Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Little Tennessee River near Otto

Highest listed crest 18.14 ftFlood stage 17.0 ft15 crests since 2009

The Little Tennessee River near Otto crested above flood stage 1 time among the 15 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2009 to 2018. The highest, 18.14 ft on September 22, 2009, was minor flooding, 1.14 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
18.14 ft
September 22, 2009
Flood stage
17.0 ft
Major flooding from 25.0 ft
Crests at major
0
1 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
September 22, 2009
18.14 ft, minor flooding
Location
Macon County
North Carolina
Identifiers
NWS OTTN7
Out of service

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Little Tennessee River near Otto
Action stage11.09May 31, 2018The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)17.01Sep 22, 2009Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage21.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage25.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

15 crests from 2009 to 2018. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Little Tennessee River near Otto, 2009 to 2018 510152025ft Flood stage 17.0 ftMajor 25.0 ft Sep 22, 2009: 18.14 ft, minor floodingAug 15, 2010: 11.38 ft, action stageOct 27, 2010: 7.08 ft, below flood stageDec 1, 2010: 11.18 ft, action stageMar 6, 2011: 11.78 ft, action stageSep 18, 2012: 6.14 ft, below flood stageJan 17, 2013: 12.42 ft, action stageJan 30, 2013: 11.68 ft, action stageMay 5, 2013: 9.60 ft, below flood stageOct 15, 2014: 11.72 ft, action stageDec 29, 2015: 13.70 ft, action stageFeb 3, 2016: 10.74 ft, below flood stageApr 24, 2017: 6.88 ft, below flood stageFeb 11, 2018: 15.00 ft, action stageMay 31, 2018: 12.94 ft, action stage Highest, 18.14 ft, Sep 22, 2009 20102015

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Little Tennessee River near Otto 2000s: 1 1 2010s: 0 2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Little Tennessee River near Otto
1Sep 22, 200918.14+1.14Minor—
2Feb 11, 201815.00−2.00Action—
3Dec 29, 201513.70−3.30Action—
4May 31, 201812.94−4.06Action—
5Jan 17, 201312.42−4.58Action—
6Mar 6, 201111.78−5.22Action—
7Oct 15, 201411.72−5.28Action—
8Jan 30, 201311.68−5.32Action—
9Aug 15, 201011.38−5.62Action—
10Dec 1, 201011.18−5.82Action—
11Feb 3, 201610.74−6.26Below flood stage—
12May 5, 20139.60−7.40Below flood stage—
13Oct 27, 20107.08−9.92Below flood stage—
14Apr 24, 20176.88−10.12Below flood stage—
15Sep 18, 20126.14−10.86Below flood stage—

Gauges on the Little Tennessee River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Little Tennessee River
IOTLANC11.011.35 ft, Dec 24, 20150
NEEDMORENC11.013.06 ft, Oct 5, 19640
Otto this gaugeNC17.018.14 ft, Sep 22, 20090
PrentissNC15.017.30 ft, Nov 4, 19640

Other gauges in Macon County

Flood gauges in Macon County
Franklin12.015.60 ft, Jun 1, 19490
Peaceful Cove Rd (above Cullasaja River RV Park), 6 SE Franklin9.815.52 ft, Sep 27, 20240
IOTLA11.011.35 ft, Dec 24, 20150
Prentiss15.017.30 ft, Nov 4, 19640

Macon County: every hazard · River floods across the country · North Carolina

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge OTTN7, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.