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Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW)

Highest listed crest 16.20 ftFlood stage 6.0 ft358 crests since 1954

The Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW) crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 358 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1954 to 2023. The highest, 16.20 ft on October 15, 1954, was major flooding, 10.20 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
16.20 ft
October 15, 1954
Flood stage
6.0 ft
Major flooding from 10.0 ft
Crests at major
2
55th of 314 gauges in North Carolina
Most recent flood crest
December 17, 2023
7.03 ft, minor flooding
Location
New Hanover County
Near Wilmington (5.7 mi), Leland (14.7 mi)
Identifiers
NWS JMPN7
No USGS station

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW)
Action stage5.5203Dec 12, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)6.0152Dec 17, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage8.01Sep 14, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage10.02Sep 6, 1996Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

358 crests from 1954 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW), 1954 to 2023 05101520ft Flood stage 6.0 ftMajor 10.0 ft Oct 15, 1954: 16.20 ft, major floodingSep 6, 1996: 12.70 ft, major floodingAug 3, 2004: 5.60 ft, action stageSep 20, 2004: 5.74 ft, action stageOct 15, 2004: 5.71 ft, action stageOct 24, 2004: 5.94 ft, action stageNov 14, 2004: 5.76 ft, action stageJan 10, 2005: 5.66 ft, action stageFeb 8, 2005: 5.82 ft, action stageFeb 28, 2005: 6.15 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 2005: 5.62 ft, action stageMay 26, 2005: 6.23 ft, minor floodingJun 20, 2005: 5.81 ft, action stageAug 18, 2005: 5.87 ft, action stageSep 14, 2005: 6.43 ft, minor floodingOct 15, 2005: 6.38 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2006: 6.03 ft, minor floodingAug 12, 2006: 5.80 ft, action stageSep 1, 2006: 6.10 ft, minor floodingSep 7, 2006: 5.93 ft, action stageSep 11, 2006: 5.91 ft, action stageOct 9, 2006: 7.00 ft, minor floodingNov 6, 2006: 5.73 ft, action stageDec 25, 2006: 5.75 ft, action stageApr 19, 2007: 6.08 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 2007: 5.77 ft, action stageMay 19, 2007: 5.60 ft, action stageJun 16, 2007: 6.25 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2007: 5.99 ft, action stageOct 29, 2007: 6.50 ft, minor floodingNov 24, 2007: 5.80 ft, action stageDec 23, 2007: 5.93 ft, action stageApr 8, 2008: 6.36 ft, minor floodingMay 6, 2008: 5.87 ft, action stageSep 20, 2008: 6.03 ft, minor floodingSep 25, 2008: 7.11 ft, minor floodingOct 19, 2008: 6.03 ft, minor floodingOct 25, 2008: 6.28 ft, minor floodingNov 13, 2008: 5.88 ft, action stageJun 22, 2009: 6.49 ft, minor floodingJun 27, 2009: 5.94 ft, action stageJul 21, 2009: 5.60 ft, action stageSep 18, 2009: 6.33 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 2009: 5.58 ft, action stageOct 15, 2009: 5.72 ft, action stageOct 19, 2009: 6.37 ft, minor floodingNov 4, 2009: 6.18 ft, minor floodingNov 14, 2009: 6.59 ft, minor floodingNov 19, 2009: 5.91 ft, action stageDec 2, 2009: 5.84 ft, action stageDec 9, 2009: 5.61 ft, action stageDec 19, 2009: 5.65 ft, action stageJan 30, 2010: 6.19 ft, minor floodingMar 3, 2010: 5.81 ft, action stageMar 29, 2010: 5.60 ft, action stageMay 26, 2010: 5.89 ft, action stageAug 