Pigeon River above Old River Rd (NC 215), 1 SW Canton

1. 22.80 ftMajor, 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.
2. 20.70 ftMajor flooding continues along the Pigeon River. Floodwater levels will be similar to those that occurred on September 8, 2004 during Hurricane Frances.
3. 19.00 ftMajor 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.
4. 18.00 ftUS Highway 19 and 23 may be flooded and closed in Clyde.
5. 17.50 ftModerate flooding continues. Several bridges in Canton and Fibreville may be closed.
6. 17.00 ftModerate flooding continues. At this level some low-lying areas on the left bank near the former Champion Paper Company will begin to flood.
7. 16.00 ftModerate flooding continues. Homes and businesses between the Pigeon River and Hyder Mountain and Thicketty Roads may be flooded.
8. 15.50 ftHomes in Fibreville and Clyde near the Pigeon River may be flooded.
9. 14.50 ftMinor flooding continues. Floodwaters may approach the lowest-elevations of business property in Canton.
10. 14.00 ftMinor Flooding continues. Floodwaters may approach home and business property along Sorrells, Waters, and Penland Streets.
11. 12.50 ftMinor 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. 12.00 ftMinor 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.
13. 11.00 ftMinor flooding continues. The river will overflow its banks and start to flood low-lying areas in Clyde.
14. 10.00 ftMinor 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.
15. 8.00 ftAction/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.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 16, 2026.

Most recent crests

• December 29, 2024: 8.90 ft
• September 27, 2024: 26.96 ft
• January 9, 2024: 11.14 ft
• August 18, 2021: 19.60 ft
• April 13, 2020: 11.98 ft
• April 19, 2019: 9.94 ft
• October 23, 2017: 9.83 ft
• January 23, 2017: 8.05 ft
• December 29, 2015: 11.56 ft
• December 24, 2015: 10.10 ft

• DownstreamPigeon River at Newport
• East Fork Pigeon River at Canton
• West Fork Pigeon River at Bethel
• Pigeon River (NC) at (W Fork) nr Retreat
• Richland Creek (NC) at Waynesville
• Pigeon River (NC) at (W Fork) Abv Lake Logan
• Richland Creek (NC) at Autumn Care
• Pigeon River at Hepco
• Jonathan Creek at Maggie Valley

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

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.