Little Yadkin River at Dalton water level
River gauge, Little Yadkin River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 9.3 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 0.43 ft, the Little Yadkin River at Dalton is far below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 0.19 ft below the median of 0.62 ft for mid-October, based on 29 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 0.55 ft (−0.12 ft). The lowest reading on record is 0.00 ft (August 24, 2002).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 0.27 ft and 1.08 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 0.62 ft0.19 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.50 ft – 0.79 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (29 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 0.55 ft−0.12 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.27 ft – 1.08 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.22 ft – 2.70 ft
- Highest on record
- 20.29 ftSeptember 22, 1979
- Lowest on record
- 0.00 ftAugust 24, 2002
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.29 ft | September 22, 1979 |
| 2 | 19.60 ft | March 30, 1975 |
| 3 | 19.39 ft | May 28, 1984 |
| 4 | 18.81 ft | June 21, 1972 |
| 5 | 17.86 ft | June 12, 1962 |
| 6 | 15.82 ft | September 28, 2004 |
| 7 | 15.33 ft | March 17, 1990 |
| 8 | 15.25 ft | July 3, 1978 |
| 9 | 14.92 ft | February 6, 2020 |
| 10 | 14.74 ft | October 11, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ararat River at AraratRiver gauge, Ararat River | 0.96 ft | Low | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Yadkin River at EnonRiver gauge, Yadkin River | 3.10 ft | Normal | −0.56 ft | 12 mi |
| Dan River near FranciscoRiver gauge, Dan River | 1.54 ft | Normal | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Dan River at Pine HallRiver gauge, Dan River | 1.81 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 20 mi |
| Yadkin River at ElkinRiver gauge, Yadkin River | 1.56 ft | Normal | −1.08 ft | 25 mi |
| South Mayo River near NettleridgeRiver gauge, South Mayo River | 3.27 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 25 mi |
| Reedy Fork near Oak RidgeRiver gauge, Reedy Fork | 3.65 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 27 mi |
| Hunting Creek near HarmonyRiver gauge, Hunting Creek | 0.34 ft | Normal | ±0 | 28 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Little Yadkin River at Dalton compare with last year?
It is 0.12 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 0.55 ft.
What is a normal level for the Little Yadkin River at Dalton in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 0.62 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.50 ft and 0.79 ft, based on 29 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 Yadkin River at Dalton today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 04:15 PM EDT, the water level was 0.43 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Little Yadkin River at Dalton rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.09 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Little Yadkin River at Dalton normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Little Yadkin River at Dalton?
The highest level on record is 20.29 ft on September 22, 1979. The lowest is 0.00 ft on August 24, 2002.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:02114450(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.29917, -80.41472(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 | 0.43 ft | 2026-10-20 20:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 9.3 cfs | 2026-10-20 20:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Little Yadkin River at Dalton (usgs:02114450). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/little-yadkin-river-at-dalton
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