8, 2010: 5.86 ft, action stageSep 10, 2010: 6.12 ft, minor floodingOct 2, 2010: 5.50 ft, action stageOct 8, 2010: 6.30 ft, minor floodingNov 6, 2010: 5.70 ft, action stageDec 5, 2010: 5.74 ft, action stageDec 26, 2010: 6.14 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 2011: 5.50 ft, action stageApr 16, 2011: 5.57 ft, action stageMay 15, 2011: 5.95 ft, action stageMay 19, 2011: 5.55 ft, action stageJun 13, 2011: 5.56 ft, action stageJun 17, 2011: 5.68 ft, action stageJul 14, 2011: 5.93 ft, action stageAug 26, 2011: 6.85 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2011: 5.86 ft, action stageOct 11, 2011: 5.64 ft, action stageOct 29, 2011: 6.14 ft, minor floodingNov 25, 2011: 5.98 ft, action stageDec 27, 2011: 5.65 ft, action stageJan 23, 2012: 5.62 ft, action stageApr 7, 2012: 6.47 ft, minor floodingMay 4, 2012: 5.50 ft, action stageMay 8, 2012: 6.59 ft, minor floodingJun 2, 2012: 5.76 ft, action stageJun 6, 2012: 7.04 ft, minor floodingJun 17, 2012: 5.55 ft, action stageJul 2, 2012: 5.55 ft, action stageJul 31, 2012: 5.83 ft, action stageAug 20, 2012: 5.75 ft, action stageAug 30, 2012: 5.80 ft, action stageOct 18, 2012: 6.11 ft, minor floodingOct 28, 2012: 6.52 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2012: 6.78 ft, minor floodingDec 13, 2012: 7.31 ft, minor floodingFeb 10, 2013: 6.02 ft, minor floodingMay 26, 2013: 6.02 ft, minor floodingAug 19, 2013: 6.00 ft, minor floodingSep 18, 2013: 6.06 ft, minor floodingOct 9, 2013: 6.54 ft, minor floodingOct 15, 2013: 6.11 ft, minor floodingNov 6, 2013: 6.16 ft, minor floodingDec 4, 2013: 6.31 ft, minor floodingJan 5, 2014: 6.19 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 2014: 6.63 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2014: 6.26 ft, minor floodingJun 16, 2014: 6.04 ft, minor floodingJul 13, 2014: 6.06 ft, minor floodingAug 9, 2014: 6.41 ft, minor floodingSep 7, 2014: 6.08 ft, minor floodingSep 11, 2014: 6.34 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 2014: 6.21 ft, minor floodingOct 5, 2014: 6.23 ft, minor floodingDec 8, 2014: 6.14 ft, minor floodingDec 24, 2014: 6.09 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 2015: 5.90 ft, action stageFeb 18, 2015: 6.17 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 2015: 5.59 ft, action stageMar 24, 2015: 5.93 ft, action stageApr 20, 2015: 5.81 ft, action stageMay 10, 2015: 5.85 ft, action stageMay 21, 2015: 5.55 ft, action stageJun 5, 2015: 5.65 ft, action stageJul 13, 2015: 5.59 ft, action stageJul 18, 2015: 5.50 ft, action stageJul 29, 2015: 5.82 ft, action stageAug 2, 2015: 5.72 ft, action stageAug 9, 2015: 5.71 ft, action stageAug 28, 2015: 5.97 ft, action stageSep 1, 2015: 5.51 ft, action stageSep 23, 2015: 5.84 ft, action stageSep 27, 2015: 7.34 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2015: 7.43 ft, minor floodingOct 12, 2015: 5.60 ft, action stageOct 27, 2015: 7.14 ft, minor floodingOct 31, 2015: 5.74 ft, action stageNov 9, 2015: 5.62 ft, action stageNov 22, 2015: 5.82 ft, action stageNov 27, 2015: 6.08 ft, minor floodingJan 10, 2016: 6.11 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 2016: 5.69 ft, action stageFeb 7, 2016: 6.25 ft, minor floodingFeb 12, 2016: 5.65 ft, action stageApr 6, 2016: 5.75 ft, action stageMay 6, 2016: 6.60 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 2016: 5.62 ft, action stageMay 31, 2016: 5.52 ft, action stageJun 4, 