Falls Lake lake and shoreline

Falls Lake Water Level

Officially Falls Lake (Neuse River)

North Carolina

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Falls Lake

Falls Lake is currently 6.3 feet below full pool, with a water-surface elevation of 245.7 feet.

245.71 ft · Updated 2 hours ago · U.S. Geological Survey

Current level

245.71ft

−6.29 ft vs full pool

Low

Vs full pool

Since last reading

Down 0.07 ft

Previous readingOct 24245.8 ft

7-day change

Down 0.44 ft

7-day trend: Falling

8 daily readings in the last 7 days

30-day change

Down 1.28 ft

30 daily readings in the last 30 days

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Water Level History

Current
245.71 ft
24h
-0.07 ft
7d
-0.44 ft
30d
-1.28 ft

Elevation (ft) NGVD29 · MSL

Reference line is designed full pool.

Water Temperature

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Lake Level Context

Level remains below the full pool

Falls Lake is currently 245.71 ft, 6.29 ft below its full pool. The lake has fallen 0.44 ft over the past 7 days and 1.28 ft over the past 30 days.

Falls Lake Level Details

Reference elevations, recent daily readings, data sources, and answers to common questions.

Conditions & Reference

Level status

6.29 ft below full pool

Current level
245.71 ft
Full pool
252 ft
DatumElevation referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.
NGVD29
Elevation reference
MSL
Source
USGS

Reference levels

  • Full pool252 ft
  • Flood stage264 ft

Surrounding county drought

Severe Drought

100% of surrounding county in official drought (D1–D4).

Severity

NoneExtreme
Trend
Stable

Surrounding county drought

Wake County, NC

Severe Drought

Severe Drought. The largest share of Wake County, NC is in Severe Drought (D2), an official USDM drought category. These figures describe the surrounding county from the lake location, not the lake itself.. Trend: Stable compared with last week. Official drought (D1–D4) yes

Severity

NoneExtreme

Weekly trend

Stable

Compared with last week

Official drought (D1–D4)

Yes

100% of the surrounding county is in official drought categories (D1–D4). Dominant category remains Severe Drought.

Typical county impacts (USDM guidance)

  • Lower streamflows in the surrounding county
  • Drier soils and vegetation stress
  • Minor increase in wildfire risk for the area

U.S. Drought Monitor · map date Oct 20, 2026. Updated weekly. Official drought means U.S. Drought Monitor categories D1–D4 (Moderate through Exceptional). Abnormally Dry (D0) is not counted as official drought. droughtmonitor.unl.eduView drought map for Wake County, NC

Daily level summary

DateLevelChange
Oct 25, 2026245.73-0.07
Oct 24, 2026245.8-0.06
Oct 23, 2026245.86-0.07
Oct 22, 2026245.93-0.05
Oct 21, 2026245.98-0.06
Oct 20, 2026246.04-0.07
Oct 19, 2026246.11-0.06

Common questions about Falls Lake’s water level

  • The current water level at Falls Lake is 245.71 ft (updated 2 hours ago). You can track the Falls Lake lake level on the interactive chart and daily history above.

  • Full pool for Falls Lake is 252 ft — the normal conservation target elevation when the reservoir is at its designed summer or operating pool.

  • The current 7-day trend for the Falls Lake lake level is falling — falling about 0.44 ft over the past week. See the history chart above for the full picture.

  • Based on the latest gauge reading, Falls Lake is currently 6.29 ft below full pool.

Lake level glossary

Definitions for pool targets, datums, and how elevation readings are labeled.

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