Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton
North Carolina — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Haywood County, North Carolina on the Pigeon River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 03456991, 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
19 ft
35,000 cfs
Moderate Flood
15 ft
22,700 cfs
Minor Flood
10 ft
15,000 cfs
Action Stage
8 ft
6,737 cfs
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
22.8 ft
Major, catastrophic flooding of areas along the Pigeon River. Floodwater levels will be similar to the levels that occurred on September 17, 2004 during Hurricane Ivan.
20.7 ft
Major flooding continues along the Pigeon River. Floodwater levels will be similar to those that occurred on September 8, 2004 during Hurricane Frances.
19 ft
Major Flood Stage. Extremely rare and catastrophic flooding is developing in Canton with disastrous impacts to property. Extraordinary flooding exceeding 6 ft deep is overwhelming low-lying areas near the Pigeon River. Basements and crawl spaces may be completely submerged. First-floor building elevations in Canton are experiencing ruinous flooding greater than 1 ft deep. Travel may be severely restricted with roadway inundation exceeding 3-4 ft, stranding several homes and businesses.
18 ft
US Highway 19 and 23 may be flooded and closed in Clyde.
17.5 ft
Moderate flooding continues. Several bridges in Canton and Fibreville may be closed.
17 ft
Moderate flooding continues. At this level some low-lying areas on the left bank near the former Champion Paper Company will begin to flood.
16 ft
Moderate flooding continues. Homes and businesses between the Pigeon River and Hyder Mountain and Thicketty Roads may be flooded.
15.5 ft
Homes in Fibreville and Clyde near the Pigeon River may be flooded.
14.5 ft
Minor flooding continues. Floodwaters may approach the lowest-elevations of business property in Canton.
14 ft
Minor Flooding continues. Floodwaters may approach home and business property along Sorrells, Waters, and Penland Streets.
12.5 ft
Minor flooding continues. A trailer park near Old Highway 19 and 23 outside of Clyde may flood. Residential yards along Richland, Hyatt, and Allens Creeks will be in danger of flooding, due to runoff and back water from the Pigeon River.
12 ft
Minor flooding continues. At this level, the former Champion Paper Company would historically take preventative flood actions at the plant. Areas on the right bank of the river near Canton may begin to flood. This may include residential yards on Fiberville Road and parts of Valley, North, and Conley Streets.
11 ft
Minor flooding continues. The river will overflow its banks and start to flood low-lying areas in Clyde.
10 ft
Minor Flood Stage. Common, deeper flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the Pigeon River is developing with lesser impacts to vulnerable property. Low-water crossings may be inundated with up to 2-3 ft of floodwaters. Adjacent campgrounds, mobile home/RV parks, secondary roads, and outbuildings may be experiencing flooding up to 1-2 ft deep. Flooding less than 1 ft deep may begin impacting basements and primary roads. Water may approach the yards of some homes on and near Fiberville Road.
8 ft
Action/Advisory Stage. Common, nuisance flooding of low-lying areas adjacent to the Pigeon River is beginning. Floodwaters are beginning to impact farmland, woodlands, nurseries, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, greenways, and boat-access areas with up to 2 feet of inundation. Low-water crossings may be inundated with up to 2 feet of floodwater and become impassable. Adjacent campgrounds, mobile home/RV parks, and secondary roads may experience floodwater inundation of up to 1 foot.
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 27, 2024 | 26.96 ft | 67,300 cfs |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 26.96 ft | 67,300 cfs |
| Sep 17, 2004 | 22.8 ft | 48,000 cfs |
| Sep 17, 2004 | 22.8 ft | 48,000 cfs |
| Aug 29, 1940 | 20.75 ft | 51,600 cfs |
About This Gauge
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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 Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton?
The Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton gauge is maintained by USGS (site 03456991) 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 Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton is 10 feet. Action stage begins at 8 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 15 feet, and major flooding at 19 feet.
How do I get alerts when Pigeon River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton 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 Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton gauge located?
The gauge is located in Haywood County, North Carolina at coordinates 35.5219°N, 82.8481°W. USGS site number: 03456991. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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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 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.