Right now
Wilbur Lake water level
Wilbur Lake is at 1,645.61 ft, falling 0.32 ft over the last 24 hours, inside TVA’s operating zone for the date. Below Wilbur Dam, generation is scheduled on Oct 1 from 6 AM to 7 AM EDT and 6 PM to 7 PM EDT.
Wilbur Lake level
1,645.61 ft
Reading at 1 AM EDT, Oct 1
Last 24 hours
▼ 0.32 ft
Falling since 1 AM EDT Sep 30
Against TVA’s target
In zone
Operating zone for Oct 1: 1,644.00 to 1,647.50 ft
Release from Wilbur Dam
216 cfs
Hourly average, 1 AM EDT, Oct 1
Tailwater level
1,583.21 ft
Below Wilbur Dam, 1 AM EDT, Oct 1
Same date last year
1,647.14 ft
Midnight level, Oct 1
TVA notice, 08/26/2026 09:52 AM EDT: Wilbur will be spilling 230 cfs until further notice.
Readings are hourly, in feet above sea level, from the Tennessee Valley Authority. The page checks TVA again each time it opens, and the reading time shows how recent the numbers are.
Below the dam
Wilbur Dam generation schedule
TVA posts the hours Wilbur Dam is scheduled to run its generators, for today and the start of tomorrow. Generating hours are when water is being released through the turbines and the current below the dam is moving. The schedule can change during the day.
Oct 1
- 1 AM to 6 AM EDTNo generation
- 6 AM to 7 AM EDT2 or more generators
- 7 AM to 6 PM EDTNo generation
- 6 PM to 7 PM EDT2 or more generators
- 7 PM to Midnight EDTNo generation
Oct 2
- Midnight to 1 AM EDTNo generation
1 generator2 or moreNo generationNot posted
Below Wilbur Dam is the Watauga River. Its public access points, with directions, are on the Watauga River page.
Next few days
Wilbur Lake level forecast
TVA’s forecast of the Wilbur Lake level at midnight, with the average flow it expects into and out of the lake each day.
| Day | Midnight level | Average outflow |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | 1,645.61 ft | 340 cfs |
| Oct 2 | 1,645.44 ft | 340 cfs |
| Oct 3 | 1,648.00 ft | 515 cfs |
The year so far
Wilbur Lake level this year against TVA’s guide
Each line is the Wilbur Lake level at midnight. The 2026 line runs up to the latest day TVA has published.
20262025Operating zone
The operating zone for Wilbur Lake is 1,644.00 to 1,647.50 ft on July 1.
Weather
Wilbur Lake weather and wind forecast
Thu, Oct 1 night
57°F
Mostly Clear
Wind E 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1
84°F
Sunny
Wind NW 0 to 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1 night
61°F
Mostly Clear
Wind S 0 to 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Wind S 0 to 10 mph
26% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2 night
65°F
Rain Showers Likely
Wind NW 0 to 5 mph
58% chance of rain
Sat, Oct 3
75°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind 0 mph
92% chance of rain
National Weather Service forecast, updated 1:06 AM, Thu, Oct 1.
Sun and moon, Fri, Oct 9
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for a boat on Wilbur Lake
The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.
Other lakes
More East Tennessee tributary lakes levels
Common questions
Wilbur Lake level questions
What level does TVA aim to keep Wilbur Lake at?
The operating zone for Wilbur Lake is 1,644.00 to 1,647.50 ft on July 1.
When does Wilbur Dam generate?
TVA posts the Wilbur Dam generation schedule for the current day and the start of the next. This page shows it hour by hour. Outside the posted hours the dam may still release a small minimum flow.
What does the Wilbur Lake level mean?
It is the height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, measured at Wilbur Dam. A change of a foot or two moves the shoreline, the depth at the end of a ramp and where fish hold in the coves.
Where does the Wilbur Lake data come from?
From the Tennessee Valley Authority’s published lake data: hourly readings for the last 48 hours, the generation schedule, a three-day forecast and the operating guide for the year.
Lake levels, releases, generation schedules and forecasts come from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with TVA. TVA’s lake data does not include water temperature, so none is shown.
Keep going
More Wilbur Lake water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.