West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg water level
River gauge, West Prong Little Pigeon River, Tennessee, United States
Right now
Normal for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 23.1 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg is at 2.79 ft, in the normal range for late October.
That puts it 0.04 ft above the median of 2.75 ft for late October, based on 8 years of readings. It is 5.21 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.62 ft (+0.17 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.63 ft and 3.71 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 8 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.75 ft0.04 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.31 ft – 3.00 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (8 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.62 ft+0.17 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.63 ft – 3.71 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.57 ft – 5.36 ft
- Highest on record
- 10.03 ftApril 13, 2020
Floating and fishing near West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 8.00 ft, 5.21 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 9.50 ft
- Roughly corresponds to the flow that floods the Aquarium bridge over a mile downstream.
- 2.79 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.03 ft | April 13, 2020 |
| 2 | 9.41 ft | January 9, 2024 |
| 3 | 9.15 ft | August 17, 2021 |
| 4 | 8.90 ft | February 6, 2020 |
| 5 | 8.72 ft | July 20, 2023 |
| 6 | 8.70 ft | October 29, 2020 |
| 7 | 8.61 ft | December 29, 2024 |
| 8 | 7.77 ft | September 27, 2024 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River above TownsendRiver gauge, Little River | 55.9 cfs | Low | −2.9 cfs | 11 mi |
| Little Pigeon River at SeviervilleRiver gauge, Little Pigeon River | 1.46 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 13 mi |
| Oconaluftee River at BirdtownRiver gauge, Oconaluftee River | 1.18 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 19 mi |
| Tuckasegee River at Bryson CityRiver gauge, Tuckasegee River | 1.98 ft | Normal | ±0 | 19 mi |
| Little River near MaryvilleRiver gauge, Little River | 5.20 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 21 mi |
| Little River near AlcoaRiver gauge, Little River | 1.74 ft | Low | −0.03 ft | 24 mi |
| Pigeon River below Power Plant near WatervilleRiver gauge, Pigeon River | 6.92 ft | Very high | ±0 | 24 mi |
| Little Tennessee River at NeedmoreRiver gauge, Little Tennessee River | 1.91 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg compare with last year?
It is 0.17 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.62 ft.
What is flood stage for the West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 5.21 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg in late October?
The median for late October is 2.75 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.31 ft and 3.00 ft, based on 8 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 West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 05:15 AM EDT, the water level was 2.79 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.21 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg normal?
Normal for late October. Compared with 8 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:03469251(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.69954, -83.52711(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 | 2.79 ft | 2026-10-21 09:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 23.1 cfs | 2026-10-21 09:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: West Prong Little Pigeon River near Gatlinburg (usgs:03469251). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/tennessee/west-prong-little-pigeon-river-near-gatlinburg
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