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SwedenNantahala River near Rainbow Springs water level
River gauge, Nantahala River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Normal for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 81.5 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs, where the gauge shows 0.92 ft.
The median for late October is 1.01 ft, based on 40 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.08 ft below typical. It is 9.08 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 0.97 ft, a difference of −0.05 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 0.83 ft – 1.60 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 40 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.01 ft0.08 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.66 ft – 1.42 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (40 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 0.97 ft−0.05 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.83 ft – 1.60 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.83 ft – 3.02 ft
- Highest on record
- 9.70 ftJune 16, 1949
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 10.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 10.00 ft
- FURTHER FLOODING OF WATER GAUGE RD AND FOREST SERVICE ROAD 437 IN NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST WILL FLOOD.BASEMENTS OF SOME HOMES NEAR THE RIVER WILL BE FLOODED.
- 8.00 ft
- AT 8 FT WATER WILL APPROACH SOME HOMES SOUTH OF TATE COVE ROAD NEAR THE RIVER. THIS IS DOWNSTREAM OF THE RIVER GAGE SITE.
- 7.00 ft
- PARTS OF WATER GAUGE ROAD WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD NEAR THE GAGE LOCATION.
- 4.00 ft
- Action/Advisory Stage. The Nantahala River is flooding low-water crossings at Tate Cove Rd and near Water Gauge Rd and Rainbow Springs Rd and is beginning to strand residents or require lengthy detours into Clay County.
- 2.50 ft
- 2 TO 3 INCH IN 24 HOUR IN THIS AREA CLAY/MACON COUNTY LINE WILL CAUSE THE RIVER TO RISE TO 4.7 FEET. THERE ARE USUALLY WHITE WATER RAFTERS ON THIS RIVER IN SUMMERTIME.
- 0.92 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.70 ft | June 16, 1949 |
| 2 | 8.53 ft | May 15, 1976 |
| 3 | 8.46 ft | October 4, 1964 |
| 4 | 8.35 ft | December 24, 2015 |
| 5 | 8.29 ft | September 17, 2004 |
| 6 | 8.15 ft | January 31, 1957 |
| 7 | 8.06 ft | February 13, 1966 |
| 8 | 7.48 ft | May 28, 1973 |
| 9 | 6.99 ft | January 7, 1998 |
| 10 | 6.82 ft | March 4, 1979 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Nantahala River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantahala River near HewittRiver gauge, Nantahala River | 1.21 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 12 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartoogechaye Creek at SR 1148 near FranklinRiver gauge, Cartoogechaye Creek | 0.19 ft | Very low | −0.02 ft | 11 mi |
| Little Tennessee River near PrentissRiver gauge, Little Tennessee River | 1.42 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 14 mi |
| Little Tennessee River at NeedmoreRiver gauge, Little Tennessee River | 1.91 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 15 mi |
| Tallulah River near ClaytonRiver gauge, Tallulah River | 1.77 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| Hiwassee River at Riverside Drain, near HiawasseeRiver gauge, Hiwassee River | 2.42 ft | Low | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Valley River at TomotlaRiver gauge, Valley River | 1.75 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 20 mi |
| Tuckasegee River at Bryson CityRiver gauge, Tuckasegee River | 1.98 ft | Normal | ±0 | 23 mi |
| Tuckasegee River at Barker's CreekRiver gauge, Tuckasegee River | 3.14 ft | Low | ±0 | 26 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs higher than last year?
No, it is 0.05 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 0.97 ft.
What is flood stage for the Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 9.08 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs in late October?
The median for late October is 1.01 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.66 ft and 1.42 ft, based on 40 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 Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 03:30 AM EDT, the water level was 0.92 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.12 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs normal?
Normal for late October. Compared with 40 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:03504000(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.12750, -83.61861(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 | 0.92 ft | 2026-10-21 07:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 81.5 cfs | 2026-10-21 07:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs (usgs:03504000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/nantahala-river-near-rainbow-springs
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