How full is Norris Lake in April and May?
Norris Lake is usually still filling in April and May, and only one of the last four years was full by May 1. On May 1 it has ranged from about 9 feet below full pool to just above it. Full pool is 1,020 feet above sea level. By mid-May, three of those four years were still about 2 to 9 feet short.
April runs lower. On April 1, the lake sat about 7 to 13.5 feet below full pool. By April 15, it was about 2 to 9 feet below and rising.
Here is what it read on five spring dates, from the daily record at norrislakenews.com. All numbers are feet above sea level.
- April 1: 1,008.7 (2023), 1,006.5 (2024), 1,012.9 (2025), 1,008.9 (2026)
- April 15: 1,012.4 (2023), 1,011.7 (2024), 1,018.1 (2025), 1,010.6 (2026)
- May 1: 1,014.3 (2023), 1,014.5 (2024), 1,020.2 (2025), 1,011.2 (2026)
- May 15: 1,015.4 (2023), 1,017.9 (2024), 1,021.1 (2025), 1,011.1 (2026)
- June 1: 1,016.2 (2023), 1,020.6 (2024), 1,020.8 (2025), 1,012.1 (2026)
Is Norris Lake full by June 1?
Norris Lake reached full pool by June 1 in only two of the last four years, even though June 1 is TVA's target for summer levels.
The norrislakenews.com calendar also shows a seasonal guide, its Rule column. That line starts rising in mid-March and reaches 1,020 by about April 26. Only 2025 kept up with it, so think of late April as the best case, not the plan. If a full lake matters most, plan for June, and know that 2023 and 2026 still fell short.
Want to know if Norris Lake is at full pool today? norrislakenews.com posts a new reading every day. Subtract it from 1,020 to see how many feet short the lake is. Here is how each of the last four years went.
- 2025: the spring refill reached 1,020 on April 27, five weeks ahead of June 1.
- 2024: reached 1,020 on May 25, one week ahead.
- 2023: never reached it. The high for the year was 1,016.3 on June 2.
- 2026: never reached it. The high through October was 1,017.1 on August 23.
Why is Norris Lake so low in spring?
Norris Lake is low in spring because TVA lowers it every fall to make room for flood water, and it takes spring rain to fill it back up.
TVA starts lowering the lake around Labor Day and aims for flood-control levels by January 1, since big floods are most likely in winter and early spring. With normal rainfall, the level changes about 29 feet between summer and winter.
That makes the refill a weather story. In 2024 the lake read 1,015 feet on May 7. Then the rain came, and it reached 1,020 on May 25. In 2026 it sat near 1,011 from late April through most of May, and TVA pointed to the worst drought in almost 20 years. Our Norris Lake guide covers levels through the rest of the year.
Does Norris Lake flood?
Norris Lake can rise fast and go above full pool after heavy rain, because TVA uses it to hold back flood water.
February 2025 is the clearest recent example. The lake went from 1,002.2 feet on February 1 to 1,023.9 on February 18, almost 4 feet over full pool. TVA later said more than $89 million in flood damage was averted on the Clinch River below the dam.
A high reading in winter doesn't mean a full lake in spring, though. TVA opened the low-level gates and ran both generators at full capacity, and by March 15 the lake was back down to 1,006.4 feet.
Can you swim in Norris Lake in May?
You can, but Norris Lake averages only about 70°F in May, so swimming is more realistic from late May or June.
The water numbers below are Norris Lake Marina Association averages, and it doesn't say where they come from. Lake.com runs cooler: it says TVA doesn't publish monthly water temperatures and puts June at the mid-70s to about 80°F. The air numbers are 1991-2020 normals for nearby Tazewell. Each of these months averages more than 4 inches of rain, so pack a jacket.
Take the cold seriously. The National Center for Cold Water Safety says to "treat any water temperature below 70F with caution." It says breathing gets harder to control as water falls toward 60°F, and that paddlers should consider thermal protection below 70°F. Wear a life jacket on the water.
- March: water about 56°F, highs near 59°F, lows near 32°F.
- April: water about 63°F, highs near 68°F, lows near 40°F.
- May: water about 70°F, highs near 76°F, lows near 50°F.
- June: water about 80°F, highs near 84°F, lows near 59°F.
Is spring a good time to visit Norris Lake?
Spring is a good time for Norris Lake if you want fishing, paddling and porch time more than swimming and tubing.
A lower lake is still an open lake. In May 2026, TVA said all its lakes were open for recreation regardless of water levels, and it told boaters to watch for sandbars, rocks and debris. You will see more bare bank than in a full summer lake. Planning around a dock or a boat? Call or text Kathy, who lives nearby, at 865-585-5865 and ask how the cove looks at the current level.
When we checked in late October 2026, April had more open dates than July at both Lakefront Paradise and Blue Haven. Calendars change, so check your dates before you plan.
- Fishing: walleye fishing pressure peaks during the early-spring spawning runs, and Norris is noted for winter smallmouth fishing, best from November to April. Our boating and fishing guide covers launches, licenses and Tennessee rules.
- Pro fishing: Major League Fishing's Bass Pro Tour comes to Norris March 11 to 14, 2027, launching from Lonas Young Memorial Park in Campbell County.
- Paddling: each home has two kayaks. Bring your own life jackets.
- Hiking: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, about 45 minutes from Paradise Point, has nearly 85 miles of trails. Ranger-led Gap Cave tours run May through August.
- Groups: the two homes sleep 27 together, so a spring family reunion fits on one private point.
Updated October 31, 2026. Drive times are estimates from Paradise Point; hours and dates change, so check with the venue before you go.
