Neuse River at Smithfield
North Carolina — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Johnston County, North Carolina on the Neuse River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 02087570, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
20 ft
Moderate Flood
18 ft
Minor Flood
15 ft
Action Stage
14 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
40 ft
Water reaches the railing of the US70 bridge.
36 ft
The US70 bridge is inundated.
30 ft
Houses on the river side of Front Street flood.
28.5 ft
The water treatment plant will be flooded. Jaycee Park and North Front Street are flooded.
27.5 ft
Water begins to flow over the dike at the water treatment plant. Flooding threatens the plant's main operations building.
23 ft
Hospital and Buffalo Roads are flooded.
20 ft
Major flooding begins. Flooding cuts off the water treatment plants access to the reservoir.
18 ft
Moderate flooding begins. The Smithfield town park and the Neuse Riverwalk at the US70 bridge are flooded.
15 ft
Minor flooding begins. Flooding begins along the Neuse Riverwalk. Water nears the base of the holding tank at the water treatment plant.
14 ft
Action Stage. The Neuse River begins to overflow on the left bank.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2016 | 29.09 ft | — |
| Oct 10, 2016 | 29.09 ft | — |
| Sep 7, 1996 | 27.4 ft | — |
| Sep 7, 1996 | 27.4 ft | — |
| Jul 31, 1908 | 27.1 ft | 19,900 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Neuse 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 Neuse River at Smithfield?
The Neuse River at Smithfield gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02087570) 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 Neuse River at Smithfield?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Neuse River at Smithfield is 15 feet. Action stage begins at 14 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 20 feet.
How do I get alerts when Neuse River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Neuse River at Smithfield to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Neuse River at Smithfield gauge located?
The gauge is located in Johnston County, North Carolina at coordinates 35.5128°N, 78.3500°W. USGS site number: 02087570. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers