Major Flood
32 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
24 ft
Minor Flood
19 ft
Action Stage
17 ft
What Floods at Each Level
38.6 ft
This is the highest elevation of the Princeville levee. Flooding becomes widespread in Princeville. The traffic circle in Tarboro on US64 at the bridge over the Tar river is flooded. Flooding begins on Albemarle Avenue and St Andrews Street.
37 ft
Failure may be expected at the Princeville levee and flooding begins in the town of Princeville. There is also considerable street flooding in Tarboro, including Daniels, Baker, St James, and Granville streets.
34.6 ft
Water reaches the base of the Princeville levee.
33.6 ft
This is the elevation of the railroad bed which cuts through the Princeville levee. The emergency gate must be manually installed to prevent water from flowing into the town of Princeville.
32 ft
Major flooding begins. Baker and St James Street begin to flood.
24 ft
Moderate flooding begins. River Road in Tarboro is underwater and flooding begins on east Wilson and St David Streets.
20 ft
Lowland flooding begins south of Daniel Street in east Tarboro.
19 ft
Minor flooding begins. The Riverside Park and River Road at the US64 bridge flood.
17 ft
The river is at bankfull.
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 18, 1999 | 41.51 ft | — |
| Oct 12, 2016 | 36.29 ft | -9,999 cfs |
| Jul 26, 1919 | 34 ft | 52,800 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 Tarboro?
The Tar River at Tarboro gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02083500) 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 Tarboro?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Tar River at Tarboro is 19 feet. Action stage begins at 17 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 24 feet, and major flooding at 32 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 Tarboro 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 Tarboro gauge located?
The gauge is located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina at coordinates 35.8942°N, 77.5331°W. USGS site number: 02083500. 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