McDowell Creek near Charlotte, Nc Csw10 water level
River gauge, McDowell Creek, North Carolina, United States
Right now
High for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 3.1 cfs
History
20252026
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
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.20 ft | August 27, 2008 |
| 2 | 13.55 ft | May 22, 2003 |
| 3 | 12.56 ft | January 25, 2010 |
| 4 | 12.49 ft | March 2, 2007 |
| 5 | 11.81 ft | September 8, 2004 |
| 6 | 11.58 ft | November 11, 2009 |
| 7 | 11.11 ft | January 28, 1998 |
| 8 | 10.73 ft | March 30, 2001 |
| 9 | 10.39 ft | November 16, 2006 |
| 10 | 10.36 ft | October 8, 2005 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
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
| Parameter | Last value | Time (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.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer