Watauga River near Sugar Grove water level

What this means

The gauge at Watauga River near Sugar Grove reads 1.74 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

That puts it 0.10 ft above the median of 1.64 ft for mid-October, based on 31 years of readings. It is 4.26 ft below the flood stage of 6.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.45 ft (+0.29 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.44 ft and 6.27 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

1.64 ft0.10 ft above the median for this date

Normal for this date

1.34 ft – 2.15 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (31 years of records)

Same day last year

1.45 ft+0.29 ft

Lowest and highest in 30 days

1.44 ft – 6.27 ft

Lowest and highest in 12 months

1.38 ft – 6.27 ft

Highest on record

29.60 ftAugust 13, 1940