North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown water level

Name: North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown 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, North Fork Swannanoa River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

7.95ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:45 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 11.8 cfs
Water temperature: 58 °F

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The gauge at North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown shows 7.95 ft, well above normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 1.83 ft, based on 25 years of readings, so the river stage is 6.12 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 7.91 ft, a difference of +0.04 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 7.71 ft and 9.27 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest. The water temperature at the gauge is 58 °F.

Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 1.83 ft6.12 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: −0.10 ft – 3.13 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (25 years of records)
Same day last year: 7.91 ft+0.04 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 7.71 ft – 9.27 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 7.70 ft – 9.27 ft

High water at North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown

The National Weather Service splits flooding into minor, moderate and major flood stage, each tied to what starts to go under water at this particular gauge. Minor flooding usually means low roads, parks and farmland; major flooding reaches homes and businesses.

Keep children and dogs well back from the edge, and stay off flooded footpaths and towpaths.

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:41 AM Sunset 06:49 PM Daylight 11 hr, 8 min Waxing gibbous 72%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Beetree Creek near SwannanoaRiver gauge, Beetree Creek	1.43 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	4.7 mi
South Toe River near CeloRiver gauge, South Toe River	0.94 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	13 mi
Swannanoa River at BiltmoreRiver gauge, Swannanoa River	1.36 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	14 mi
French Broad River at AshevilleRiver gauge, French Broad River	1.23 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	15 mi
Catawba River near Pleasant GardensRiver gauge, Catawba River	1.86 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	15 mi
Hominy Creek near West AshevilleRiver gauge, Hominy Creek	1.16 ft	Very low	−0.02 ft	17 mi
Ivy River near MarshallRiver gauge, Ivy River	1.97 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	17 mi
French Broad River at MarshallRiver gauge, French Broad River	1.41 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	20 mi

Questions and answers

Is the North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.04 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 7.91 ft.

What is a normal level for the North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.83 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between −0.10 ft and 3.13 ft, based on 25 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 North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:45 PM EDT, the water level was 7.95 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.38 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:0344894205 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 35.68569, -82.33242 (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	7.95 ft	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional
Flow	11.8 cfs	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional
Water temperature	58 °F	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: North Fork Swannanoa River near Walkertown (usgs:0344894205). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/north-fork-swannanoa-river-near-walkertown

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