Little Tennessee River at Needmore water level
River gauge, Little Tennessee River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 269 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Low water at Little Tennessee River at Needmore: the gauge reads 1.91 ft, below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 2.25 ft, based on 30 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.34 ft below typical. It is 9.09 ft below the flood stage of 11.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.07 ft, a difference of −0.16 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 1.78 ft – 3.90 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.25 ft0.34 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.66 ft – 2.93 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.07 ft−0.16 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.78 ft – 3.90 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.78 ft – 4.73 ft
- Highest on record
- 13.06 ftOctober 5, 1964
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
For reference, flood stage is 11.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 10.00 ft
- SEVERAL ROADS ALONG RIVER START TO FLOOD.
- 8.00 ft
- NEEDMORE ROAD FLOODS NEAR MACON/SWAIN COUNTY LINE. MOSTLY IN SWAIN COUNTY. THIS IS GRAVEL ROAD AND CLOSE TO THE RIVER.
- 7.50 ft
- WATER APPROACHES HIGHWAY 28 BRIDGE ROADWAY...4 MILES NORTH OF FRANKLIN NEAR IOTLA.
- 6.50 ft
- LOW PARTS OF NEEDMORE ROAD WILL BEGIN TO GET WATER ON IT. THIS IS A GRAVEL ROAD.
- 2.50 ft
- 2.5 INCHES IN ONE HOUR WILL CAUSE FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES ALONG NEEDMORE ROAD WEST OF HIGHWAY 28.
- 1.91 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.06 ft | October 5, 1964 |
| 2 | 13.00 ft | October 1, 1918 |
| 3 | 12.33 ft | September 17, 2004 |
| 4 | 11.50 ft | August 30, 1940 |
| 5 | 11.10 ft | June 16, 1949 |
| 6 | 10.93 ft | March 5, 1979 |
| 7 | 10.74 ft | February 17, 1990 |
| 8 | 10.48 ft | May 15, 1976 |
| 9 | 10.21 ft | December 25, 2015 |
| 10 | 10.16 ft | September 27, 2024 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Little Tennessee River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Tennessee River near PrentissRiver gauge, Little Tennessee River | 1.42 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 15 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantahala River near HewittRiver gauge, Nantahala River | 2.74 ft | Very high | ±0 | 7 mi |
| Tuckasegee River at Bryson CityRiver gauge, Tuckasegee River | 1.85 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 8 mi |
| Oconaluftee River at BirdtownRiver gauge, Oconaluftee River | 1.20 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 13 mi |
| Cartoogechaye Creek at SR 1148 near FranklinRiver gauge, Cartoogechaye Creek | 0.21 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 14 mi |
| Tuckasegee River at Barker's CreekRiver gauge, Tuckasegee River | 3.51 ft | Normal | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Nantahala River near Rainbow SpringsRiver gauge, Nantahala River | 0.93 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 15 mi |
| Tuckasegee River at SR 1172 near CullowheeRiver gauge, Tuckasegee River | 3.97 ft | Very low | −0.84 ft | 22 mi |
| Cheoah River near Bearpen Gap near TapocoRiver gauge, Cheoah River | 2.77 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 23 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Little Tennessee River at Needmore higher than last year?
No, it is 0.16 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.07 ft.
What is flood stage for the Little Tennessee River at Needmore?
The official flood stage is 11.00 ft. The level is currently 9.09 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Little Tennessee River at Needmore in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.25 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.66 ft and 2.93 ft, based on 30 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 Little Tennessee River at Needmore today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 09:15 PM EDT, the water level was 1.91 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Little Tennessee River at Needmore rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.25 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Little Tennessee River at Needmore normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 30 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:03503000(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.33639, -83.52694(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 | 1.91 ft | 2026-10-21 01:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 269 cfs | 2026-10-21 01:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Little Tennessee River at Needmore (usgs:03503000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/little-tennessee-river-at-needmore
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