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McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 water level

River gauge, McDowell Creek, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Right now

High for late October

Water level

3.85ft Up 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
3.1 cfs
5 10 15 Minor floodstage 16.00 ft Highest onrecord 15.20 ft

History

History
234ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 20Oct 21234ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 21
246ftSep 22Sep 29Oct 6Oct 13Oct 21246ftSep 22Oct 6Oct 21
2468ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20262468ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
2468ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20262468ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 is above normal at 3.85 ft.

That puts it 0.39 ft above the median of 3.46 ft for late October, based on 29 years of readings. It is 12.15 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.88 ft (−0.03 ft).

It has risen 0.08 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 3.67 ft and 6.49 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
3.46 ft0.39 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
2.13 ft – 3.91 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (29 years of records)
Same day last year
3.88 ft−0.03 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
3.67 ft – 6.49 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
3.66 ft – 7.65 ft
Highest on record
15.20 ftAugust 27, 2008

Floating and fishing near McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10

Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.

Flood stage here is 16.00 ft, 12.15 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

24.50 ft
AT THIS STAGE THE BRIDGE WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
20.00 ft
WATER WILL APPROACH HOMES WEST OF BEATTIES ROAD NEAR THE CREEK.
16.00 ft
MCLLWAINE AND BEATTIE FORD ROADS WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD
10.21 ft
NO FLOODING PROBLEMS AT THIS LEVEL.
6.00 ft
6 FT RISE CAUSED BY HIGH WATER AT CWAN7 AND RELEASES CAUSED BY BACKWATER ON CREEK.
3.85 ft
Right now
2.50 ft
2.5 INCH IN 6 HRS CAUSED A 6 TO 7 FT RISE.
1.90 ft
1.9 INCHES IN 105 MIN CAUSED THE CREEK TO RISE FROM 3.2 TO 6.5 FT.
1.20 ft
GENERAL BASIN RAIN OF 1.20 INCHES IN 2 HOUR WILL CAUSE CREEK TO RISE ABOUT 4 FT.

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

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
115.20 ftAugust 27, 2008
213.55 ftMay 22, 2003
312.56 ftJanuary 25, 2010
412.49 ftMarch 2, 2007
511.81 ftSeptember 8, 2004
611.58 ftNovember 11, 2009
711.11 ftJanuary 28, 1998
810.73 ftMarch 30, 2001
910.39 ftNovember 16, 2006
1010.36 ftOctober 8, 2005

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:36 AM Sunset 06:42 PM Daylight 11 hr, 7 min Waxing gibbous 74%

Map

Other gauges on McDowell Creek

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
McDowell Creek near HuntersvilleRiver gauge, McDowell Creek 1.65 ft High +0.12 ft 2.1 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
McDowell Creek Tributary at Sr2131 near Hicks CrossroadsRiver gauge, McDowell Creek Tributary 1.21 ft Very low −0.02 ft 0.9 mi
Torrence Creek at Bradford Hill Ln near HuntersvlleRiver gauge, Torrence Creek 1.19 ft Very low ±0 2.4 mi
Gar Creek at Sr2074 near CroftRiver gauge, Gar Creek 1.01 ft Very low −0.01 ft 2.4 mi
Catawba River at Rr Bridge above NC 73 at Cowans FordRiver gauge, Catawba River 3.21 ft Low +0.16 ft 3.3 mi
Long Creek near Paw CreekRiver gauge, Long Creek 1.45 ft Normal +0.15 ft 4.3 mi
Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mountain Is Dam near MountainRiver gauge, Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mountain Is Dam 8.73 ft Normal −0.03 ft 5.3 mi
Gum Branch near ThriftRiver gauge, Gum Branch 1.69 ft High ±0 6 mi
Long Creek near RhyneRiver gauge, Long Creek 2.17 ft Very high +0.03 ft 7 mi

Questions and answers

How does McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 compare with last year?

It is 0.03 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.88 ft.

What is flood stage for McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10?

The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 12.15 ft below it.

What is a normal level for McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 in late October?

The median for late October is 3.46 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.13 ft and 3.91 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 McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 12:15 AM EDT, the water level was 3.85 ft. Up 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 rising or falling?

Up 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.07 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 normal?

High for late October. Compared with 29 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:0214266000 (Agency page)
Coordinates
35.38971, -80.92100 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 3.85 ft 2026-10-21 04:15 Provisional
Flow 3.1 cfs 2026-10-21 04:15 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 (usgs:0214266000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/mcdowell-creek-near-charlotte-nc-csw10

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.