Elk Creek at Elkville water level

Name: Elk Creek at Elkville water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Elk Creek, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

1.02ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:45 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 51.6 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

Elk Creek at Elkville is at 1.02 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 0.98 ft, based on 36 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.05 ft above typical. It is 10.98 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 0.90 ft, a difference of +0.12 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 0.85 ft and 4.14 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 0.98 ft0.05 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 0.82 ft – 1.25 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year: 0.90 ft+0.12 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 0.85 ft – 4.14 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 0.75 ft – 4.14 ft
Highest on record: 22.00 ftAugust 13, 1940

Floating and fishing near Elk Creek at Elkville

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 10.98 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

12.00 ft: Summer cabins on left bank begin to be affected.
1.02 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	22.00 ft	August 13, 1940
2	12.02 ft	August 17, 1994
3	10.13 ft	September 27, 2024
4	9.58 ft	November 6, 1977
5	9.41 ft	June 9, 2019
6	9.22 ft	November 16, 1989
7	8.62 ft	October 12, 1990
8	8.33 ft	June 15, 1969
9	8.20 ft	May 28, 1973
10	7.43 ft	September 21, 1979

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

17 Sat 61° 46° – Wind 13 mph

18 Sun 57° 41° – Wind 11 mph

19 Mon 71° 41° – Wind 5 mph

20 Tue 75° 46° – Wind 4 mph

21 Wed 71° 47° – Wind 3 mph

22 Thu 74° 46° – Wind 4 mph

23 Fri 70° 46° – Wind 4 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:38 AM Sunset 06:43 PM Daylight 11 hr, 5 min Waxing gibbous 72%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Yadkin River at PattersonRiver gauge, Yadkin River	1.07 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	10 mi
West Kerr Scott Reservoir at Dam near WilkesboroReservoir, West Kerr Scott Reservoir	1,029.73 ft	Low	+0.10 ft	11 mi
Yadkin River below W Kerr Scott Dam near BuckRiver gauge, Yadkin River	1.89 ft	Normal	±0	11 mi
Lower Little River near All Healing SpringsRiver gauge, Lower Little River	0.68 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	13 mi
Reddies River at North WilkesboroRiver gauge, Reddies River	1.16 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	15 mi
Yadkin River at WilkesboroRiver gauge, Yadkin River	2.33 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	15 mi
Upper Little River at Sr1740 at Petra MillsRiver gauge, Upper Little River	35.9 cfs	Normal	−1.9 cfs	16 mi
Middle Little River at Moretz Dam near BethlehemRiver gauge, Middle Little River	4.47 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	17 mi

Questions and answers

Is Elk Creek at Elkville higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.12 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 0.90 ft.

What is flood stage for Elk Creek at Elkville?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 10.98 ft below it.

What is a normal level for Elk Creek at Elkville in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 0.98 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.82 ft and 1.25 ft, based on 36 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 Elk Creek at Elkville today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:45 PM EDT, the water level was 1.02 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Elk Creek at Elkville rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.44 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Elk Creek at Elkville normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 36 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:02111180 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 36.07139, -81.40306 (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	1.02 ft	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional
Flow	51.6 cfs	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Elk Creek at Elkville (usgs:02111180). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/elk-creek-at-elkville

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