Valley River at Tomotla water level
River gauge, Valley River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 65.6 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Valley River at Tomotla is at 1.77 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
That puts it 0.10 ft below the median of 1.87 ft for mid-October, based on 31 years of readings. It is 10.23 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.83 ft (−0.06 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.76 ft and 2.75 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 31 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.87 ft0.10 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.53 ft – 2.33 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (31 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.83 ft−0.06 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.76 ft – 2.75 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.74 ft – 3.88 ft
- Highest on record
- 21.20 ftSeptember 1, 1998
Floating and fishing near Valley River at Tomotla
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 10.23 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
- ROADS IN THE VICINITY OF THE GAGE AND DOWNSTREAM ARE CLOSED.
- 12.00 ft
- PROPERIES AND BUILDINGS IN THE FLOOD PLAIN ARE FLOODED AND MAY BE INACCESSIBLE. NEARBY FIELDS ARE FLOODED. THE CITY OF MURPHY BEGINS TO BE THREATENED.
- 6.00 ft
- ALTHOUGH WELL BELOW OFFICIAL FLOOD STAGE, CAMPGROUNDS AND BUILDINGS DOWNSTREAM WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.
- 1.77 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.20 ft | September 1, 1998 |
| 2 | 20.50 ft | November 19, 1906 |
| 3 | 17.10 ft | March 27, 1994 |
| 4 | 15.87 ft | February 16, 1990 |
| 5 | 15.40 ft | March 21, 1980 |
| 6 | 14.57 ft | March 4, 1979 |
| 7 | 14.53 ft | February 6, 2020 |
| 8 | 14.43 ft | December 2, 2015 |
| 9 | 14.08 ft | January 16, 2013 |
| 10 | 13.81 ft | July 21, 2022 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantahala River near Rainbow SpringsRiver gauge, Nantahala River | 0.94 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 20 mi |
| Nottely River near BlairsvilleRiver gauge, Nottely River | 1.59 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Cheoah River near Bearpen Gap near TapocoRiver gauge, Cheoah River | 2.78 ft | Normal | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Nantahala River near HewittRiver gauge, Nantahala River | 1.24 ft | Very low | −0.11 ft | 22 mi |
| Tellico River at Tellico PlainsRiver gauge, Tellico River | 60.0 cfs | Normal | −2.9 cfs | 23 mi |
| Hiwassee River at Riverside Drain, near HiawasseeRiver gauge, Hiwassee River | 2.42 ft | Low | ±0 | 23 mi |
| Ocoee River at CopperhillRiver gauge, Ocoee River | 225 cfs | Very low | −1,005.0 cfs | 25 mi |
| Toccoa River near DialRiver gauge, Toccoa River | 0.94 ft | Low | ±0 | 28 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Valley River at Tomotla compare with last year?
It is 0.06 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.83 ft.
What is flood stage for the Valley River at Tomotla?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 10.23 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Valley River at Tomotla in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.87 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.53 ft and 2.33 ft, based on 31 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 Valley River at Tomotla today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 11:30 PM EDT, the water level was 1.77 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Valley River at Tomotla rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.07 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Valley River at Tomotla normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 31 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:03550000(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.13889, -83.98056(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 | 1.77 ft | 2026-10-20 03:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 65.6 cfs | 2026-10-20 03:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Valley River at Tomotla (usgs:03550000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/valley-river-at-tomotla
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