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SwedenSugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville water level
River gauge, Sugar Creek, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Very low for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 36.8 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 0.80 ft, Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville is far below normal for late October.
The median for late October is 1.31 ft, based on 32 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.51 ft below typical. It is 17.20 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 0.82 ft, a difference of −0.02 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.31 ft0.51 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.89 ft – 2.17 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 0.82 ft−0.02 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.69 ft – 3.09 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.74 ft – 3.67 ft
- Highest on record
- 18.68 ftJuly 23, 1997
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 18.00 ft, still 17.20 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 30.00 ft
- Moderate flooding continues. Homes along Brian Cir may begin to flood.
- 18.00 ft
- Minor Flood Stage. Downs Cir and businesses near the creek may begin to flood.
- 0.80 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18.68 ft | July 23, 1997 |
| 2 | 15.14 ft | August 27, 2008 |
| 3 | 14.95 ft | March 2, 2007 |
| 4 | 14.89 ft | May 22, 2003 |
| 5 | 14.68 ft | August 28, 1995 |
| 6 | 14.14 ft | January 25, 2010 |
| 7 | 13.87 ft | June 8, 2003 |
| 8 | 12.94 ft | April 9, 1998 |
| 9 | 12.65 ft | September 14, 2006 |
| 10 | 11.78 ft | March 30, 2001 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on Sugar Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Creek at Arrowood Road near CharlotteRiver gauge, Sugar Creek | 0.17 ft | Very low | −0.08 ft | 3.4 mi |
| Sugar Creek near Fort MillRiver gauge, Sugar Creek | 4.02 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 5.9 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Sugar Creek at PinevilleRiver gauge, Little Sugar Creek | 1.66 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 1.0 mi |
| McAlpine Creek below McMullen Creek near PinevilleRiver gauge, McAlpine Creek | 1.10 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 2.4 mi |
| Steele Creek at Sr1441 near PinevilleRiver gauge, Steele Creek | 0.95 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 3.2 mi |
| McAlpine Creek at Sr2964 near Camp CoxRiver gauge, McAlpine Creek | −0.28 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 3.5 mi |
| Coffey Creek near CharlotteRiver gauge, Coffey Creek | 2.17 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 4.1 mi |
| Four Mile Creek near PinevilleRiver gauge, Four Mile Creek | 3.33 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 4.5 mi |
| Little Sugar Creek at Archdale Drain at CharlotteRiver gauge, Little Sugar Creek | 2.29 ft | Low | +0.04 ft | 4.6 mi |
| McAlpine Creek at Colony Road near Olde ProvidenceRiver gauge, McAlpine Creek | 1.55 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 5.6 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville higher than last year?
No, it is 0.02 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 0.82 ft.
What is flood stage for Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 17.20 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville in late October?
The median for late October is 1.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.89 ft and 2.17 ft, based on 32 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 Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 02:25 AM EDT, the water level was 0.80 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.11 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville normal?
Very low for late October. Compared with 32 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:02146381(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.09083, -80.89944(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 | 0.80 ft | 2026-10-21 06:25 | Provisional |
| Flow | 36.8 cfs | 2026-10-21 06:25 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sugar Creek at NC 51 near Pineville (usgs:02146381). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/sugar-creek-at-nc-51-near-pineville
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