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Watauga Lake Water Level Today

Daily level, distance to full pool and history for Watauga Lake, on the Watauga River in Tennessee.

Updated · Source: NWS gauge WTGT1 Provisional

Water level Provisional

1,948.20ft

msl · 12:00 AM EST, Nov 9, 2026

  • 10.80 ftbelow summer pool (1,959.0 ft)
  • −0.07 ftin 24 h−0.28 ft in 7 days+0.28 ft in 30 days
1,9501,9551,9601,9651,9501,9551,9601,9651,9501,9551,9601,965
  • Full pool
  • 1 yr ago

Is Watauga Lake full?

No. Watauga Lake is 10.80 ft below summer pool (1,959.0 ft). It is 1.26 ft lower than a year ago (1,949.46 ft on Nov 9, 2025).

Watauga Lake level history

View data table
DateLevel (ft)
Nov 9, 20261,948.20
Nov 8, 20261,948.21
Nov 7, 20261,948.34
Nov 6, 20261,948.46
Nov 5, 20261,948.45
Nov 4, 20261,948.44
Nov 3, 20261,948.41
Nov 2, 20261,948.45
Nov 1, 20261,948.54
Oct 31, 20261,948.62
Oct 30, 20261,948.66
Oct 29, 20261,948.73
Oct 28, 20261,948.78
Oct 27, 20261,948.80
Oct 26, 20261,948.83
Oct 25, 20261,948.90
Oct 24, 20261,949.01
Oct 23, 20261,949.06
Oct 22, 20261,949.09
Oct 21, 20261,949.13
Oct 20, 20261,949.16
Oct 19, 20261,949.18
Oct 18, 20261,949.22
Oct 17, 20261,949.43
Oct 16, 20261,949.64
Oct 15, 20261,949.59
Oct 14, 20261,949.49
Oct 13, 20261,949.40
Oct 12, 20261,949.22
Oct 11, 20261,948.45
Oct 10, 20261,947.92
  • Watauga Lake level
  • Full pool 1,959.0 ft
  • Above full pool
Source: NOAA NWPS · Daily averages since 2022

Watauga Lake on Nov 9 in past years

Watauga Lake water level on Nov 9 in past years
YearLevel (ft)vs todayvs full pool
2026today1,948.20—−10.80 ft
20251,949.46+1.26−9.54 ft
20241,952.95+4.75−6.05 ft
20231,954.47+6.27−4.53 ft
20221,952.15+3.95−6.85 ft

Today’s level is the lowest for Nov 9 in records going back to 2022.

Lake facts

Summer pool June 1 target
1,959.0 ft msl
Highest since 2022
1,970.06 ftSep 28, 2024
Lowest since 2022
1,947.24 ftFeb 28, 2023
Data since
Oct 27, 2022
Dam
Watauga Damcompleted 1948
River
Watauga River
Operated by
TVA
Dam location
Carter County
Gauge location
36.3242, −82.1242

Dam, river and owner from the National Inventory of Dams (USACE). Records cover Oct 27, 2022 to today (daily averages).

Weather on the lake

  1. Tonight34°FLowW 0–5 mphClear
  2. Monday63°FHighLow 37°FW 0–5 mphSunny
  3. Tuesday67°FHighLow 40°FW 0–5 mphSunny
  4. Wednesday68°FHighLow 44°FNW 0–5 mphSunny
  5. Thursday57°FHighLow 32°FW 5–15 mphRain Showers
  6. Friday42°FHighLow 27°FNW 15–20 mphRain and Snow Showers
  7. Saturday43°FHighLow 27°FNW 15 mphChance Snow Showers

Forecast: National Weather Service for the dam area (36.32, −82.12). Wind speeds are forecasts, not measurements.

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

What is the full pool level of Watauga Lake?
1,959.0 ft above mean sea level is the summer pool, the level TVA aims to hold from June 1. TVA keeps the lake lower in fall and winter to leave room for flood water, so winter levels below this are normal.
How much does Watauga Lake need to be full?
Watauga Lake needs 10.80 ft more water to reach full pool (1,959.0 ft), as of Nov 9, 2026.
Is Watauga Lake rising or falling?
It is falling: −0.28 ft in the last 7 days and −0.07 ft in 24 hours, to 1,948.20 ft on 12:00 AM EST, Nov 9, 2026 (NOAA National Water Prediction Service).
When was Watauga Lake last full?
It was last at or above summer pool (1,959.0 ft) on May 6, 2026. On Nov 9, 2026 it was 10.80 ft below.
What is the highest level in our data?
Watauga Lake reached 1,970.06 ft on Sep 28, 2024. The lowest was 1,947.24 ft on Feb 28, 2023 (NOAA NWPS data since 2022; older records are not in this data set).
How much has Watauga Lake changed in the last year?
In the last 12 months it ranged from 1,947.92 ft (Oct 10, 2026) to 1,959.21 ft (Apr 13, 2026), a swing of 11.29 ft.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated several times a day with the latest reading from NOAA National Water Prediction Service. The last reading is from 12:00 AM EST, Nov 9, 2026.

Where this data comes from

Lake level reported by TVA through the National Weather Service (gauge WTGT1, water.noaa.gov); history from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of the same reports. Recent readings are provisional. Weather from the National Weather Service. Dam details from the National Inventory of Dams.

Lake Levels Daily is an independent site, not affiliated with TWDB, LCRA, USACE, USGS, NOAA, TVA or any lake operator. Check official sources before making safety decisions.