What is the average water temperature in North Carolina?

The current average water temperature across North Carolina's monitored water bodies is 71.5°F.

🌡️

North Carolina Water Temperatures

Q: What is the warmest lake in North Carolina today?

Falls Lake Above Dam Nr Falls, Nc at 85.1°F.

Current lake & river temperatures in North Carolina — updated daily from USGS sensors.

With Data

71.5°F

State Avg

85.1°F

Warmest

85.1°F

Warmest

Falls Lake Above Dam Nr Falls, Nc

71.5°F

State Average

100 water bodies

40.5°F

Coldest

Cape Fear R At Wilm O Huske Lock Nr Tarheel, Nc

🏊

Swimming Conditions

⚠️ Brisk — wetsuit recommended

Based on avg 71.5°F

🎣

Fishing Conditions

🎣 Peak — bass, crappie, catfish

Based on avg 71.5°F

North Carolina — Ranked by Temperature

54 with data

#	Water Body	°F	°C	Condition	🏊	Date
1	Falls Lake Above Dam Nr Falls, Nc Lake	85.1°	29.5°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
2	Catawba R At Rr Bridge Ab Nc 73 At Cowans Ford, Nc Lake	84.6°	29.2°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
3	Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mtn Is Dam Nr Mtn Is, Nc River	82.9°	28.3°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
4	Pee Dee R At Hwy731 Bl Lk Tillery Nr Norwood, Nc Lake	81°	27.2°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
5	Catawba River At Nc Highway 16 Nr Millersville, Nc River	80.8°	27.1°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
6	Roanoke River At Halifax, Nc River	80.8°	27.1°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
7	Hyco R Bl Abay D Nr Mcgehees Mill, Nc Lake	80.4°	26.9°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
8	Roanoke River At Jamesville, Nc River	80.4°	26.9°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
9	Roanoke River At Nc 45 Nr Westover, Nc River	80.1°	26.7°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
10	Pee Dee River Above Jones Creek Near Cordova, Nc River	80.1°	26.7°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
11	Lake Mattamuskeet W Of Nc Hwy 94 Nr Fairfield, Nc Lake	79.7°	26.5°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
12	Catawba River Bl Lookout Shoals Dam Nr Sharon, Nc River	79.7°	26.5°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
13	Lake Mattamuskeet E Of Nc Hwy 94 Nr Fairfield, Nc Lake	79.5°	26.4°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
14	Neuse River Near Fort Barnwell, Nc River	78.8°	26°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 26
15	Pee Dee River Below Powerhouse Dam Nr Pee Dee, Nc River	78.4°	25.8°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
16	Swift Creek Near Apex, Nc River	77.9°	25.5°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Aug 31
17	Contentnea Creek At Hookerton, Nc River	77.2°	25.1°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Aug 31
18	Rocky R At Us 64 Near Siler City, Nc Lake	77°	25°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
19	Hyco Lake At Dam Nr Roxboro, Nc Lake	76.8°	24.9°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Sep 29
20	French Broad River At Asheville, Nc River	76.6°	24.8°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
21	French Broad River At Haywood Rd At Asheville, Nc River	76.3°	24.6°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
22	South Yadkin River Near Mocksville, Nc River	76.1°	24.5°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Apr 17
23	Hominy Creek Nr West Asheville, Nc River	75.9°	24.4°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
24	Pigeon River Near Canton, Nc River	75.7°	24.3°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
25	Catawba River At Rhodhiss, Nc River	75.4°	24.1°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
26	Hyco Creek Near Leasburg, Nc River	75.2°	24°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
27	French Broad River Near Fletcher, Nc River	75.2°	24°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
28	Cheoah River Nr Bearpen Gap Nr Tapoco, Nc River	75.2°	24°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
29	Van Swamp Near Hoke, Nc Lake	75°	23.9°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
30	Catawba R Nr Pleasant Gardens, Nc Lake	74.5°	23.6°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jul 27
31	Yadkin River At Patterson, Nc River	73.8°	23.2°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jul 27
32	Knap Of Reeds Creek Near Butner, Nc River	73.2°	22.9°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Sep 29
33	Yadkin River At Yadkin College, Nc River	72°	22.2°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Mar 31
34	Mills River Near Mills River, Nc River	71.4°	21.9°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jul 27
35	Ltl Sugar Cr At Medical Center Dr At Charlotte, Nc Lake	70.3°	21.3°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
36	Morgan Creek Near Chapel Hill, Nc River	69.8°	21°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Oct 15
37	Pigeon R Bl Power Plant Nr Waterville, Nc Lake	69.8°	21°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jul 27
38	Coffey Creek Nr Charlotte, Nc River	69.4°	20.8°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
39	Ellerbe Creek Near Gorman, Nc River	67.5°	19.7°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
40	W F Pigeon R Above Lake Logan Nr Hazelwood, Nc Lake	67.3°	19.6°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jul 27
41	New Hope Creek Near Blands, Nc River	66.9°	19.4°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
