Neuse River at Falls
North Carolina · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 02087183 — NEUSE RIVER NEAR FALLS, NC · NWS forecast point NEUN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 85 CFS, this gauge is running 61% of normal for late July — below the 141 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 43 years of record (1983–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Falls
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge NEUN7, issued by WFO RAH. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 8.0 ft
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Moderate flood 7.0 ft
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Minor flood 6.0 ft
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Action 5.0 ft · 5,714 CFS
- Right now 1.03 ft
12 months of flow at Falls
Daily values from USGS gauge 02087183. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Falls
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 8.05 ft | 7,650 CFS | Sep 16, 1996 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Neuse River at Falls
This gauge sits on Neuse River at Falls, North Carolina, immediately below Falls Lake. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 141 CFS for late July, from 43 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Falls Lake. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Neuse River at Falls — common questions
What is the current flow on Neuse River at Falls?
As of the last reading on this page, Neuse River at Falls was running 85 CFS at a gage height of 1.03 ft, or 61% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02087183, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 141 CFS, calculated from 43 years of record (1983–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Neuse River at Falls wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 141 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Falls Lake affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 02087183. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge NEUN7. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.