Ararat River at Ararat water level
River gauge, Ararat River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 134 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Ararat River at Ararat is running below normal at 0.96 ft.
The median for mid-October is 1.09 ft, based on 28 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.13 ft below typical. It is 12.04 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.06 ft, a difference of −0.10 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 0.78 ft and 4.14 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 28 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.09 ft0.13 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.88 ft – 1.38 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (28 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.06 ft−0.10 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.78 ft – 4.14 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.71 ft – 7.02 ft
- Highest on record
- 24.46 ftSeptember 22, 1979
- Lowest on record
- −0.15 ftAugust 7, 2008
Floating and fishing near Ararat River at Ararat
Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.
Flood stage here is 13.00 ft, 12.04 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
- Radar Road flooded upstream from the gage.
- 0.96 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.46 ft | September 22, 1979 |
| 2 | 21.40 ft | June 14, 1947 |
| 3 | 21.17 ft | April 22, 1992 |
| 4 | 21.06 ft | August 4, 2016 |
| 5 | 17.63 ft | April 9, 1980 |
| 6 | 16.43 ft | April 10, 1983 |
| 7 | 15.85 ft | March 1, 1987 |
| 8 | 15.40 ft | October 29, 2020 |
| 9 | 15.00 ft | January 10, 2024 |
| 10 | 14.98 ft | February 6, 2020 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Yadkin River at DaltonRiver gauge, Little Yadkin River | 0.43 ft | Very low | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Dan River near FranciscoRiver gauge, Dan River | 1.54 ft | Normal | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Yadkin River at ElkinRiver gauge, Yadkin River | 1.58 ft | Normal | −1.10 ft | 20 mi |
| Yadkin River at EnonRiver gauge, Yadkin River | 3.26 ft | Normal | −0.42 ft | 20 mi |
| Chestnut Creek at GalaxRiver gauge, Chestnut Creek | 47.9 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 26 mi |
| South Mayo River near NettleridgeRiver gauge, South Mayo River | 3.28 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 27 mi |
| New River near GalaxRiver gauge, New River | 1.39 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 29 mi |
| Dan River at Pine HallRiver gauge, Dan River | 1.81 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 29 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Ararat River at Ararat higher than last year?
No, it is 0.10 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.06 ft.
What is flood stage for the Ararat River at Ararat?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 12.04 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Ararat River at Ararat in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.09 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.88 ft and 1.38 ft, based on 28 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Ararat River at Ararat today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 01:15 PM EDT, the water level was 0.96 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Ararat River at Ararat rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.31 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Ararat River at Ararat normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 28 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:02113850(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.40439, -80.56169(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 0.96 ft | 2026-10-20 17:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 134 cfs | 2026-10-20 17:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Ararat River at Ararat (usgs:02113850). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/ararat-river-at-ararat
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer