Swift Creek near Apex water level
River gauge, Swift Creek, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 0.8 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Swift Creek near Apex is running far below normal at 1.65 ft.
The median for mid-October is 1.94 ft, based on 23 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.29 ft below typical. It is 9.35 ft below the flood stage of 11.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.81 ft, a difference of −0.16 ft.
It has dropped 1.07 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 1.10 ft and 3.38 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 23 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.94 ft0.29 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.68 ft – 2.21 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (23 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.81 ft−0.16 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.10 ft – 3.38 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.01 ft – 4.31 ft
- Highest on record
- 13.86 ftJune 14, 2016
Floating and fishing near Swift Creek near Apex
Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.
Flood stage here is 11.00 ft, 9.35 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 16.00 ft
- Moderate flooding begins. Floodwaters completely inundate the Swift Creek bridge on Holly Springs Road, making it impassable.
- 11.00 ft
- Minor flooding begins. Water reaches the lower trusses of the Swift Creek bridge on Holly Springs Road.
- 9.00 ft
- Action stage. Swift Creek overtops its natural banks near Holly Springs Road.
- 1.65 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.86 ft | June 14, 2016 |
| 2 | 12.22 ft | October 8, 2016 |
| 3 | 11.73 ft | July 17, 2017 |
| 4 | 11.71 ft | August 11, 2003 |
| 5 | 11.50 ft | August 6, 2025 |
| 6 | 11.45 ft | October 9, 2021 |
| 7 | 11.17 ft | November 13, 2018 |
| 8 | 10.81 ft | October 12, 2018 |
| 9 | 8.56 ft | September 17, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on Swift Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Creek near McCullars CrossroadsRiver gauge, Swift Creek | 1.71 ft | Normal | ±0 | 3.8 mi |
| Swift Creek at Sr1555 near ClaytonRiver gauge, Swift Creek | 1.08 ft | Very low | −0.06 ft | 17 mi |
| Swift Creek at Highway 43 near Streets FerryRiver gauge, Swift Creek | 2.73 ft | High | −0.08 ft | 98 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek at Buck Jones Road at RaleighRiver gauge, Walnut Creek | 0.99 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 3.8 mi |
| Lake Johnson above Dam at RaleighReservoir, Lake Johnson | 343.26 ft | Highest on record | −0.02 ft | 4.0 mi |
| Walnut Creek at Trailwood Drive at RaleighRiver gauge, Walnut Creek | 3.77 ft | Very low | −0.13 ft | 4.8 mi |
| Rocky Branch below Pullen Road at RaleighRiver gauge, Rocky Branch | 4.74 ft | High | ±0 | 6 mi |
| Walnut Creek at South Wilmington St at RaleighRiver gauge, Walnut Creek | 0.71 ft | Normal | −0.10 ft | 7 mi |
| Pigeon House Creek at Cameron Village at RaleighRiver gauge, Pigeon House Creek | 1.41 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| Walnut Creek at South State Street at RaleighRiver gauge, Walnut Creek | 1.60 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 8 mi |
| Pigeon House Creek at Dortch Street at RaleighRiver gauge, Pigeon House Creek | 1.94 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 8 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Swift Creek near Apex higher than last year?
No, it is 0.16 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.81 ft.
What is flood stage for Swift Creek near Apex?
The official flood stage is 11.00 ft. The level is currently 9.35 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Swift Creek near Apex in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.94 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.68 ft and 2.21 ft, based on 23 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 Swift Creek near Apex today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 05:10 PM EDT, the water level was 1.65 ft. Down 1.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Swift Creek near Apex rising or falling?
Down 1.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.10 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Swift Creek near Apex normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 23 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:02087580(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.71889, -78.75222(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 | 1.65 ft | 2026-10-20 21:10 | Provisional |
| Flow | 0.8 cfs | 2026-10-20 21:10 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Swift Creek near Apex (usgs:02087580). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/swift-creek-near-apex
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