2026-02-16T18:00:00-07:00
...PROLONGED PERIOD OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EARLY TO MID NEXT WEEK... .Recent dry conditions combining with above normal temperatures and much stronger winds early next week will bring potentially critical fire weather conditions Monday and Tuesday, possibly lasting into Wednesday. There is potential for extreme fire weather conditions on Tuesday as widespread strong and gusty winds to around 60 mph are expected. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday afternoon. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 216, 240, 241, 244, 245, 246, 247 and 249. * TIMING...For the first Fire Weather Watch, from late Monday morning through Monday afternoon. For the second Fire Weather Watch, from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph on Monday. On Tuesday, west winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts around 60 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire. There is potential for extreme fire weather conditions on Tuesday.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Tuckasegee River
was last observed at
1,577
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
3,128
acre-ft of water today; about 25%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
6,324 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2022-05-27 when daily discharge volume was observed at
43,830 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Tuckasegee River At Bryson City
reporting a streamflow rate of 937 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee
with a gauge stage of 4.58 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Tuckasegee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,116 ft, the
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee.
15-Day Weather Outlook
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-02-13 |
| Discharge Volume | 3,128 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
1,577.0 cfs
-157.0 cfs (-9.05%) |
| Percent of Normal | 24.94% |
| Maximum |
43,830.0 cfs
2022-05-27 |
| Seasonal Avg | 6,324 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee
USGS 03508050 |
193 cfs | 4.58 ft | 26.14 | |||||
|
Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek
USGS 03510577 |
447 cfs | 3.65 ft | 8.76 | |||||
|
Tuckasegee River At Bryson City
USGS 03513000 |
937 cfs | 2.27 ft | -19.91 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Tuckasegee River (variant spellings include Tuckaseegee and Tuckaseigee) flows entirely within western North Carolina. It begins its course in Jackson County above Cullowhee at the confluence of Panthertown and Greenland creeks. It flows in a northwesterly direction into Swain County where it joins the Oconaluftee before heading through the center of Bryson City, North Carolina. The river passes around the Bryson City Island Park, where it then enters Fontana Lake and then the Little Tennessee River.
The name Tuckasegee may be an anglicisation of the Cherokee language word daksiyi—[takhšiyi] in the local Cherokee variety—'Turtle Place.' The river is dotted with stone fishing weirs built by Native Americans; this practice may have preceded the Cherokee in the area. The weirs are most easily viewed when water levels are low.Fishing, hiking and paddling are among the recreational opportunities along the river.