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SwedenRocky River near Norwood water level
River gauge, Rocky River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 141 cfs
History
20252026
The forecast expects the river to rise to 4.10 ft by Saturday, October 24 at 08:00 AM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 10:47 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Rocky River near Norwood is above normal at 3.91 ft.
That puts it 2.73 ft above the median of 1.19 ft for mid-October, based on 30 years of readings. It is 16.09 ft below the flood stage of 20.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.89 ft (+0.02 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 4.10 ft by Saturday, October 24 at 08:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 3.80 ft and 6.67 ft.
Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.19 ft2.73 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.56 ft – 3.95 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.89 ft+0.02 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.80 ft – 6.67 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.78 ft – 11.01 ft
- Highest on record
- 29.30 ftAugust 9, 2024
- Forecast peak
- 4.10 ftSaturday, October 24 at 08:00 AM
Floating and fishing near Rocky River near Norwood
Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.
Flood stage here is 20.00 ft, 16.09 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 44.00 ft
- Water reaches Plank Rd, where flooding is likely on the Anson County side of the Plank Rd Bridge.
- 34.00 ft
- Major flooding begins. There is widespread flooding of pasture and farmland.
- 30.00 ft
- Moderate flooding begins. There is widespread flooding of pasture and lowlands adjacent to the river.
- 27.00 ft
- The parking lot at the Anson County boat access on the will begin to flood.
- 20.00 ft
- Minor flood stage. There is significant overflow into adjacent pasture and lowlands.
- 16.00 ft
- Action Stage. The river begins to overflow its banks in some areas upstream of the gage site.
- 3.91 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 19 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.30 ft | August 9, 2024 |
| 2 | 26.29 ft | September 27, 2024 |
| 3 | 26.13 ft | February 12, 2023 |
| 4 | 21.68 ft | October 4, 1995 |
| 5 | 21.41 ft | March 21, 1980 |
| 6 | 21.28 ft | February 26, 1992 |
| 7 | 20.13 ft | May 13, 2025 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Rocky River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky River at Sr1300 near Crutchfield CrossroadsRiver gauge, Rocky River | 3.51 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 57 mi |
| Rocky River at US 64 near Siler CityRiver gauge, Rocky River | 2.03 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 58 mi |
| Rocky River above Irish Buffalo Creek near Rocky RiverRiver gauge, Rocky River | 1.14 ft | Very low | +0.03 ft | 24 mi |
| Rocky River near StarrRiver gauge, Rocky River | 2.83 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 147 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pee Dee River at Hwy731 below Lake Tillery near NorwoodRiver gauge, Pee Dee River | 6.15 ft | High | −0.22 ft | 7 mi |
| Pee Dee River at Pee Dee Refuge near AnsonvilleRiver gauge, Pee Dee River | 3.96 ft | Below flood stage | −0.15 ft | 8 mi |
| Little Mountain Creek at Nc Highway 740 at BadinRiver gauge, Little Mountain Creek | 1.81 ft | High | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Pee Dee River below Powerhouse Dam near Pee DeeRiver gauge, Pee Dee River | 4.86 ft | Normal | +0.33 ft | 20 mi |
| Uwharrie River near EldoradoRiver gauge, Uwharrie River | 1.90 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Pee Dee River near RockinghamRiver gauge, Pee Dee River | 2.49 ft | Normal | +0.20 ft | 22 mi |
| Clear Creek at Sr3181 near Mint HillRiver gauge, Clear Creek | 1.02 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 24 mi |
| Little River near StarRiver gauge, Little River | 1.08 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Rocky River near Norwood compare with last year?
It is 0.02 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.89 ft.
What is flood stage for the Rocky River near Norwood?
The official flood stage is 20.00 ft. The level is currently 16.09 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Rocky River near Norwood in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.19 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.56 ft and 3.95 ft, based on 30 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 Rocky River near Norwood today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 07:15 PM EDT, the water level was 3.91 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Rocky River near Norwood rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 1.10 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Rocky River near Norwood normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 30 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:02126000(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.15700, -80.16577(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 | 3.91 ft | 2026-10-20 23:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 141 cfs | 2026-10-20 23:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Rocky River near Norwood (usgs:02126000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/rocky-river-near-norwood
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