
Lake levels
Cheat Lake, WV
- water level
- 868.59 ft
- Condition
- About average for this time of year
- 7-day change
- -0.98 ft
- 30-day change
- -0.59 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.78 ft
Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey
- Since yesterday
- -0.28 ft
- 7-day change
- -0.98 ft
- 30-day change
- -0.59 ft
- 1-year change
- +0.78 ft
- Record high
- 870.02 ft
In brief
Cheat Lake stood at 868.59 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 53% of October readings since 2012.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Lake level timeline
Records and averages
| Current level | 868.59 ft |
|---|---|
| Record high | 870.02 ft (2018-01-15) |
| Record low | 857.31 ft (2018-01-07) |
| Average of all readings | 867.36 ft |
| Data span | 14 years (3,248 readings) |
Level schematic
Frequently asked questions
Is Cheat Lake full right now?
As of 2026-10-12, Cheat Lake sits at 868.59 ft, which is about average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has fallen 0.59 ft.
What is the water level at Cheat Lake today?
The most recent reading at Cheat Lake is 868.59 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.
What is the highest Cheat Lake has ever been?
The highest level for Cheat Lake in our records is 870.02 ft on 2018-01-15. The lowest is 857.31 ft on 2018-01-07. Our record covers about 14 years of readings.
Is Cheat Lake low for this time of year?
Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 47% of them, which we classify as about average for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.
Why is Cheat Lake low right now?
Reservoir levels move for four main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Cheat Lake has fallen 0.59 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.
How much has Cheat Lake changed over the past year?
Cheat Lake is +0.78 ft compared with this date last year (868.59 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 14 years, with a record high of 870.02 ft and a record low of 857.31 ft.
Download and cite
Quote this reading
Cheat Lake stood at 868.59 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 53% of October readings since 2012.
Download the full record
cheat-lake-wv-water-level-history.csv
How to cite
MyWaterLevel, “Cheat Lake water level, 2012 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/wv/cheat-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.
Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All West Virginia lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.