Summary
Total streamflow across the
Watauga River
was last observed at
423
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
839
acre-ft of water today; about 43%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
973 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2020-02-06 when daily discharge volume was observed at
12,870 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Watauga River At Elizabethton
reporting a streamflow rate of 358 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Watauga River, with a gauge stage of
2.95 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Watauga River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,613 ft, the
Watauga River Near Sugar Grove.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-01-01 |
| Discharge Volume | 839 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
422.9 cfs
-6.7 cfs (-1.56%) |
| Percent of Normal | 43.47% |
| Maximum |
12,870.0 cfs
2020-02-06 |
| Seasonal Avg | 973 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Watauga River Near Sugar Grove
USGS 03479000 |
65 cfs | 1.61 ft | -2.55 | |||||
|
Watauga River At Elizabethton
USGS 03486000 |
358 cfs | 2.95 ft | -1.38 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Watauga River () is a large stream of western North Carolina and East Tennessee. It is 78.5 miles (126.3 km) long with its headwaters on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain and Peak Mountain in Watauga County, North Carolina.