River stage
Tarboro, Tar River
- River level
- 1.33 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.01 ft
- Recent high
- 9.04 ft
- Recent low
- 1.14 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS TARN7
- 30-day change
- -0.21 ft
- Average
- 1.87 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 41.51 ft
In brief
The Tar River at Tarboro, NC read 1.33 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 15.67 ft below action stage. That is 0.21 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge TARN7
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41.51 ft | 1999-09-19 |
| 2 | 36.29 ft | 2016-10-13 |
| 3 | 34.00 ft | 1919-07-27 |
| 4 | 33.50 ft | 1924-10-04 |
| 5 | 31.77 ft | 1940-08-20 |
| 6 | 30.20 ft | 1928-09-24 |
| 7 | 29.40 ft | 1908-09-01 |
| 8 | 29.17 ft | 1958-05-12 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 17.00 ft
The river is at bankfull.
- 19.00 ft
Minor flooding begins. The Riverside Park and River Road at the US64 bridge flood.
- 20.00 ft
Lowland flooding begins south of Daniel Street in east Tarboro.
- 24.00 ft
Moderate flooding begins. River Road in Tarboro is underwater and flooding begins on east Wilson and St David Streets.
- 32.00 ft
Major flooding begins. Baker and St James Street begin to flood.
- 33.60 ft
This is the elevation of the railroad bed which cuts through the Princeville levee. The emergency gate must be manually installed to prevent water from flowing into the town of Princeville.
- 34.60 ft
Water reaches the base of the Princeville levee.
- 37.00 ft
Failure may be expected at the Princeville levee and flooding begins in the town of Princeville. There is also considerable street flooding in Tarboro, including Daniels, Baker, St James, and Granville streets.
- 38.60 ft
This is the highest elevation of the Princeville levee. Flooding becomes widespread in Princeville. The traffic circle in Tarboro on US64 at the bridge over the Tar river is flooded. Flooding begins on Albemarle Avenue and St Andrews Street.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tar River flooding at Tarboro?
No. The Tar River at Tarboro is at 1.33 ft, 15.67 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Tarboro?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 17 ft, minor flooding 19 ft, moderate flooding 24 ft and major flooding 32 ft.
What is the highest the Tar River has been at Tarboro?
The highest crest on record is 41.51 ft, on 1999-09-19.
Is the Tar River high or low right now at Tarboro?
At 1.33 ft it is higher than 25% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge TARN7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02083500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.