42	Oconaluftee River At Birdtown, Nc River	66.4°	19.1°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jul 27
43	North Fork Swannanoa River Near Walkertown, Nc River	65.7°	18.7°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jul 27
44	Northeast Creek At Sr1100 Nr Genlee, Nc River	65.1°	18.4°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
45	Flat River At Dam Near Bahama, Nc River	64.6°	18.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
46	Cataloochee Creek Near Cataloochee, Nc River	63.5°	17.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jul 27
47	Morgan Creek Near White Cross, Nc River	59.4°	15.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Nov 18
48	Marsh Creek Near New Hope, Nc River	55.6°	13.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Mar 27
49	Roanoke River At Williamston, Nc River	54.5°	12.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 12
50	Catawba R At Sr1223 Bl Lk James Nr Bridgewater, Nc Lake	52°	11.1°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jul 27
51	Northeast Cape Fear R Nr Burgaw, Nc Lake	51.6°	10.9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Dec 2
52	French Broad R At Blue Ridge Pkwy At Bent Creek Nc River	49.5°	9.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 16
53	Tar River At Tarboro, Nc River	49.3°	9.6°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Feb 15
54	Cape Fear R At Wilm O Huske Lock Nr Tarheel, Nc Lake	40.5°	4.7°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Feb 3
55	Ivy River Near Marshall, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
56	Neuse River Near Falls, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
57	Tank Creek At Longstreet Road At Fort Bragg, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
58	Mcdowell Cr Trib At Sr2131 Nr Hicks Crossroads, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
59	Little Rockfish Creek Near Cumberland, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
60	Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
61	Little Tennessee River At Needmore, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
62	Neuse River Near Clayton, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
63	Waccamaw River At Freeland, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
64	Irwin Cr At Statesville Ave At Charlotte, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
65	Valley River At Tomotla, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
66	Lake Johnson Above Dam At Raleigh, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
67	Neuse River Near Goldsboro, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
68	Little Yadkin River At Dalton, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
69	Little Sugar Cr Bl 36Th Street Near Charlotte, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
70	Simmons Branch At Lail Court Near Raleigh, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
71	Dan River Near Francisco, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
72	Trent River Near Trenton, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
73	Little Mountain Creek At Nc Hwy 740 At Badin, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
74	Briar Cr Above Colony Rd At Charlotte, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
75	Roanoke River At Roanoke Rapids, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
76	South Buffalo Creek At Us 220 At Greensboro, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
77	Reedy Creek Below I-485 Nr Pine Ridge, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
78	Mcalpine Cr At Colony Rd Near Olde Providence, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
79	Cane Creek Near Orange Grove, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
80	Little River Near Star, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
81	Second Broad River Nr Logan, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
82	Big Swamp Nr Tar Heel, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
83	French Broad River At Blantyre, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
84	Little R Bl Little R Trib At Fairntosh, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
85	Upper Little R At Sr1740 At Petra Mills, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
86	Little River Near Mount Pleasant, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
87	East Fork Pigeon River Near Canton, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
88	Crabtree Creek At Us 1 At Raleigh, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
89	Blounts Creek At Winslow Street At Fayetteville Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
90	Long Creek Near Paw Creek, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
91	Buckeye Cr Below Buckeye Lake Near Cannon Gap, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—
92	Walnut Creek At South State Street At Raleigh, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
93	Black River Near Tomahawk, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
94	Long Creek Near Bessemer City, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
95	Middle Creek Near Clayton, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
96	Yadkin River At Wilkesboro, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
97	Sugar Creek At Arrowood Road Near Charlotte, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
98	Pasquotank River Near South Mills, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
99	Second Creek Near Barber, Nc River	—	—	—	—	—
100	Edwards Branch At Sheffield Dr At Charlotte, Nc Lake	—	—	—	—	—

Falls Lake Above Dam Nr Falls, Nc Lake

85.1°F

🔥 Hot

Catawba R At Rr Bridge Ab Nc 73 At Cowans Ford, Nc Lake

84.6°F

☀️ Warm

Catawba River Dnstrm Deck Mtn Is Dam Nr Mtn Is, Nc River

82.9°F

☀️ Warm

Pee Dee R At Hwy731 Bl Lk Tillery Nr Norwood, Nc Lake

81°F

☀️ Warm

Catawba River At Nc Highway 16 Nr Millersville, Nc River

80.8°F

☀️ Warm

Roanoke River At Halifax, Nc River

80.8°F

☀️ Warm

Hyco R Bl Abay D Nr Mcgehees Mill, Nc Lake

80.4°F

☀️ Warm

Roanoke River At Jamesville, Nc River

80.4°F

☀️ Warm

Roanoke River At Nc 45 Nr Westover, Nc River

80.1°F

☀️ Warm

Pee Dee River Above Jones Creek Near Cordova, Nc River

80.1°F

☀️ Warm

Lake Mattamuskeet W Of Nc Hwy 94 Nr Fairfield, Nc Lake

79.7°F

☀️ Warm

Catawba River Bl Lookout Shoals Dam Nr Sharon, Nc River

79.7°F

☀️ Warm

Lake Mattamuskeet E Of Nc Hwy 94 Nr Fairfield, Nc Lake

79.5°F

☀️ Warm

Neuse River Near Fort Barnwell, Nc River

78.8°F

☀️ Warm

Pee Dee River Below Powerhouse Dam Nr Pee Dee, Nc River

78.4°F

☀️ Warm

Swift Creek Near Apex, Nc River

77.9°F

☀️ Warm

Contentnea Creek At Hookerton, Nc River

77.2°F

☀️ Warm

Rocky R At Us 64 Near Siler City, Nc Lake

77°F

☀️ Warm

Hyco Lake At Dam Nr Roxboro, Nc Lake

76.8°F

☀️ Warm

French Broad River At Asheville, Nc River

76.6°F

☀️ Warm

More North Carolina Resources

🗺️ North Carolina Water Levels 🎣 Weekly Fishing Report ⛵ Boat Ramp Status 🌵 Drought Conditions 🌡️ All States

❓ North Carolina Water Temperature FAQ

What is the warmest lake in North Carolina today?

Based on our latest USGS data, Falls Lake Above Dam Nr Falls, Nc is currently the warmest water body in North Carolina at 85.1°F.

Which North Carolina lakes are good for swimming right now?

Lakes with water temperatures above 72°F are generally comfortable for swimming. Currently, North Carolina's average water temperature is 71.5°F — check individual lakes above for specific conditions.

What is the best water temperature for fishing in North Carolina?

The optimal temperature range depends on your target species. For bass fishing, look for water bodies between 65–75°F. For trout, target the coldest water bodies in North Carolina — typically 50–65°F. Use the table above to identify which lakes are in the ideal range for your target species.

🔬 Data Methodology & Sources

Water temperature readings on this site are collected from USGS (United States Geological Survey) monitoring stations installed at lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the country. Sensors measure water surface temperature in Celsius, which is converted to Fahrenheit for display. Data is retrieved and stored daily. Temperatures shown reflect the most recent available sensor reading for each water body, typically from the past 1–30 days depending on station reporting frequency.

⚠️ Water temperatures can vary significantly across a water body due to depth, currents, and time of day. Sensor readings represent conditions at the monitoring station location. Always exercise caution when swimming and consult local authorities for official safety advisories.