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Falls Lake Water Level Today
North Carolina · Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · readings published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Water level today · September 28, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
3.9 ft below normal
for the date, below the range seen in 8 of 10 years
246.92 ft above sea level
- vs full pool
- −4.6 ft
- Past 7 days
- −0.3 ft
- vs 1 year ago
- −3.9 ft
What do these numbers mean?
- Water level
- The height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, as measured by the official gauge.
- Full pool
- The level the lake is normally kept at when it is full (top of conservation pool). Above it, the lake is storing flood water.
- Normal for the date
- The typical (median) level on this calendar date across 2007-2025. The normal range is where the lake stood in 8 of 10 years.
Falls Lake water level chart (last 2 years)
How full is Falls Lake right now?
Falls Lake is 4.6 ft below full pool (251.5 ft).
Over the past 7 days the level fell 0.33 ft; over 30 days it fell 1.4 ft.
One year ago the lake stood at 250.8 ft, so it is −3.9 ft compared with the same day last year.
Is Falls Lake above or below normal?
For September 28, the normal level is about 250.8 ft (the normal range is 248.4 ft to 256.0 ft). Today's level is −3.9 ft compared with normal, below normal.
“Normal” here means the median level recorded on this calendar date across 2007-2025. Many reservoirs are drawn down on purpose in fall and winter, so a level below full pool can still be completely normal for the season.
Recent history
| Highest daily level (last 2 years) | 258.61 ft | September 30, 2024 |
| Lowest daily level (last 2 years) | 245.57 ft | July 5, 2026 |
| Same day last year | 250.81 ft | −3.9 ft vs today |
| Full pool | 251.50 ft | top of conservation pool |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the water level of Falls Lake today?
- The latest reading is 246.92 ft above sea level, reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on September 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM EDT.
- Is Falls Lake full?
- No. Falls Lake is 4.6 ft below its full pool of 251.5 ft.
- What is a normal water level for Falls Lake at this time of year?
- Based on daily readings from 2007-2025, the typical (median) level for this date is 250.8 ft, and 8 out of 10 years fall between 248.4 ft and 256.0 ft.
- What is the full pool elevation of Falls Lake?
- Full pool for Falls Lake is 251.5 ft (top of conservation pool), according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- What were the highest and lowest levels in the last two years?
- The highest daily level in the last two years was 258.6 ft on September 30, 2024; the lowest was 245.6 ft on July 5, 2026.
Where this data comes from
The water level is published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (station 02087182) and refreshed on this page every day. Full pool comes from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the normal range is calculated from official daily readings for 2007-2025. Recent readings are provisional and may be revised. See data sources & methodology.