Oconaluftee River below Contesky Dr, in Birdtown, NC
River level and flood forecast · Swain County
Normal1.8 ftas of Mon 3 PM
The river is 8.2 ft below flood stage (10 ft).
Flow: 430 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12 ft |
| Flood stage | 10 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (November 19, 1906) | 18 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 18 ftRecord flooding will be observed.
- 17 ftExpect most stores, motels, and other businesses in Birdtown and Cherokee, as well as parts of Highways 19a and 441, to be flooded.
- 15 ftMany buildings will likely be flooded in Birdtown between McCoy Branch Rd. and Adams Creek Rd.
- 13 ftBusinesses and hotels in Birdtown and Cherokee may begin to flood.
- 12 ftSome homes along the river near Cherokee and Birdtown may begin to flood. Parts of Highway 19A may also be covered with water.
- 11.5 ftWater approaches US 19 just west of Goose Creek Rd.
- 10 ftParts of Old Highway 4 near Keener Road may be flooded and buildings near Cline and Haiger Streets may start to get water in them. Floodwater levels will be similar to the levels that occurred on May 6, 2003.
- 9 ftWater will approach the water treatment plant on Old Highway Number 4. Water will approach residential yards on Highway 19 between Adams Creek and McCoy Branch Rd.
- 8 ftFlooding will be likely upstream along the Oconaluftee River in the Yellow Hill community especially along White Water Drive.
- 3.5 ft3.5 inch in headwaters in 12 hrs caused the river to rise from 1.83 ft to 7.71 ft
- 2.5 ft2.5 to 3.0 basin avg in 8 hr in headwaters will cause a 6 ft rise on river.
- 1.1 ft1.25 basin average in 5 hours in headwaters caused a 2.3 ft rise.
Highest crests on record
- 18 ft — November 19, 1906
- 14.5 ft — March 27, 1913
- 12.46 ft — December 30, 1969
- 12.29 ft — March 16, 1973
- 12 ft — January 7, 1946
Recent crests: 10.18 ft (September 27, 2024) · 7.76 ft (December 2, 2015) · 5.11 ft (October 14, 2014) · 7.74 ft (February 3, 2014) · 9.37 ft (January 15, 2013)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamTuckasegee River below Everett St, in Bryson City, NC
- Tuckasegee River at Barkers creek nr Dillsboro, NC
- Little Tennessee River near NEEDMORE, NC
- Tuckasegee River at sr1172 nr Cullowhee, NC
- West Prong Little Pigeon River above Gatlinburg, TN
- Nantahala River near Hewitt, NC
- Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin, NC
- Little Tennessee River near Prentiss, NC
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (BIRN7); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.