River stage
Louisburg, Tar River
- River level
- 4.24 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +1.07 ft
- Recent high
- 11.63 ft
- Recent low
- 3.08 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS LOUN7
- 30-day change
- +0.78 ft
- Average
- 3.86 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 26.05 ft
In brief
The Tar River at Louisburg, NC read 4.24 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 15.76 ft below action stage. That is 0.78 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge LOUN7
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.05 ft | 1999-09-17 |
| 2 | 25.34 ft | 1996-09-07 |
| 3 | 24.36 ft | 1978-04-28 |
| 4 | 23.25 ft | 2016-10-10 |
| 5 | 23.23 ft | 2024-08-09 |
| 6 | 23.00 ft | 1975-07-16 |
| 7 | 22.90 ft | 2017-04-26 |
| 8 | 22.03 ft | 2018-11-14 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
Bankfull in the vicinity of Main Street. Minor flooding begins in River Bend Park 0.1 miles upstream of Main Street.
- 20.00 ft
Minor flooding begins. Banks overflow at Main Street. River Bend Park is flooded and storm drains are inundated along the river.
- 22.00 ft
Moderate flooding begins. Flooding begins in Pruitt and Shannon Villages on the east side of town.
- 23.00 ft
Major flooding begins. Homes and businesses along Johnson Street flood.
- 25.00 ft
Significant flooding at businesses along Johnson, Court, Elm, and Short Streets.
- 29.00 ft
Water reaches the road level of the Main Street bridge. Flooding reaches businesses on Main and Nash Streets. The grounds of the Louisburg wastewater treatment plant (near the mouth of Fox swamp) is covered with water.
- 34.00 ft
South Main Street bridge is flooded to a depth of approximately 5 feet.
- 37.00 ft
Water reaches the road surface of the US401 bridge.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tar River flooding at Louisburg?
No. The Tar River at Louisburg is at 4.24 ft, 15.76 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Louisburg?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 20 ft, minor flooding 20 ft, moderate flooding 22 ft and major flooding 23 ft.
What is the highest the Tar River has been at Louisburg?
The highest crest on record is 26.05 ft, on 1999-09-17.
Is the Tar River high or low right now at Louisburg?
At 4.24 ft it is higher than 81% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge LOUN7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02081747). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.