Norfork Lake lake and shoreline

Norfork Lake Water Level

ArkansasMissouri

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Norfork Lake

Norfork Lake is currently 0.8 feet below full pool, with a water-surface elevation of 553.2 feet.

553.18 ft · Updated 5 hours ago · NOAA / National Weather Service — Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Current level

553.18ft

−0.82 ft vs full pool

Normal

Vs full pool

Since last reading

Down 0.04 ft

Previous readingSep 22553.28 ft

7-day change

Down 0.43 ft

7-day trend: Falling

8 daily readings in the last 7 days

30-day change

Down 1.29 ft

31 daily readings in the last 30 days

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Water Level History

Current
553.18 ft
24h
-0.04 ft
7d
-0.43 ft
30d
-1.29 ft

Elevation (ft) NGVD29 · MSL

Reference line is designed full pool.

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Lake Level Context

Level remains below the full pool

Norfork Lake is currently 553.18 ft, 0.82 ft below its full pool. The lake has fallen 0.43 ft over the past 7 days and 1.29 ft over the past 30 days.

Norfork Lake Level Details

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

Conditions & Reference

Level status

0.82 ft below full pool

Current level
553.18 ft
Full pool
554 ft
DatumElevation referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.
NGVD29
Elevation reference
MSL
Source
NOAA / NWS

Reference levels

  • Full pool554 ft
  • Flood stage580 ft

Watershed drought

Abnormally Dry

49.3% of watershed in official drought (D1+).

Severity

NoneExtreme
Trend
Worsening

Watershed drought conditions

Baxter County, AR

Abnormally Dry

Abnormally Dry. The surrounding county is abnormally dry, which is not official drought.. Trend: Worsening compared with last week. Official drought yes

Severity

NoneExtreme

Weekly trend

Worsening

Compared with last week

Official drought

Yes

49.3% of the watershed is currently classified as official drought (D1+).

U.S. Drought Monitor · map date Sep 22, 2026. Updated weekly. droughtmonitor.unl.eduView drought map for Baxter County, AR

Daily level summary

DateLevelChange
Sep 23, 2026553.24-0.04
Sep 22, 2026553.28-0.05
Sep 21, 2026553.33-0.07
Sep 20, 2026553.4-0.08
Sep 19, 2026553.48-0.07
Sep 18, 2026553.55-0.06
Sep 17, 2026553.61-0.06

Common questions about Norfork Lake’s water level

  • The current water level at Norfork Lake is 553.18 ft (updated 5 hours ago). You can track the Norfork Lake lake level on the interactive chart and daily history above.

  • Full pool for Norfork Lake is 554 ft — the normal conservation target elevation when the reservoir is at its designed summer or operating pool.

  • The current 7-day trend for the Norfork Lake lake level is falling — falling about 0.43 ft over the past week. See the history chart above for the full picture.

  • Based on the latest gauge reading, Norfork Lake is currently 0.82 ft below full pool.

Lake level glossary

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

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