16, 2016 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Cumberland River at Burkesville
This gauge measures Cumberland River at Burkesville, Kentucky — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Wolf Creek tailwater; trophy brown trout.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 8,700 CFS for late July, from 9 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Cumberland River at Burkesville — common questions
What is the current flow on Cumberland River at Burkesville?
As of the last reading on this page, Cumberland River at Burkesville was running 3,780 CFS at a gage height of 27.52 ft, or 43% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03414100, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 8,700 CFS, calculated from 9 years of record (2014–2025). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Cumberland River at Burkesville wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 8,700 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 03414100. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BRKK2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.