Cape Fear River at Lillington
North Carolina · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 02102500 — CAPE FEAR RIVER AT LILLINGTON, NC · NWS forecast point LLLN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 1,610 CFS, this gauge is running 223% of normal for late July — above the 722 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 44 years of record (1982–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Lillington
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge LLLN7, issued by WFO RAH. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 27.0 ft
- 27.0 ft Major flooding begins. Flooding reaches Mermaid Point Restaurant on the south bank.
- 30.0 ft Water reaches the base of the northbound Highway 421 bridge.
- 34.0 ft Water reaches the road surface of the northbound 421 bridge.
-
Moderate flood 19.0 ft
- 19.0 ft Moderate flooding begins. The storm drains on the north bank are inundated and water reaches the water treatment plant. Homes on Riverside Hills Drive are flooded.
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Minor flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Minor flooding begins. The boat launch ramp and wooden deck at Mermaid Point Restaurant are flooded.
- 17.0 ft Water threatens homes upstream on Riverside Hills Drive.
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Action 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Action stage. The Cape Fear River reaches bankfull.
- Right now 2.67 ft
NWS forecast: 2.70 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Lillington
Daily values from USGS gauge 02102500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Lillington
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 33.19 ft | 150,000 CFS | Sep 19, 1945 |
| 27.55 ft | 107,000 CFS | Oct 2, 1929 |
| 21.27 ft | 63,536 CFS | Sep 18, 2018 |
| 19.41 ft | 53,000 CFS | Oct 9, 2016 |
| 18.97 ft | 51,800 CFS | Sep 7, 1996 |
| 17.98 ft | 46,404 CFS | Nov 14, 2018 |
| 15.85 ft | 37,446 CFS | Aug 9, 2024 |
| 15.59 ft | 36,500 CFS | Mar 1, 1987 |
| 15.56 ft | 36,303 CFS | Nov 16, 2018 |
| 14.60 ft | 29,600 CFS | Jun 14, 2006 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Cape Fear River at Lillington
This gauge sits on Cape Fear River at Lillington, North Carolina, immediately below Jordan Lake. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 722 CFS for late July, from 44 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.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Jordan Lake. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Cape Fear River at Lillington — common questions
What is the current flow on Cape Fear River at Lillington?
As of the last reading on this page, Cape Fear River at Lillington was running 1,610 CFS at a gage height of 2.67 ft, or 223% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02102500, 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 722 CFS, calculated from 44 years of record (1982–2026). 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.
Is Cape Fear River at Lillington wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 722 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Jordan Lake affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 02102500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge LLLN7. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.