2016: 6.15 ft, minor floodingJun 8, 2016: 6.25 ft, minor floodingJun 18, 2016: 5.64 ft, action stageJul 2, 2016: 5.96 ft, action stageJul 30, 2016: 5.63 ft, action stageAug 17, 2016: 5.75 ft, action stageAug 21, 2016: 5.66 ft, action stageAug 31, 2016: 5.73 ft, action stageSep 17, 2016: 6.03 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 2016: 5.91 ft, action stageOct 8, 2016: 6.86 ft, minor floodingOct 12, 2016: 5.81 ft, action stageOct 17, 2016: 6.58 ft, minor floodingOct 21, 2016: 5.94 ft, action stageNov 1, 2016: 5.54 ft, action stageNov 14, 2016: 6.49 ft, minor floodingNov 18, 2016: 5.75 ft, action stageDec 6, 2016: 5.62 ft, action stageDec 13, 2016: 6.31 ft, minor floodingDec 17, 2016: 5.54 ft, action stageMar 14, 2017: 5.52 ft, action stageMar 30, 2017: 5.99 ft, action stageApr 3, 2017: 5.59 ft, action stageApr 24, 2017: 6.63 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2017: 5.95 ft, action stageMay 24, 2017: 5.92 ft, action stageMay 28, 2017: 5.99 ft, action stageJun 7, 2017: 5.84 ft, action stageJun 23, 2017: 5.56 ft, action stageJul 20, 2017: 5.65 ft, action stageJul 24, 2017: 5.53 ft, action stageAug 20, 2017: 5.76 ft, action stageAug 28, 2017: 5.65 ft, action stageSep 11, 2017: 6.51 ft, minor floodingSep 19, 2017: 6.23 ft, minor floodingSep 24, 2017: 5.82 ft, action stageOct 7, 2017: 5.82 ft, action stageOct 13, 2017: 5.94 ft, action stageOct 17, 2017: 6.00 ft, minor floodingNov 5, 2017: 6.34 ft, minor floodingNov 9, 2017: 6.01 ft, minor floodingNov 16, 2017: 5.67 ft, action stageDec 4, 2017: 6.39 ft, minor floodingDec 9, 2017: 6.17 ft, minor floodingJan 3, 2018: 6.22 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 2018: 5.74 ft, action stageFeb 28, 2018: 5.76 ft, action stageMar 7, 2018: 6.22 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2018: 5.53 ft, action stageMar 26, 2018: 5.52 ft, action stageMay 18, 2018: 5.66 ft, action stageJun 12, 2018: 6.09 ft, minor floodingJun 16, 2018: 6.05 ft, minor floodingJul 10, 2018: 6.07 ft, minor floodingJul 14, 2018: 6.19 ft, minor floodingAug 10, 2018: 6.13 ft, minor floodingAug 14, 2018: 5.65 ft, action stageAug 24, 2018: 5.75 ft, action stageSep 9, 2018: 6.36 ft, minor floodingSep 14, 2018: 8.53 ft, moderate floodingSep 25, 2018: 5.50 ft, action stageSep 30, 2018: 5.61 ft, action stageOct 6, 2018: 5.78 ft, action stageOct 10, 2018: 6.10 ft, minor floodingOct 14, 2018: 5.58 ft, action stageOct 26, 2018: 5.99 ft, action stageNov 5, 2018: 5.62 ft, action stageNov 9, 2018: 6.17 ft, minor floodingFeb 20, 2019: 6.87 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 2019: 6.33 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 2019: 5.76 ft, action stageApr 18, 2019: 5.60 ft, action stageMay 7, 2019: 5.96 ft, action stageMay 15, 2019: 6.07 ft, minor floodingMay 19, 2019: 5.62 ft, action stageJun 2, 2019: 6.03 ft, minor floodingJun 12, 2019: 5.73 ft, action stageJun 16, 2019: 5.52 ft, action stageJun 30, 2019: 5.67 ft, action stageJul 4, 2019: 6.44 ft, minor floodingAug 2, 2019: 6.29 ft, minor floodingAug 13, 2019: 5.53 ft, action stageAug 25, 2019: 5.55 ft, action stageAug 29, 2019: 6.53 ft, minor floodingSep 2, 2019: 6.22 ft, minor floodingSep 7, 2019: 5.77 ft, action stageSep 19, 2019: 5.69 ft, action stageSep 27, 2019: 5.79 ft, action stageOct 1, 2019: 6.35 ft, minor floodingOct 5, 2019: 5.88 ft, action stageOct 11, 2019: 6.43 ft, minor floodingOct 16, 2019: 