Flat River at Dam near Bahama water level

Name: Flat River at Dam near Bahama 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, Flat River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

1.08ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 25.3 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Flat River at Dam near Bahama, where the gauge shows 1.08 ft.

That puts it 0.38 ft above the median of 0.71 ft for mid-October, based on 32 years of readings. It is 14.92 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 0.70 ft (+0.38 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 0.56 ft – 1.08 ft.

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

Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 0.71 ft0.38 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 0.42 ft – 1.94 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
Same day last year: 0.70 ft+0.38 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 0.56 ft – 1.08 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 0.40 ft – 2.77 ft
Highest on record: 23.48 ftSeptember 6, 1998

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 16.00 ft.

What happens at each level

16.00 ft: Minor flooding begins along the Flat River downstream of Lake Mitchie. Flooding will be confined to wooded areas.
1.08 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	23.48 ft	September 6, 1998
2	19.60 ft	July 7, 2025
3	19.50 ft	July 26, 1938
4	19.27 ft	September 17, 2018
5	18.18 ft	March 19, 1998
6	16.78 ft	November 13, 2018

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:27 AM Sunset 06:34 PM Daylight 11 hr, 7 min Waxing gibbous 70%

Map

Other gauges on the Flat River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Flat River at BahamaRiver gauge, Flat River	0.82 ft	Low	±0	3.7 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Knap of Reeds Creek near ButnerRiver gauge, Knap of Reeds Creek	2.23 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	2.2 mi
Little River below Little R Tributary at FairntoshRiver gauge, Little River	2.64 ft	Very high	+0.09 ft	3.0 mi
Little River at Sr1461 near Orange FactoryRiver gauge, Little River	0.10 ft	Very low	+0.01 ft	5.1 mi
Ellerbe Creek near GormanRiver gauge, Ellerbe Creek	0.72 ft	Very low	−0.02 ft	6.2 mi
Eno River near DurhamRiver gauge, Eno River	2.06 ft	High	−0.07 ft	7 mi
Ellerbe Creek at Club Boulevard at DurhamRiver gauge, Ellerbe Creek	1.01 ft	Very high	−0.01 ft	10 mi
Eno River at Cole Mill Road near Huckleberry SpringRiver gauge, Eno River	1.92 ft	Low	−0.05 ft	10 mi
Little Lick Creek at Nc Highway 98 at Oak GroveRiver gauge, Little Lick Creek	1.21 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	11 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Flat River at Dam near Bahama compare with last year?

It is 0.38 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 0.70 ft.

What is flood stage for the Flat River at Dam near Bahama?

The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 14.92 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Flat River at Dam near Bahama in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 0.71 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.42 ft and 1.94 ft, based on 32 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 Dam near Bahama today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT, the water level was 1.08 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Flat River at Dam near Bahama rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.36 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Flat River at Dam near Bahama normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:02086500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 36.14861, -78.82889 (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	1.08 ft	2026-10-20 15:45	Provisional
Flow	25.3 cfs	2026-10-20 15:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Flat River at Dam near Bahama (usgs:02086500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/flat-river-at-dam-near-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