Falls Lake water level · NC

Wind forecast, gusts, and lake elevation for small-craft sailing at Falls Lake (Falls Lake Above Dam near Falls).

Good to know 📏 Reading USGS water gauges: elevation vs. gage height 💨 Gust factor: an indicator of jibe-crash risk
Falls Lake water level

Lake or reservoir elevation recorded at USGS gauge 02087182, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.

Lake elevation

245.35ft

recorded Nov 4, 7:45 AM

24-hr change

−0.05ft

falling

7-day change

−0.28ft

falling

14-day range

245.35–245.94ft

lowest to highest

Water temp

64.4°F

USGS sensor

Recent daily readings

DateLevel (ft)Δ day
Nov 4●245.35↓ 0.03
Nov 3245.38↓ 0.02
Nov 2245.40↓ 0.06
Nov 1245.46↓ 0.04
Oct 31245.50↓ 0.04
Oct 30245.54↓ 0.05
Oct 29245.59↓ 0.04
Oct 28245.63↓ 0.05
Oct 27245.68↓ 0.04
Oct 26245.72↓ 0.05
Oct 25245.77↓ 0.06
Oct 24245.83↓ 0.07
Oct 23245.90↓ 0.04
Oct 22245.94—

Readings fetched Nov 4, 8:12 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.

Falls Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Falls Lake today?
245.35 ft, recorded Nov 4, 7:45 AM at USGS gauge 02087182. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
Is Falls Lake rising or falling?
falling — 0.28 ft over the last 7 days.
How does this compare to normal for Falls Lake?
Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 245.35 ft to 245.94 ft; today's reading sits near the bottom of that range.
Where does the water level data for Falls Lake come from?
USGS gauge 02087182 (Falls Lake Above Dam near Falls), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
What is the water temperature at Falls Lake?
64.4°F at the latest gauge reading.

Lake elevation history

Lake or reservoir elevation · USGS gauge 02087182

Reading the chart. This gauge reports absolute lake surface elevation in feet above its datum (typically NGVD29 or NAVD88). Sustained drops of more than a foot can expose shallow launch ramps and shoal areas.

Water levels respond to dam operations, irrigation drawdown, snowmelt, and recent rainfall. For launch decisions, combine the trend here with the wind forecast — low water plus strong wind makes steep, tired ramps.

About this lake

Location
35.9411°, -78.5833°
Gauge datum
-1 ft
USGS gauge
02087182
Water temp sensor
Yes

Water level data comes from the USGS gauge above; wind is modeled for the lake’s coordinates by Open-Meteo. Always confirm conditions locally before launching — shorelines, ramps, and trees can all change what you feel on the water. Southeast lake wind is often a thermal: light mornings building to a steady breeze by mid-afternoon, with squall lines ahead of cold fronts in the cooler months. Pop-up thunderstorms are the main hazard from June through September.

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