The French Broad River is expected to reach flood stage in Cocke County around noon Saturday. The river level at the Newport Highway bridge just outside of Newport was 13.7 feet Friday morning but was expected to reach 23 feet by Saturday. The last time this level was measured was in 1902, and the highest ever recorded was 24 feet in 1867.

Flooding on the French Broad is causing concern in towns along the river such as Marshall and Hot Springs, North Carolina. The river road from the end of Paint Creek to Hot Springs is already under water. Residents and businesses in downtown Marshall were ordered to evacuate yesterday. The city of Hot Springs has declared a state of emergency and set up emergency shelters.

The Pigeon River, which flows through downtown Newport, is also expected to reach near historic highs. The dove is expected to peak at 18 feet tomorrow, which is 6 feet above major flooding stage. The historical high for the pigeon is 23 feet in 1092 and 18.9 feet in 2004.

French broad historical coat of arms from NWS

1. 24.00 feet July 3, 1867
2. 23.00 feet 02/28/1902
3. 22.50 feet July 17, 1916
4. 19.25 feet 08/30/1940
5. 18.36 feet 06/11/1977
6. 18.10 feet 09/17/2004
7. 17.93 feet 03/26/1965
8. 17.60 feet 03/17/1973
9. 17.57 feet 05/04/1977
10. 17.56 feet 03/28/1994
11. 16.75 feet 03/13/1963
12. 16.73 feet 03/17/1990
13. 16.69 feet 04/20/2019
14. 16.68 feet 06/02/2020
15. 16.66 feet 01/27/1996
16. 15.81 feet 01/15/1995
17. 15.78 feet 12/28/2018
18. 15.75 feet 05/04/1957
19. 15.70 feet 03/14/1975
20. 15.39 feet 08/01/1946
21. 15.18 feet 04/13/2020
22. 15.10 feet 01/26/1978
23. 14.96 feet 9/9/2004
24. 14.78 feet 03/29/1991
25. 14.75 feet 08/18/2021
26. 14.68 feet 06/05/2003
27. 14.55 feet 07/05/1984
28. 14.53 feet 01/22/1954
29. 14.52 feet 02/13/1966
30. 14.29 feet 08/01/1998
31. 13.90 feet 11/26/1980
32. 13.85 feet 11/26/1979
33. 13.69 feet 03/02/1982
34. 13.49 feet 04/04/1974
35. 13.45 feet 08/16/1928
36. 13.38 feet 01/19/1936
37. 13.35 feet 01/18/2013
38. 13.30 feet 05/21/1901
39. 13.06 feet 12/12/1961
40. 12.86 feet 03/17/2002
41. 12.84 feet 04/07/2013
42. 12.75 feet 12/30/1942
43. 12.63 feet 06/05/2013
44. 12.48 feet 02/23/2019
45. 12.45 feet 02/12/2015
46. 12.34 feet 09/01/2024
47. 12.10 feet 01/20/1947
48. 11.93 feet 02/21/1953
49. 11.91 feet 05/29/1976
50. 11.84 feet 11/11/2009
51. 11.81 feet 05/27/2022
52. 11.79 feet 03/13/1968
53. 11.77 feet 03/26/2021
54. 11.77 feet 01/03/1987
55. 11.74 feet 03/21/1980
56. 11.45 feet 07/04/1964
57. 11.43 feet 03/01/1937
58. 11.12 feet 12/4/1972
59. 11.11 feet June 4, 1983
60. 11.10 feet 12/25/2009
61. 11.08 feet 11/20/2003
62. 11.04 feet 02/25/1961
63. 10.98 feet 02/28/1997
64. 10.96 feet 08/05/1992
65. 10.93 feet June 3, 1979
66. 10.53 feet 01/31/2013
67. 10.43 feet 12/23/2013
68. 10.39 feet 03/02/2016
69. 10.30 feet June 17, 1949
70. 10.23 feet 03/23/1952
71. 10.20 feet 12/7/1905
72. 10.14 feet 03/24/1993