Flat River at Bahama water level
River gauge, Flat River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 1.3 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Flat River at Bahama is running below normal at 0.82 ft.
That puts it 0.34 ft below the median of 1.16 ft for mid-October, based on 25 years of readings. It is 11.18 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.72 ft (−0.90 ft).
The level has held steady 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 1.35 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.16 ft0.34 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.81 ft – 1.73 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (25 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.72 ft−0.90 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.78 ft – 1.35 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.78 ft – 2.43 ft
- Highest on record
- 17.26 ftSeptember 6, 1996
Floating and fishing near Flat River at Bahama
Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.
Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 11.18 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
- Minor flooding begins. The Flat River overflows its natural banks. Above this point the banks are very steep and flooding is likely limited to recreational property along the river.
- 0.82 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.26 ft | September 6, 1996 |
| 2 | 12.28 ft | September 17, 2018 |
| 3 | 7.26 ft | October 12, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Flat River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat River at Dam near BahamaRiver gauge, Flat River | 1.05 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 3.7 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River at Sr1461 near Orange FactoryRiver gauge, Little River | 0.08 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 3.6 mi |
| Little River below Little R Tributary at FairntoshRiver gauge, Little River | 2.55 ft | Very high | −0.05 ft | 4.9 mi |
| Knap of Reeds Creek near ButnerRiver gauge, Knap of Reeds Creek | 2.27 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 5.9 mi |
| Eno River near DurhamRiver gauge, Eno River | 2.14 ft | High | −0.12 ft | 8 mi |
| Ellerbe Creek near GormanRiver gauge, Ellerbe Creek | 0.83 ft | Very low | −0.10 ft | 9 mi |
| Eno River at Cole Mill Road near Huckleberry SpringRiver gauge, Eno River | 1.95 ft | Low | −0.14 ft | 10 mi |
| Ellerbe Creek at Club Boulevard at DurhamRiver gauge, Ellerbe Creek | 1.02 ft | Very high | −0.05 ft | 11 mi |
| Little Lick Creek at Nc Highway 98 at Oak GroveRiver gauge, Little Lick Creek | 1.23 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 14 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Flat River at Bahama compare with last year?
It is 0.90 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.72 ft.
What is flood stage for the Flat River at Bahama?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 11.18 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Flat River at Bahama in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.16 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.81 ft and 1.73 ft, based on 25 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 Flat River at Bahama today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 05:45 PM EDT, the water level was 0.82 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Flat River at Bahama rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Flat River at Bahama normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 25 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:02085500(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.18278, -78.87889(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 | 0.82 ft | 2026-10-19 21:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1.3 cfs | 2026-10-19 21:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Flat River at Bahama (usgs:02085500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/flat-river-at-bahama
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