Major Flood
23 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
22 ft
Minor Flood
20 ft
Action Stage
20 ft
What Floods at Each Level
37 ft
Water reaches the road surface of the US401 bridge.
34 ft
South Main Street bridge is flooded to a depth of approximately 5 feet.
29 ft
Water reaches the road level of the Main Street bridge. Flooding reaches businesses on Main and Nash Streets. The grounds of the Louisburg wastewater treatment plant (near the mouth of Fox swamp) is covered with water.
25 ft
Significant flooding at businesses along Johnson, Court, Elm, and Short Streets.
23 ft
Major flooding begins. Homes and businesses along Johnson Street flood.
22 ft
Moderate flooding begins. Flooding begins in Pruitt and Shannon Villages on the east side of town.
20 ft
Minor flooding begins. Banks overflow at Main Street. River Bend Park is flooded and storm drains are inundated along the river.
18 ft
Bankfull in the vicinity of Main Street. Minor flooding begins in River Bend Park 0.1 miles upstream of Main Street.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 1999 | 26.05 ft | 23,700 cfs |
| Sep 7, 1996 | 25.34 ft | 21,100 cfs |
| Apr 27, 1978 | 24.36 ft | 13,100 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 Tar 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 Tar River at Louisburg?
The Tar River at Louisburg gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02081747) 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 Tar River at Louisburg?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Tar River at Louisburg is 20 feet. Action stage begins at 20 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 22 feet, and major flooding at 23 feet.
How do I get alerts when Tar River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Tar River at Louisburg 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 Tar River at Louisburg gauge located?
The gauge is located in Franklin County, North Carolina at coordinates 36.0931°N, 78.2961°W. USGS site number: 02081747. 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