South Fork New River near Jefferson water level

Name: South Fork New River near Jefferson 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, South Fork New River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.16ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 PM EDT (29 min ago)

Flow: 305 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

The South Fork New River near Jefferson is at 2.16 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.23 ft, based on 25 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.07 ft below typical. It is 5.84 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.88 ft, a difference of +0.28 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.77 ft and 7.15 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

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

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.23 ft0.07 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.76 ft – 2.64 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (25 years of records)
Same day last year: 1.88 ft+0.28 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.77 ft – 7.15 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.54 ft – 7.15 ft
Highest on record: 22.50 ftAugust 14, 1940

Floating and fishing near South Fork New River near Jefferson

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 8.00 ft, 5.84 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

10.00 ft: Several campgrounds and roads leading in to them are likely affected by flooding.
9.00 ft: Garvey Bridge Road is flooded downstream.
8.00 ft: Fulton Reeves Road closed due to flooding.
7.00 ft: Rustic Road bridge is flooded.
6.00 ft: Several low water bridges are flooded including Hartzog Ford Road.
2.16 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	22.50 ft	August 14, 1940
2	18.27 ft	September 27, 2024
3	18.00 ft	July 15, 1916
4	14.83 ft	November 7, 1977
5	13.73 ft	January 15, 1995
6	11.85 ft	August 17, 1994
7	11.73 ft	September 8, 2004
8	10.44 ft	June 9, 2019
9	10.02 ft	August 12, 1996
10	10.02 ft	January 31, 2013

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:38 AM Sunset 06:44 PM Daylight 11 hr, 7 min Waxing gibbous 72%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Reddies River at North WilkesboroRiver gauge, Reddies River	1.16 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	20 mi
Yadkin River below W Kerr Scott Dam near BuckRiver gauge, Yadkin River	1.90 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	21 mi
West Kerr Scott Reservoir at Dam near WilkesboroReservoir, West Kerr Scott Reservoir	1,029.73 ft	Very low	+0.11 ft	21 mi
Yadkin River at WilkesboroRiver gauge, Yadkin River	2.33 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	22 mi
Elk Creek at ElkvilleRiver gauge, Elk Creek	1.02 ft	Normal	±0	22 mi
Watauga River near Sugar GroveRiver gauge, Watauga River	1.74 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	25 mi
South F Holston River at Riverside, near ChilhowieRiver gauge, South F Holston River	1.98 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	28 mi
Yadkin River at PattersonRiver gauge, Yadkin River	1.07 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	29 mi

Questions and answers

Is the South Fork New River near Jefferson higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.28 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.88 ft.

What is flood stage for the South Fork New River near Jefferson?

The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 5.84 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the South Fork New River near Jefferson in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.23 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.76 ft and 2.64 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 South Fork New River near Jefferson today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 PM EDT, the water level was 2.16 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is South Fork New River near Jefferson rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.95 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of South Fork New River near Jefferson normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 25 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:03161000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 36.39333, -81.40694 (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	2.16 ft	2026-10-20 22:30	Provisional
Flow	305 cfs	2026-10-20 22:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Fork New River near Jefferson (usgs:03161000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/south-fork-new-river-near-jefferson

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