River stage
Smithfield, Neuse River
- River level
- 5.69 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +1.38 ft
- Recent high
- 14.40 ft
- Recent low
- 4.07 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS SMFN7
- 30-day change
- -0.73 ft
- Average
- 5.35 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 29.09 ft
In brief
The Neuse River at Smithfield, NC read 5.69 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 8.31 ft below action stage. That is 0.73 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge SMFN7
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.09 ft | 2016-10-10 |
| 2 | 27.40 ft | 1996-09-08 |
| 3 | 27.10 ft | 1908-08-01 |
| 4 | 26.80 ft | 1919-07-24 |
| 5 | 26.72 ft | 1999-09-18 |
| 6 | 26.40 ft | 1929-10-03 |
| 7 | 25.90 ft | 1945-09-20 |
| 8 | 25.36 ft | 2017-04-27 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 14.00 ft
Action Stage. The Neuse River begins to overflow on the left bank.
- 15.00 ft
Minor flooding begins. Flooding begins along the Neuse Riverwalk. Water nears the base of the holding tank at the water treatment plant.
- 18.00 ft
Moderate flooding begins. The Smithfield town park and the Neuse Riverwalk at the US70 bridge are flooded.
- 20.00 ft
Major flooding begins. Flooding cuts off the water treatment plants access to the reservoir.
- 23.00 ft
Hospital and Buffalo Roads are flooded.
- 27.50 ft
Water begins to flow over the dike at the water treatment plant. Flooding threatens the plant's main operations building.
- 28.50 ft
The water treatment plant will be flooded. Jaycee Park and North Front Street are flooded.
- 30.00 ft
Houses on the river side of Front Street flood.
- 36.00 ft
The US70 bridge is inundated.
- 40.00 ft
Water reaches the railing of the US70 bridge.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Neuse River flooding at Smithfield?
No. The Neuse River at Smithfield is at 5.69 ft, 8.31 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Smithfield?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 14 ft, minor flooding 15 ft, moderate flooding 18 ft and major flooding 20 ft.
What is the highest the Neuse River has been at Smithfield?
The highest crest on record is 29.09 ft, on 2016-10-10.
Is the Neuse River high or low right now at Smithfield?
At 5.69 ft it is higher than 80% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge SMFN7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02087570). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.