{"id":4797,"date":"2026-07-02T20:36:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T20:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4797"},"modified":"2026-07-02T20:36:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T20:36:11","slug":"low-water-levels-at-north-carolina-lakes-could-make-for-tough-boating-conditions-this-holiday-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4797","title":{"rendered":"Low water levels at North Carolina lakes could make for tough boating conditions this holiday weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 If you\u2019re heading to the lake this holiday weekend, take it slow. Water levels across central North Carolina are well below normal because of the ongoing drought.<\/p>

Read more Extreme heat continues through the holiday weekend for central NC<\/a><\/p>\n

A man enjoying a day on the water with his family at Falls Lake on Thursday, Tom, spoke with CBS 17 about the lake\u2019s conditions. Tom said the day\u2019s been spent on their deck boat, where they ski, tube, and fish.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t come out on regular weekends. I always come during the week, and holiday weekends are going to be utter misery,\u201d Tom said.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Fourth of July weekend is typically the busiest for boating at Falls Lake. But this year, the lake looks different.<\/p>\n

\u201cLow, low. It\u2019s you know, this drought definitely has brought it down,\u201d said Bryson Crews, who also took his boat out Thursday.<\/p>\n

The drought\u2019s impact is hard to miss. Shorelines have pushed farther out.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Low water levels on Falls Lake on July 2, 2026. (Mary Smith\/CBS 17)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Data from the Corps of Engineers\u00a0said the lake is more than five and a half feet lower than normal. We took up our drone, SkyEye 17, which showed channels on the north end entirely dried up.<\/p>

Read more Jaylen Brown still processing how he became a former Boston Celtic after stunning trade with 76ers<\/a><\/p>\n

Crews said he keeps an eye out for things on his boat\u2019s navigation system. \u201cYou know, a lot of your old structure and stuff is now visible. So, with the hot heat, fish like to go deep. So, we look for rock piles, you know, layovers, anything that we can kind of find under the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends boaters watch out for the tree stumps, shoaling and sand bars.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re boating in the cheek road area, or in any coves, be extra careful. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the lowest we\u2019ve ever seen it down, especially when you go on the other side. There you can see, you know, all the stumps sticking up. So that\u2019s, you know, always, always a worry, you know, that\u2019s pretty deep in the channel, in the center,\u201d said Tom.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just Falls Lake seeing lower levels.<\/p>\n

Corps of Engineers data shows Jordan Lake is nearly three feet below normal, while Kerr Lake is three and a half feet below normal.<\/p>\n

The Army Corps of Engineers said all boat ramps are open at Falls Lake, but some lanes might be closed.<\/p>

Read more Central NC heat advisory extended for Friday; scorching highs forecast through Fourth of July holiday weekend<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 If you’re heading to the lake this holiday weekend, take it slow. Water levels across central North Carolina are well below normal because of the ongoing drought. A man enjoying a day on the water with his family at Falls Lake on Thursday, Tom, spoke with CBS 17 about the lake’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nLow water levels at North Carolina lakes could make for tough boating conditions this holiday weekend - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=4797\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Low water levels at North Carolina lakes could make for tough boating conditions this holiday weekend - Raleigh Moving News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"RALEIGH, N.C. 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