Major Flood
28 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
26 ft
Minor Flood
24 ft
Action Stage
22 ft
What Floods at Each Level
30 ft
Flooding similar to Hurricane Florence in 2018. Highway 11 between the Cape Fear River and Natmore Road near Kelly will be flooded. The Canetuck area may be flooded. Several roads near Kelly and Canetuck may be flooded. The railroad between Navassa and Wilmington may flood as the crest works downstream and moderate or higher tidal flooding will occur at downtown Wilmington within a week of the crest at Lock 1.
28 ft
Flooding similar to Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Highway 11 between the Cape Fear River and Natmore Road near Kelly will be flooded. The Canetuck area may be flooded especially if the Black River is also flooding. The railroad between Navassa and Wilmington may flood as the crest works downstream and moderate or higher tidal flooding will occur at downtown Wilmington within a week of the crest at Lock 1.
26 ft
Highway 11 will begin to flood between the Cape Fear River and Natmore Road. Other roads near Kelly and Canetuck may flood. Moderate flooding of swamps and low lands. Flooding similar to that reached with the remnants of Hurricane Hilda in 1964.
24 ft
24 Water will top the lock at Lock and Dam 1 near Kelly. Widespread lowland flooding will occur along the river. North Elwell Ferry Road will be flooded on both sites of the river near the ferry landing.
20 ft
North Elwell Ferry Road will likely be flooded north of the river near the ferry landing. Lowland flooding along the river.
19 ft
North Elwell Ferry Road will begin to flood north of the river near the ferry landing. Lowland flooding along the river.
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 21, 2018 | 30.68 ft | 73,600 cfs |
| Sep 22, 1945 | 29.8 ft | — |
| Oct 13, 2016 | 28.58 ft | 66,400 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
CPFN7
River
Cape Fear River
County
Bladen, NC
Coordinates
34.4044°N, 78.2936°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 Lock 1?
The Cape Fear River at Lock 1 gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02105769) 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 Lock 1?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cape Fear River at Lock 1 is 24 feet. Action stage begins at 22 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 26 feet, and major flooding at 28 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 Lock 1 to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Cape Fear River at Lock 1 gauge located?
The gauge is located in Bladen County, North Carolina at coordinates 34.4044°N, 78.2936°W. USGS site number: 02105769. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Cape Fear River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.