Cape Fear River at Fayetteville

1. 72.00 ftThe river will spread to a width of up to 2 miles, with several thousand structures threatened.
2. 69.00 ftThe 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.
3. 64.00 ftSeveral 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.
4. 60.00 ftWater 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.
5. 59.00 ftThe river will reach the bottom of the railroad bridge just downstream of the Person Street bridge. Debris will get stuck against the railroad bridge.
6. 58.00 ftMajor flooding begins. The right bank widens to several hundred feet and there is significant flooding of downstream structures.
7. 50.00 ftThere is significant overflow on the left bank about 2 miles downstream of the NC24 bridge.
8. 48.00 ftModerate flooding begins. The upper parking areas at Riverside Bait and Tackle are flooded. There is significant lowland flooding downstream.
9. 35.00 ftMinor 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.
10. 32.00 ftAction Stage. Banks of the Cape Fear River begin to overflow.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.

Most recent crests

• August 10, 2024: 42.94 ft
• February 17, 2021: 35.32 ft
• January 4, 2021: 36.05 ft
• February 8, 2020: 41.68 ft
• November 16, 2018: 43.49 ft
• October 13, 2018: 24.60 ft
• September 19, 2018: 61.58 ft
• October 10, 2016: 58.94 ft
• February 9, 2010: 37.98 ft
• April 12, 2003: 43.01 ft

• UpstreamCape Fear River at Lillington
• DownstreamCape Fear River at W.O. Huske Lock
• Cross Creek NC at Hillsboro St
• Blounts Creek at Winslow St at Fayetteville
• Cross Creek NC at Blue Street at Fayetteville
• Cross Creek
• Rockfish Creek at Research Dr near Fayetteville
• Beaver Creek (NC) at Morganton Rd
• Little Rockfish Creek at Lakeview Rd near Hope Mills
• Beaver Creek (NC) at Cumberland

Forecasts by the Southeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.