5.71 ft, action stageOct 25, 2019: 5.54 ft, action stageOct 29, 2019: 6.40 ft, minor floodingNov 9, 2019: 5.70 ft, action stageNov 14, 2019: 6.36 ft, minor floodingNov 18, 2019: 6.87 ft, minor floodingNov 26, 2019: 5.60 ft, action stageDec 13, 2019: 5.66 ft, action stageDec 25, 2019: 6.15 ft, minor floodingJan 22, 2020: 6.37 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 2020: 5.81 ft, action stageMar 9, 2020: 5.56 ft, action stageApr 1, 2020: 5.84 ft, action stageApr 6, 2020: 6.10 ft, minor floodingApr 10, 2020: 6.30 ft, minor floodingApr 26, 2020: 5.52 ft, action stageMay 6, 2020: 6.38 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 2020: 5.82 ft, action stageMay 20, 2020: 6.13 ft, minor floodingMay 27, 2020: 5.78 ft, action stageJun 2, 2020: 5.51 ft, action stageJun 6, 2020: 5.98 ft, action stageJun 26, 2020: 5.63 ft, action stageJun 30, 2020: 5.50 ft, action stageJul 4, 2020: 6.20 ft, minor floodingJul 22, 2020: 5.56 ft, action stageAug 4, 2020: 6.98 ft, minor floodingAug 20, 2020: 5.86 ft, action stageSep 15, 2020: 6.52 ft, minor floodingSep 20, 2020: 7.00 ft, minor floodingSep 29, 2020: 5.91 ft, action stageOct 3, 2020: 5.73 ft, action stageOct 14, 2020: 6.37 ft, minor floodingOct 18, 2020: 6.79 ft, minor floodingOct 22, 2020: 5.61 ft, action stageNov 1, 2020: 6.01 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2020: 6.70 ft, minor floodingDec 16, 2020: 7.28 ft, minor floodingJan 8, 2021: 5.97 ft, action stageJan 12, 2021: 6.15 ft, minor floodingJan 16, 2021: 5.56 ft, action stageFeb 1, 2021: 5.90 ft, action stageFeb 12, 2021: 5.55 ft, action stageMar 3, 2021: 5.96 ft, action stageApr 26, 2021: 6.26 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 2021: 5.56 ft, action stageMay 27, 2021: 5.86 ft, action stageMay 31, 2021: 5.82 ft, action stageJun 14, 2021: 5.92 ft, action stageJun 23, 2021: 6.35 ft, minor floodingJun 27, 2021: 5.82 ft, action stageJul 23, 2021: 6.22 ft, minor floodingJul 27, 2021: 5.64 ft, action stageAug 17, 2021: 5.52 ft, action stageAug 21, 2021: 5.79 ft, action stageSep 4, 2021: 5.56 ft, action stageSep 10, 2021: 5.76 ft, action stageSep 18, 2021: 6.01 ft, minor floodingOct 7, 2021: 6.33 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2021: 6.42 ft, minor floodingNov 6, 2021: 7.73 ft, minor floodingNov 10, 2021: 5.73 ft, action stageDec 5, 2021: 6.37 ft, minor floodingDec 20, 2021: 5.75 ft, action stageDec 31, 2021: 5.95 ft, action stageJan 4, 2022: 7.39 ft, minor floodingJan 16, 2022: 5.78 ft, action stageFeb 1, 2022: 5.97 ft, action stageMar 1, 2022: 5.85 ft, action stageApr 18, 2022: 6.23 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 2022: 6.48 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 2022: 6.61 ft, minor floodingJun 12, 2022: 5.99 ft, action stageJun 16, 2022: 6.68 ft, minor floodingJul 11, 2022: 6.17 ft, minor floodingJul 16, 2022: 5.84 ft, action stageAug 14, 2022: 6.49 ft, minor floodingSep 2, 2022: 5.62 ft, action stageSep 9, 2022: 6.83 ft, minor floodingSep 15, 2022: 5.62 ft, action stageSep 23, 2022: 5.67 ft, action stageSep 30, 2022: 7.93 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2022: 6.38 ft, minor floodingOct 9, 2022: 5.76 ft, action stageOct 13, 2022: 5.66 ft, action stageOct 24, 2022: 5.69 ft, action stageOct 28, 2022: 6.46 ft, minor floodingNov 9, 2022: 6.39 ft, minor floodingNov 25, 2022: 6.33 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 