Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Summersville Lake

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

868.2868.6869.0869.4869.8SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 869.61LOW 868.39868.59 ft

Records and averages

Current level868.59 ft
Record high870.02 ft (2018-01-15)
Record low857.31 ft (2018-01-07)
Average of all readings867.36 ft
Data span14 years (3,248 readings)

Level schematic

856.8860.2863.7867.1870.5PUBLISHED HIGH 870.02 ft868.59 ftPUBLISHED LOW 857.31 ft

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.

From the U.S. Geological Survey, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

cheat-lake-wv-water-level-history.csv

3,248 readings, Sep 30, 2012 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. The longest gap since then is 1843 days, from Apr 4, 2021. Columns: date, water_level_ft. 60 KB.

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.

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Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All West Virginia lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.