Killian Creek near Mariposa water level
River gauge, Killian Creek, North Carolina, United States
Right now
High for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 14.1 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Killian Creek near Mariposa is above normal at 3.01 ft.
That puts it 0.24 ft above the median of 2.77 ft for late October, based on 33 years of readings. It is 17.99 ft below the flood stage of 21.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.36 ft (−0.35 ft).
It has risen 0.11 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. In the last month it has stayed between 2.61 ft and 3.73 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.77 ft0.24 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.52 ft – 3.24 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.36 ft−0.35 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.61 ft – 3.73 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.45 ft – 4.21 ft
- Highest on record
- 15.25 ftApril 29, 1997
Floating and fishing near Killian Creek near Mariposa
Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.
Flood stage here is 21.00 ft, 17.99 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 40.00 ft
- NOTHING IN THE AREA TO FLOOD. FLOODING MAY OCCUR FURTHER DOWNSTREAM.
- 18.00 ft
- STARTS TO FLOOD PARTS OF A SUBSTATION AT DUKE ENERGY SUBSTATION SITE.
- 13.00 ft
- BANKFULL STAGE...FLOODS FOREST AREA
- 3.30 ft
- 3 - 4 INCH IN 2-3 HOURS WIDE SPREAD RAIN WILL CAUSE THEE RIVER TO GO FROM 2.77 TO 15.77 FT
- 3.01 ft
- Right now
- 2.10 ft
- 2.1 INCH IN 1 HR (HVY RAIN WAS HERE AND SOUTH OF GAGE) CAUSED A 1 FT RISE IN A DROUGHT AND TOOK RIVER UP 4 FT IN WET PERIOD.
- 1.50 ft
- 1.5 INCH IN 2 HOUR PERIOD WILL CAUSE A 1 FT RISE IN RIVER IN A DROOUGHT.
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.25 ft | April 29, 1997 |
| 2 | 13.44 ft | June 11, 1992 |
| 3 | 13.31 ft | January 25, 2010 |
| 4 | 12.99 ft | March 20, 2003 |
| 5 | 12.52 ft | February 16, 1995 |
| 6 | 12.51 ft | August 27, 2008 |
| 7 | 10.84 ft | May 27, 2009 |
| 8 | 10.54 ft | November 11, 2009 |
| 9 | 9.27 ft | March 29, 2001 |
| 10 | 8.09 ft | March 20, 2000 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba River at Rr Bridge above NC 73 at Cowans FordRiver gauge, Catawba River | 3.26 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 4.1 mi |
| McDowell Creek Tributary at Sr2131 near Hicks CrossroadsRiver gauge, McDowell Creek Tributary | 1.22 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10River gauge, McDowell Creek | 3.84 ft | High | +0.11 ft | 7 mi |
| Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mountain Is Dam near MountainRiver gauge, Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mountain Is Dam | 8.73 ft | Normal | +0.05 ft | 7 mi |
| McDowell Creek near HuntersvilleRiver gauge, McDowell Creek | 1.54 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| Torrence Creek at Bradford Hill Ln near HuntersvlleRiver gauge, Torrence Creek | 1.19 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 9 mi |
| Gar Creek at Sr2074 near CroftRiver gauge, Gar Creek | 1.02 ft | Low | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Long Creek near RhyneRiver gauge, Long Creek | 2.18 ft | Very high | +0.02 ft | 10 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Killian Creek near Mariposa compare with last year?
It is 0.35 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.36 ft.
What is flood stage for Killian Creek near Mariposa?
The official flood stage is 21.00 ft. The level is currently 17.99 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Killian Creek near Mariposa in late October?
The median for late October is 2.77 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.52 ft and 3.24 ft, based on 33 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 Killian Creek near Mariposa today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 01:15 AM EDT, the water level was 3.01 ft. Up 0.11 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Killian Creek near Mariposa rising or falling?
Up 0.11 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.08 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Killian Creek near Mariposa normal?
High for late October. Compared with 33 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:0214269560(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.43417, -81.03000(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 | 3.01 ft | 2026-10-21 05:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 14.1 cfs | 2026-10-21 05:15 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Killian Creek near Mariposa (usgs:0214269560). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/killian-creek-near-mariposa
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