2022: 5.75 ft, action stageDec 22, 2022: 6.90 ft, minor floodingJan 22, 2023: 6.56 ft, minor floodingFeb 19, 2023: 5.67 ft, action stageMar 13, 2023: 6.01 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 2023: 5.97 ft, action stageApr 9, 2023: 6.71 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2023: 5.63 ft, action stageMay 11, 2023: 5.66 ft, action stageMay 18, 2023: 5.96 ft, action stageMay 26, 2023: 5.72 ft, action stageJun 1, 2023: 5.96 ft, action stageJun 5, 2023: 7.07 ft, minor floodingJun 17, 2023: 5.64 ft, action stageJun 23, 2023: 5.76 ft, action stageJul 2, 2023: 5.95 ft, action stageJul 6, 2023: 6.44 ft, minor floodingJul 30, 2023: 5.74 ft, action stageAug 3, 2023: 6.66 ft, minor floodingAug 28, 2023: 5.70 ft, action stageSep 1, 2023: 7.01 ft, minor floodingSep 5, 2023: 5.64 ft, action stageSep 22, 2023: 6.01 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 2023: 7.05 ft, minor floodingOct 1, 2023: 6.72 ft, minor floodingOct 12, 2023: 5.56 ft, action stageOct 16, 2023: 6.49 ft, minor floodingOct 20, 2023: 5.68 ft, action stageOct 27, 2023: 5.66 ft, action stageOct 31, 2023: 6.19 ft, minor floodingNov 13, 2023: 6.04 ft, minor floodingNov 17, 2023: 5.81 ft, action stageNov 26, 2023: 6.39 ft, minor floodingDec 12, 2023: 5.61 ft, action stageDec 17, 2023: 7.03 ft, minor flooding Highest, 16.20 ft, Oct 15, 1954 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW) 1950s: 1 1960s: 0 1970s: 0 1980s: 0 1990s: 1 2000s: 20 2010s: 81 81 2020s: 52 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 358 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW)
1Oct 15, 195416.20+10.20Major—
2Sep 6, 199612.70+6.70Major—
3Sep 14, 20188.53+2.53Moderate—
4Sep 30, 20227.93+1.93Minor—
5Nov 6, 20217.73+1.73Minor—
6Oct 4, 20157.43+1.43Minor—
7Jan 4, 20227.39+1.39Minor—
8Sep 27, 20157.34+1.34Minor—
9Dec 13, 20127.31+1.31Minor—
10Dec 16, 20207.28+1.28Minor—
11Oct 27, 20157.14+1.14Minor—
12Sep 25, 20087.11+1.11Minor—
13Jun 5, 20237.07+1.07Minor—
14Sep 27, 20237.05+1.05Minor—
15Jun 6, 20127.04+1.04Minor—
16Dec 17, 20237.03+1.03Minor—
17Sep 1, 20237.01+1.01Minor—
18Oct 9, 20067.00+1.00Minor—
19Sep 20, 20207.00+1.00Minor—
20Aug 4, 20206.98+0.98Minor—
21Dec 22, 20226.90+0.90Minor—
22Feb 20, 20196.87+0.87Minor—
23Nov 18, 20196.87+0.87Minor—
24Oct 8, 20166.86+0.86Minor—
25Aug 26, 20116.85+0.85Minor—
26Sep 9, 20226.83+0.83Minor—
27Oct 18, 20206.79+0.79Minor—
28Nov 15, 20126.78+0.78Minor—
29Oct 1, 20236.72+0.72Minor—
30Apr 9, 20236.71+0.71Minor—
31Nov 15, 20206.70+0.70Minor—
32Jun 16, 20226.68+0.68Minor—
33Aug 3, 20236.66+0.66Minor—
34Mar 7, 20146.63+0.63Minor—
35Apr 24, 20176.63+0.63Minor—
36May 18, 20226.61+0.61Minor—
37May 6, 20166.60+0.60Minor—
38Nov 14, 20096.59+0.59Minor—
39May 8, 20126.59+0.59Minor—
40Oct 17, 20166.58+0.58Minor—
41Jan 22, 20236.56+0.56Minor—
42Oct 9, 20136.54+0.54Minor—
43Aug 29, 20196.53+0.53Minor—
44Oct 28, 20126.52+0.52Minor—
45Sep 15, 20206.52+0.52Minor—
46Sep 11, 20176.51+0.51Minor—
47Oct 29, 20076.50+0.50Minor—
48Jun 22, 20096.49+0.49Minor—
49Nov 14, 20166.49+0.49Minor—
50Aug 14, 20226.49+0.49Minor—

Other gauges in New Hanover County

Flood gauges in New Hanover County
Wilmington (IN MLLW)5.59.03 ft, Aug 4, 20200

New Hanover County: every hazard · River floods across the country · North Carolina

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge JMPN7, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.