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Falls Lake above Dam near Falls water level

Reservoir, Falls Lake, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Very low for mid-October

Surface elevation

245.20ft Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours

Water temperature
69 °F
250 260 Minor floodstage 265.00 ft

History

250260270ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 20Minor flood stage250260270ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20Minor flood stage
250260ftSep 21Sep 28Oct 5Oct 13Oct 20Minor flood stage250260ftSep 21Oct 5Oct 20Minor flood stage
250260ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage250260ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
250260ftOct 2020Apr 2022Oct 2023Apr 2025Oct 2026Minor flood stage250260ftOct 2020Oct 2023Oct 2026Minor flood stage
245250255260ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026245250255260ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

At 245.20 ft, Falls Lake above Dam near Falls is far below normal for mid-October.

That puts it 4.70 ft below the median of 249.90 ft for mid-October, based on 7 years of readings. It is 19.80 ft below the flood stage of 265.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 250.15 ft (−4.95 ft).

The level is falling, down 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. With the water still dropping, the shoreline keeps moving out.

Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 69 °F.

Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
249.90 ft4.70 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
249.16 ft – 252.01 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year
250.15 ft−4.95 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
245.20 ft – 272.76 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
245.26 ft – 250.08 ft

Swimming and boating at Falls Lake above Dam near Falls

Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.

The water is a comfortable 69 °F. In warm spells, look out for algae warnings at public beaches.

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.24 in.

20 Tue 74° 42° – Wind 13 mph
21 Wed 69° 45° – Wind 13 mph
22 Thu 73° 41° – Wind 8 mph
23 Fri 70° 50° – Wind 10 mph
24 Sat 68° 48° – Wind 9 mph
25 Sun 71° 47° – Wind 7 mph
26 Mon 73° 51° – Wind 4 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:26 AM Sunset 06:34 PM Daylight 11 hr, 8 min Waxing gibbous 70%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Neuse River near FallsRiver gauge, Neuse River 1.23 ft Normal ±0 0.2 mi
Beaverdam Creek at Dam near CreedmoorRiver gauge, Beaverdam Creek 247.68 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 8 mi
Marsh Creek near New HopeRiver gauge, Marsh Creek 2.80 ft Low −0.02 ft 9 mi
Crabtree Creek at Highway 70 at RaleighRiver gauge, Crabtree Creek 5.01 ft Normal −0.17 ft 9 mi
Crabtree Creek at Anderson Drive at RaleighRiver gauge, Crabtree Creek 2.40 ft Low −0.12 ft 9 mi
Crabtree Creek at Old Wake Forest Road at RaleighRiver gauge, Crabtree Creek 1.48 ft Normal −0.11 ft 9 mi
Crabtree Creek at US 1 at RaleighRiver gauge, Crabtree Creek 0.42 ft Low −0.13 ft 9 mi
Pigeon House Creek at Fenton Street at RaleighRiver gauge, Pigeon House Creek 3.90 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 10 mi

Questions and answers

How does Falls Lake above Dam near Falls compare with last year?

It is 4.95 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 250.15 ft.

What is a normal level for Falls Lake above Dam near Falls in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 249.90 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 249.16 ft and 252.01 ft, based on 7 years of records.

Is Falls Lake above Dam near Falls really 245.20 ft deep?

No. 245.20 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.

What is the water level of Falls Lake above Dam near Falls today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 01:45 PM EDT, the surface elevation was 245.20 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Falls Lake above Dam near Falls rising or falling?

Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.18 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Falls Lake above Dam near Falls normal?

Very low for mid-October. Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:02087182 (Agency page)
Coordinates
35.94111, -78.58333 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 245.20 ft 2026-10-20 17:45 Provisional
Water temperature 69 °F 2026-10-20 17:45 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Falls Lake above Dam near Falls (usgs:02087182). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/falls-lake-above-dam-near-falls

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