Major Flood
16 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
14 ft
Minor Flood
10 ft
Action Stage
4 ft
What Floods at Each Level
10 ft
FURTHER FLOODING OF WATER GAUGE RD AND FOREST SERVICE ROAD 437 IN NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST WILL FLOOD.BASEMENTS OF SOME HOMES NEAR THE RIVER WILL BE FLOODED.
8 ft
AT 8 FT WATER WILL APPROACH SOME HOMES SOUTH OF TATE COVE ROAD NEAR THE RIVER. THIS IS DOWNSTREAM OF THE RIVER GAGE SITE.
7 ft
PARTS OF WATER GAUGE ROAD WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD NEAR THE GAGE LOCATION.
4 ft
Action/Advisory Stage. The Nantahala River is flooding low-water crossings at Tate Cove Rd and near Water Gauge Rd and Rainbow Springs Rd and is beginning to strand residents or require lengthy detours into Clay County.
2.5 ft
2 TO 3 INCH IN 24 HOUR IN THIS AREA CLAY/MACON COUNTY LINE WILL CAUSE THE RIVER TO RISE TO 4.7 FEET. THERE ARE USUALLY WHITE WATER RAFTERS ON THIS RIVER IN SUMMERTIME.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 1949 | 9.7 ft | 6,300 cfs |
| May 14, 1976 | 8.53 ft | 5,200 cfs |
| Oct 3, 1964 | 8.46 ft | 5,130 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Nantahala River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs?
The Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs gauge is maintained by USGS (site 03504000) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs is 10 feet. Action stage begins at 4 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 14 feet, and major flooding at 16 feet.
How do I get alerts when Nantahala River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Nantahala River near Rainbow Springs gauge located?
The gauge is located in Macon County, North Carolina at coordinates 35.1275°N, 83.6186°W. USGS site number: 03504000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Nantahala River
On This River
Downstream: Nantahala River at Nantahala Dam
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey