Cape Fear River at Fayetteville
North Carolina · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 02104000 — CAPE FEAR RIVER AT FAYETTEVILLE, NC · NWS forecast point FAYN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Normal for the date
At 2,220 CFS, this gauge is running 112% of normal for late July — close to the 11 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 45 years of record (1974–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Fayetteville
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge FAYN7, issued by WFO RAH. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 58.0 ft
- 58.0 ft Major flooding begins. The right bank widens to several hundred feet and there is significant flooding of downstream structures.
- 59.0 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.
- 60.0 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.
- 64.0 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.
- 69.0 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.
- 72.0 ft The river will spread to a width of up to 2 miles, with several thousand structures threatened.
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Moderate flood 48.0 ft
- 48.0 ft Moderate flooding begins. The upper parking areas at Riverside Bait and Tackle are flooded. There is significant lowland flooding downstream.
- 50.0 ft There is significant overflow on the left bank about 2 miles downstream of the NC24 bridge.
-
Minor flood 35.0 ft
- 35.0 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.
-
Action 35.0 ft
- 35.0 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.
- Right now 11.95 ft
NWS forecast: 12.00 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Fayetteville
Daily values from USGS gauge 02104000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Fayetteville
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 68.90 ft | 124,000 CFS | Sep 21, 1945 |
| 68.00 ft | 115,000 CFS | Aug 29, 1908 |
| 65.30 ft | 110,000 CFS | Oct 4, 1929 |
| 64.70 ft | 108,000 CFS | Sep 22, 1928 |
| 61.58 ft | 94,143 CFS | Sep 19, 2018 |
| 58.94 ft | 90,000 CFS | Oct 10, 2016 |
| 58.50 ft | 86,000 CFS | May 24, 1901 |
| 58.00 ft | 84,000 CFS | Jan 12, 1895 |
| 55.50 ft | 76,000 CFS | Sep 8, 1928 |
| 55.40 ft | 75,000 CFS | Apr 8, 1936 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Cape Fear River at Fayetteville
This is the reference gauge for Cape Fear River at Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is the reading local emergency managers, the National Weather Service and residents watch when the river comes up.
Matthew and Florence; repeat catastrophic hurricane flooding.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 11 CFS for late July, from 45 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Cape Fear River at Fayetteville — common questions
What is the current flow on Cape Fear River at Fayetteville?
As of the last reading on this page, Cape Fear River at Fayetteville was running 2,220 CFS at a gage height of 11.95 ft, or 112% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02104000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 11 CFS, calculated from 45 years of record (1974–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is flood stage at Fayetteville?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 35.0 ft, moderate at 48.0 ft, and major at 58.0 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 35.0 ft. The ladder on this page shows each threshold against the current reading.
What happens at each flood stage here?
The National Weather Service publishes 10 stage-by-stage impact statements for this gauge, describing what specific roads, properties and structures are affected at each level. They are reproduced verbatim on this page, lowest to highest. They are NWS descriptions, not riverlvl's.
Is there a forecast for this gauge?
Yes. This is an NWS forecast point, so the chart shows the observed hydrograph running into the official National Weather Service forecast. Forecasts are issued by the local Weather Forecast Office (RAH) and updated through the day during high water.