Lumber River near Maxton water level

Name: Lumber River near Maxton 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, Lumber River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Very low for mid-October

Water level

6.84ft Up 0.22 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 AM EDT (53 min ago)

Flow: 126 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The Lumber River near Maxton is running far below normal at 6.84 ft.

That puts it 1.21 ft below the median of 8.05 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 7.58 ft (−0.74 ft). The lowest reading on record is 4.96 ft (August 14, 2002).

It has risen 0.22 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 6.33 ft and 7.19 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 8.05 ft1.21 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 6.85 ft – 10.67 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year: 7.58 ft−0.74 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 6.33 ft – 7.19 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 5.90 ft – 10.08 ft
Highest on record: 17.74 ftSeptember 19, 2018
Lowest on record: 4.96 ftAugust 14, 2002

Floating and fishing near Lumber River near Maxton

Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.

What happens at each level

14.00 ft: The river will reach the level of Highway 71 at the bridge over the river.
6.84 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	17.74 ft	September 19, 2018
2	15.49 ft	October 11, 2016
3	13.52 ft	March 22, 1998
4	13.48 ft	November 16, 2018
5	13.29 ft	October 2, 2016
6	13.02 ft	September 10, 1996
7	12.98 ft	August 13, 2003
8	12.77 ft	August 12, 2024
9	12.67 ft	November 16, 2020
10	12.52 ft	February 10, 2020

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:28 AM Sunset 06:38 PM Daylight 11 hr, 10 min First quarter 67%

Map

Other gauges on the Lumber River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Lumber River at LumbertonRiver gauge, Lumber River	7.30 ft	Very low	−0.04 ft	21 mi
Lumber River at BoardmanRiver gauge, Lumber River	2.67 ft	Low	−0.12 ft	31 mi
Lumber River at NicholsRiver gauge, Lumber River	11.69 ft	Very low	−0.05 ft	39 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Shoe Heel Creek near LaurinburgRiver gauge, Big Shoe Heel Creek	1.35 ft	Low	−0.05 ft	3.5 mi
Rockfish Creek at RaefordRiver gauge, Rockfish Creek	2.94 ft	Low	−0.25 ft	17 mi
Drowning Creek near HoffmanRiver gauge, Drowning Creek	1.62 ft	Low	−0.26 ft	22 mi
Little Pee Dee River near DillonRiver gauge, Little Pee Dee River	111 cfs	Very low	−5.0 cfs	25 mi
Beaver Creek at CumberlandRiver gauge, Beaver Creek	2.52 ft	Below flood stage	−0.12 ft	26 mi
Pee Dee River near BennettsvilleRiver gauge, Pee Dee River	56.12 ft	Normal	−4.32 ft	28 mi
Big Swamp near Tar HeelRiver gauge, Big Swamp	5.32 ft	Low	−0.11 ft	28 mi
Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near TarheelRiver gauge, Cape Fear River	1.30 ft	Low	+0.02 ft	29 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Lumber River near Maxton compare with last year?

It is 0.74 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 7.58 ft.

What is a normal level for the Lumber River near Maxton in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 8.05 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 6.85 ft and 10.67 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 Lumber River near Maxton today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 AM EDT, the water level was 6.84 ft. Up 0.22 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Lumber River near Maxton rising or falling?

Up 0.22 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Lumber River near Maxton normal?

Very low for mid-October. Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lumber River near Maxton?

The highest level on record is 17.74 ft on September 19, 2018. The lowest is 4.96 ft on August 14, 2002.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02133624 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 34.77278, -79.33194 (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	6.84 ft	2026-10-20 10:00	Provisional
Flow	126 cfs	2026-10-20 10:00	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Lumber River near Maxton (usgs:02133624). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/lumber-river-near-maxton

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