River stage
Pleasant Gardens, Catawba River
- River level
- 2.61 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +1.41 ft
- Recent high
- 6.57 ft
- Recent low
- 1.00 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS PLGN7
- 30-day change
- +1.38 ft
- Average
- 1.42 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 17.55 ft
In brief
The Catawba River at Pleasant Gardens, NC read 2.61 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 6.39 ft below action stage. That is 1.38 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge PLGN7
Water 63 °F (17 °C) · 2 °F warmer than normal for this date · -2 °F in 24 hours
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.55 ft | 2004-09-08 |
| 2 | 15.72 ft | 2018-05-30 |
| 3 | 15.22 ft | 1994-08-17 |
| 4 | 15.15 ft | 1998-01-08 |
| 5 | 13.72 ft | 2013-05-06 |
| 6 | 13.64 ft | 2004-09-17 |
| 7 | 13.60 ft | 1983-02-02 |
| 8 | 13.30 ft | 1995-10-05 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 9.00 ft
Action Stage. The Catawba River is beginning to exceed its banks close to the Tom Johnson-Camping World Camping Center and flood adjacent low-lying areas. Floodwaters are approaching and may begin to flood the access road that travels underneath the Resistoflex Rd. bridge at the Camping Center and may begin to impact Riverside Park.
- 11.00 ft
Minor Flood Stage. The Catawba River may be starting to flood the Riverbreeze Campground located a few miles downstream of the gauge, especially if high flows are occurring along Buck Creek due to spillage at Lake Tahoma upstream.
- 12.00 ft
PLEASANT GARDENS AND DEER FIELD CAMPGROUNDS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO BE EVACUATED.
- 13.64 ft
FLOODING WILL BE SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH OCCURRED WITH HURRICANE IVAN IN SEPTEMBER 2004
- 14.50 ft
CATAWBA RIVER STARTS TO CAUSE PROBLEMS IN TOWNS NEAR THE RIVER WITH FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS ALONG THE RIVER AND SOME ROADS.
- 15.22 ft
FLOODING WILL BE SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST 1994 WITH TROPICAL STORM BERYL
- 17.55 ft
FLOODING WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED WITH HURRICANE FRANCES IN SEPTEMBER 2004.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Catawba River flooding at Pleasant Gardens?
No. The Catawba River at Pleasant Gardens is at 2.61 ft, 6.39 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Pleasant Gardens?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 9 ft, minor flooding 11 ft, moderate flooding 16 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the Catawba River has been at Pleasant Gardens?
The highest crest on record is 17.55 ft, on 2004-09-08.
Is the Catawba River high or low right now at Pleasant Gardens?
At 2.61 ft it is higher than 96% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Pleasant Gardens, Catawba River?
The water temperature at Pleasant Gardens, Catawba River is 63 °F (17.0 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS, which is 2 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has fallen 2.2 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge PLGN7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02137727). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.