Cape Fear River at Fayetteville
North Carolina — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Cumberland County, North Carolina on the Cape Fear River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 02104000, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
58 ft
Moderate Flood
48 ft
Minor Flood
35 ft
Action Stage
35 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
72 ft
The river will spread to a width of up to 2 miles, with several thousand structures threatened.
69 ft
The city of Fayetteville begins to flood and up to 150 homes would be threatened. At this stage the river widens to a mile or more in some places.
64 ft
Several thousand acres of land and hundreds of structures on both sides of the river will be flooded. Water reaches the under-clearance of the downstream railroad trestle. Downstream about 2 miles, the river will spread to a width of approximately 1 mile.
60 ft
Water begins to bypass the left end of the NC-24 bridge for several hundred yards. Two miles downstream, the left bank widens to 1000 feet and to a depth of several feet. Cumberland Tractor lot begins to flood.
59 ft
The river will reach the bottom of the railroad bridge just downstream of the Person Street bridge. Debris will get stuck against the railroad bridge.
58 ft
Major flooding begins. The right bank widens to several hundred feet and there is significant flooding of downstream structures.
50 ft
There is significant overflow on the left bank about 2 miles downstream of the NC24 bridge.
48 ft
Moderate flooding begins. The upper parking areas at Riverside Bait and Tackle are flooded. There is significant lowland flooding downstream.
35 ft
Minor flooding begins. The boat ramp and lower parking lot at Riverside Bait and Tackle off Person Street are flooded. The stage and lower seating area at the Cape Fear Amphitheater are flooded.
32 ft
Action Stage. Banks of the Cape Fear River begin to overflow.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 1945 | 68.9 ft | 124,000 cfs |
| Sep 20, 1945 | 68.9 ft | 124,000 cfs |
| Aug 28, 1908 | 68 ft | 115,000 cfs |
| Aug 28, 1908 | 68 ft | 115,000 cfs |
| Oct 3, 1929 | 65.3 ft | 110,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
FAYN7
River
Cape Fear River
County
Cumberland, NC
Coordinates
35.0472°N, 78.8581°W
Get Flood Alerts for Cape Fear River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Cape Fear River at Fayetteville?
The Cape Fear River at Fayetteville gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02104000) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Cape Fear River at Fayetteville?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cape Fear River at Fayetteville is 35 feet. Action stage begins at 35 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 48 feet, and major flooding at 58 feet.
How do I get alerts when Cape Fear River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Cape Fear River at Fayetteville to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cumberland County, North Carolina at coordinates 35.0472°N, 78.8581°W. USGS site number: 02104000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey