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Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown

Highest listed crest 43.20 ftFlood stage 25.0 ft586 crests since 1915

The Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 586 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1915 to 2024. The highest, 43.20 ft on September 23, 1945, was major flooding, 18.20 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Cape Fear River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
43.20 ft
September 23, 1945
Flood stage
25.0 ft
Major flooding from 42.0 ft
Crests at major
2
55th of 314 gauges in North Carolina
Most recent flood crest
September 29, 2024
25.15 ft, minor flooding
Location
Bladen County
North Carolina
Identifiers
NWS ELZN7
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, Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown
Action stage20.0293Mar 31, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)25.0256Sep 29, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage35.04Oct 11, 2016Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage42.02Sep 21, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

586 crests from 1915 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown, 1915 to 2024 1020304050ft Flood stage 25.0 ftMajor 42.0 ft Jun 5, 1915: 32.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 6, 1916: 30.20 ft, minor floodingMar 8, 1917: 30.30 ft, minor floodingJul 23, 1917: 25.10 ft, minor floodingSep 4, 1917: 20.20 ft, action stageApr 24, 1918: 33.90 ft, minor floodingDec 19, 1918: 22.50 ft, action stageJan 6, 1919: 26.50 ft, minor floodingJan 29, 1919: 24.10 ft, action stageFeb 25, 1919: 25.20 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1919: 23.70 ft, action stageJul 9, 1919: 23.90 ft, action stageJul 25, 1919: 34.20 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1920: 20.60 ft, action stageFeb 6, 1920: 25.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 15, 1920: 21.80 ft, action stageApr 30, 1920: 21.30 ft, action stageJul 23, 1920: 29.90 ft, minor floodingAug 23, 1920: 21.30 ft, action stageNov 19, 1920: 19.80 ft, below flood stageDec 3, 1920: 22.40 ft, action stageDec 11, 1920: 30.20 ft, minor floodingDec 16, 1920: 23.90 ft, action stageJan 13, 1921: 25.40 ft, minor floodingJan 17, 1921: 26.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 3, 1921: 25.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1921: 32.30 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1921: 22.90 ft, action stageFeb 8, 1922: 26.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 19, 1922: 32.20 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 1922: 31.70 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1922: 30.20 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 1922: 20.30 ft, action stageJun 5, 1922: 20.70 ft, action stageJul 21, 1922: 22.50 ft, action stageFeb 8, 1923: 22.00 ft, action stageMar 2, 1923: 24.30 ft, action stageMar 16, 1923: 28.40 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 1923: 30.20 ft, minor floodingApr 16, 1923: 24.80 ft, action stageMay 2, 1923: 23.00 ft, action stageJan 19, 1924: 22.80 ft, action stageFeb 23, 1924: 27.20 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 1924: 23.40 ft, action stageApr 14, 1924: 22.40 ft, action stageJul 3, 1924: 24.80 ft, action stageJul 13, 1924: 19.70 ft, below flood stageAug 6, 1924: 22.70 ft, action stageOct 3, 1924: 33.80 ft, minor floodingJan 3, 1925: 28.00 ft, minor floodingJan 14, 1925: 30.70 ft, minor floodingJan 22, 1925: 31.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 13, 1925: 19.70 ft, below flood stageJan 21, 1926: 22.00 ft, action stageFeb 6, 1926: 25.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 22, 1926: 21.40 ft, action stageFeb 28, 1926: 23.10 ft, action stageMar 15, 1926: 21.30 ft, action stageApr 15, 1926: 22.50 ft, action stageMar 11, 1927: 27.40 ft, minor floodingJul 11, 1927: 19.70 ft, below flood stageDec 7, 1927: 30.30 ft, minor floodingDec 19, 1927: 24.90 ft, action stageFeb 25, 1928: 22.60 ft, action stageMar 20, 1928: 21.40 ft, action stageApr 14, 1928: 25.40 ft, minor floodingMay 1, 1928: 31.20 ft, minor floodingJun 7, 1928: 19.90 ft, below flood stageAug 19, 1928: 27.40 ft, minor floodingAug 25, 1928: 26.70 ft, minor floodingSep 9, 1928: 35.70 ft, moderate floodingSep 23, 1928: 39.10 ft, moderate floodingFeb 19, 1929: 22.10 ft, action stageFeb 24, 1929: 21.00 ft, action stageMar 4, 1929: 33.80 ft, minor floodingMar 8, 1929: 33.20 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 1929: 24.20 ft, action stageMar 26, 1929: 25.20 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 1929: 23.00 ft, action stageMay 23, 1929: 23.00 ft, action stageJul 15, 1929: 20.20 ft, action stageOct 6, 1929: 38.90 ft, moderate floodingNov 6, 1929: 24.10 ft, action stageNov 29, 1929: 21.00 ft, action stageDec 5, 1929: 24.00 ft, action stageJan 20, 1930: 20.50 ft, action stageFeb 7, 1930: 24.80 ft, action stageApr 9, 1931: 25.70 ft, minor floodingMay 24, 1931: 26.60 ft, minor floodingAug 16, 1931: 22.70 ft, action stageAug 24, 1931: 29.00 ft, minor floodingJan 12, 1932: 30.90 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 1932: 30.40 ft, minor floodingJun 15, 1932: 23.40 ft, action stageOct 20, 1932: 24.90 ft, action stageNov 9, 1932: 20.60 ft, action stageDec 17, 1932: 27.20 ft, minor floodingDec 29, 1932: 26.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1933: 19.50 ft, below flood stageMar 30, 1934: 20.90 ft, action stageApr 12, 1934: 26.60 ft, minor floodingJun 9, 1934: 24.90 ft, action stageSep 9, 1934: 20.00 ft, action stageSep 19, 1934: 22.30 ft, action stageDec 4, 1934: 29.30 ft, minor floodingJan 3, 1935: 23.70 ft, action stageJan 11, 1935: 19.90 ft, below flood stageJan 25, 1935: 20.40 ft, action stageFeb 17, 1935: 21.60 ft, action stageMar 1, 1935: 22.00 ft, action stageMar 15, 1935: 25.60 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1935: 25.30 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1935: 24.20 ft, action stageApr 10, 1935: 24.30 ft, action stageApr 24, 1935: 23.50 ft, action stageMay 23, 1935: 21.10 ft, action stageSep 8, 1935: 26.00 ft, minor floodingJan 7, 1936: 31.30 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 1936: 30.10 ft, minor floodingFeb 7, 1936: 27.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 1936: 31.70 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1936: 19.90 ft, below flood stageMar 21, 1936: 30.60 ft, minor floodingMar 30, 1936: 26.40 ft, minor floodingApr 5, 1936: 28.60 ft, minor floodingApr 10, 1936: 34.80 ft, minor floodingJun 26, 1936: 20.00 ft, action stageAug 2, 1936: 22.30 ft, action stageOct 11, 1936: 21.90 ft, action stageDec 15, 1936: 27.00 ft, minor floodingDec 19, 1936: 26.90 ft, minor floodingJan 6, 1937: 28.10 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 1937: 28.10 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1937: 29.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 12, 1937: 21.30 ft, action stageFeb 24, 1937: 23.50 ft, action stageApr 8, 1937: 21.80 ft, action stageApr 27, 1937: 27.00 ft, minor floodingAug 28, 1937: 19.80 ft, below flood stageSep 1, 1937: 19.80 ft, below flood stageJan 9, 1938: 20.80 ft, action stageApr 11, 1938: 23.80 ft, action stageJul 28, 1938: 30.70 ft, minor floodingDec 29, 1938: 21.90 ft, action stageFeb 9, 1939: 20.50 ft, action stageFeb 13, 1939: 30.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 1939: 27.10 ft, minor floodingMar 3, 1939: 30.80 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 1939: 20.20 ft, action stageMay 5, 1939: 21.40 ft, action stageJul 23, 1939: 22.00 ft, action stageAug 21, 1939: 29.00 ft, minor floodingAug 31, 1939: 28.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 1940: 26.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 1940: 20.90 ft, action stageMar 17, 1940: 22.60 ft, action stageNov 17, 1940: 24.70 ft, action stageMar 10, 1941: 20.60 ft, action stageMar 30, 1941: 21.70 ft, action stageApr 7, 1941: 24.60 ft, action stageFeb 20, 1942: 23.60 ft, action stageMar 5, 1942: 20.30 ft, action stageMar 11, 1942: 25.40 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 1942: 20.30 ft, action stageAug 21, 1942: 21.30 ft, action stageSep 9, 1942: 21.50 ft, action stageJan 1, 1943: 22.30 ft, action stageJan 22, 1943: 28.60 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1943: 25.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 1943: 26.00 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1943: 25.90 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 1943: 23.10 ft, action stageApr 22, 1943: 27.50 ft, minor floodingJul 15, 1943: 28.70 ft, minor floodingJan 6, 1944: 23.20 ft, action stageJan 18, 1944: 27.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1944: 23.30 ft, action stageFeb 20, 1944: 27.00 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 1944: 24.30 ft, action stageMar 15, 1944: 27.30 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1944: 30.30 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1944: 24.20 ft, action stageApr 15, 1944: 29.80 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 1944: 20.10 ft, action stageJul 18, 1944: 27.30 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 1944: 30.80 ft, minor floodingOct 23, 1944: 21.70 ft, action stageDec 2, 1944: 21.60 ft, action stageFeb 16, 1945: 23.20 ft, action stageFeb 20, 1945: 24.60 ft, action stageFeb 25, 1945: 26.10 ft, minor floodingJul 19, 1945: 20.50 ft, action stageAug 23, 1945: 20.70 ft, action stageSep 23, 1945: 43.20 ft, major floodingDec 8, 1945: 25.50 ft, minor floodingDec 28, 1945: 26.80 ft, minor floodingJan 1, 1946: 29.00 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 1946: 21.70 ft, action stageFeb 3, 1946: 22.00 ft, action stageFeb 14, 1946: 31.10 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 1946: 20.60 ft, action stageJun 24, 1946: 20.60 ft, action stageJul 5, 1946: 19.60 ft, below flood stageJul 12, 1946: 20.00 ft, action stageAug 27, 1946: 20.80 ft, action stageOct 11, 1946: 18.70 ft, below flood stageJan 17, 1947: 27.80 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 1947: 29.30 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 1947: 20.50 ft, action stageMar 16, 1947: 19.70 ft, below flood stageApr 17, 1947: 23.60 ft, action stageSep 28, 1947: 27.80 ft, minor floodingNov 14, 1947: 25.80 ft, minor floodingNov 20, 1947: 20.80 ft, action stageJan 16, 1948: 23.60 ft, action stageFeb 9, 1948: 28.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 17, 1948: 32.90 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 1948: 26.90 ft, minor floodingApr 4, 1948: 23.70 ft, action stageJun 2, 1948: 19.70 ft, below flood stageOct 7, 1948: 21.30 ft, action stageNov 6, 1948: 21.40 ft, action stageNov 22, 1948: 20.40 ft, action stageNov 26, 1948: 20.80 ft, action stageDec 2, 1948: 31.70 ft, minor floodingDec 27, 1948: 20.30 ft, action stageJan 2, 1949: 27.70 ft, minor floodingJan 9, 1949: 24.40 ft, action stageFeb 22, 1949: 21.80 ft, action stageMay 5, 1949: 24.10 ft, action stageMay 13, 1949: 26.20 ft, minor floodingJul 18, 1949: 22.50 ft, action stageAug 19, 1949: 21.40 ft, action stageAug 31, 1949: 29.90 ft, minor floodingOct 10, 1949: 22.80 ft, action stageNov 3, 1949: 28.50 ft, minor floodingMar 25, 1950: 22.50 ft, action stageMay 17, 1950: 25.95 ft, minor floodingJul 15, 1950: 20.20 ft, action stageApr 11, 1951: 26.70 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1952: 26.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 6, 1952: 25.30 ft, minor floodingMar 8, 1952: 34.20 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1952: 23.50 ft, action stageMar 27, 1952: 28.90 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1952: 20.70 ft, action stageSep 4, 1952: 32.10 ft, minor floodingNov 24, 1952: 29.00 ft, minor floodingJan 3, 1953: 24.70 ft, action stageJan 12, 1953: 24.60 ft, action stageJan 27, 1953: 25.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 1953: 29.70 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1953: 20.40 ft, action stageMar 18, 1953: 26.50 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1953: 27.20 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 1953: 22.60 ft, action stageDec 16, 1953: 19.60 ft, below flood stageJan 19, 1954: 28.20 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 1954: 32.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1954: 20.50 ft, action stageMar 17, 1954: 22.50 ft, action stageApr 3, 1954: 23.20 ft, action stageOct 19, 1954: 30.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 10, 1955: 27.90 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 1955: 26.00 ft, minor floodingAug 20, 1955: 29.50 ft, minor floodingAug 25, 1955: 22.10 ft, action stageSep 6, 1955: 31.40 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 1955: 19.90 ft, below flood stageFeb 9, 1956: 26.30 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 1956: 29.40 ft, minor floodingOct 24, 1956: 21.30 ft, action stageDec 18, 1956: 20.90 ft, action stageDec 26, 1956: 20.60 ft, action stageFeb 4, 1957: 29.50 ft, minor floodingMar 3, 1957: 29.80 ft, minor floodingJun 10, 1957: 22.20 ft, action stageAug 27, 1957: 20.20 ft, action stageOct 3, 1957: 24.20 ft, action stageNov 28, 1957: 31.70 ft, minor floodingDec 11, 1957: 22.00 ft, action stageJan 17, 1958: 27.90 ft, minor floodingJan 29, 1958: 29.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 10, 1958: 23.40 ft, action stageMar 2, 1958: 27.80 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1958: 22.90 ft, action stageApr 9, 1958: 24.60 ft, action stageApr 13, 1958: 26.40 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 1958: 28.90 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 1958: 30.50 ft, minor floodingDec 31, 1958: 26.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 6, 1959: 25.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 17, 1959: 20.20 ft, action stageMar 8, 1959: 23.20 ft, action stageApr 16, 1959: 30.10 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 1959: 29.80 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 1959: 22.50 ft, action stageJul 13, 1959: 22.40 ft, action stageAug 2, 1959: 21.20 ft, action stageSep 9, 1959: 20.90 ft, action stageOct 17, 1959: 27.30 ft, minor floodingNov 27, 1959: 20.00 ft, action stageDec 21, 1959: 24.00 ft, action stageJan 10, 1960: 25.70 ft, minor floodingFeb 4, 1960: 30.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 1960: 30.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 16, 1960: 27.70 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 1960: 29.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 28, 1960: 21.80 ft, action stageMar 21, 1960: 28.30 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1960: 27.90 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1960: 31.40 ft, minor floodingJul 31, 1960: 19.70 ft, below flood stageFeb 11, 1961: 24.90 ft, action stageFeb 27, 1961: 29.80 ft, minor floodingMar 25, 1961: 28.00 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1961: 24.80 ft, action stageApr 12, 1961: 21.80 ft, action stageMay 14, 1961: 22.90 ft, action stageJan 10, 1962: 31.00 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1962: 25.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 25, 1962: 24.10 ft, action stageMar 1, 1962: 24.60 ft, action stageMar 14, 1962: 26.20 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1962: 24.20 ft, action stageApr 14, 1962: 27.30 ft, minor floodingJul 6, 1962: 21.50 ft, action stageNov 12, 1962: 26.70 ft, minor floodingDec 7, 1962: 20.90 ft, action stageJan 1, 1963: 21.00 ft, action stageJan 23, 1963: 28.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1963: 20.20 ft, action stageFeb 22, 1963: 20.60 ft, action stageMar 9, 1963: 28.70 ft, minor floodingMar 15, 1963: 24.20 ft, action stageMar 22, 1963: 21.70 ft, action stageNov 9, 1963: 21.70 ft, action stageJan 12, 1964: 22.90 ft, action stageJan 28, 1964: 23.70 ft, action stageFeb 9, 1964: 21.60 ft, action stageFeb 21, 1964: 27.50 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 1964: 25.90 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 1964: 29.70 ft, minor floodingSep 3, 1964: 27.60 ft, minor floodingOct 8, 1964: 33.20 ft, minor floodingOct 20, 1964: 25.00 ft, minor floodingDec 30, 1964: 28.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 11, 1965: 28.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 17, 1965: 20.40 ft, action stageMar 7, 1965: 28.30 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1965: 28.20 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1965: 20.70 ft, action stageJun 19, 1965: 27.90 ft, minor floodingJul 31, 1965: 30.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 19, 1966: 26.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 27, 1966: 23.80 ft, action stageMar 7, 1966: 31.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1967: 22.90 ft, action stageAug 13, 1967: 19.80 ft, below flood stageAug 27, 1967: 24.80 ft, action stageSep 11, 1967: 17.90 ft, below flood stageDec 25, 1967: 19.20 ft, below flood stageDec 31, 1967: 24.70 ft, action stageJan 13, 1968: 20.70 ft, action stageJan 17, 1968: 28.40 ft, minor floodingMar 15, 1968: 25.50 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 1968: 19.60 ft, below flood stageJan 23, 1969: 19.20 ft, below flood stageFeb 5, 1969: 24.80 ft, action stageMar 9, 1969: 26.10 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 1970: 21.00 ft, action stageFeb 20, 1970: 27.10 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 1970: 23.40 ft, action stageApr 5, 1970: 23.70 ft, action stageApr 16, 1970: 19.70 ft, below flood stageAug 13, 1970: 20.20 ft, action stageJan 8, 1971: 23.20 ft, action stageFeb 11, 1971: 29.30 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1971: 31.20 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1971: 19.30 ft, below flood stageMay 19, 1971: 26.00 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 1971: 20.90 ft, action stageOct 13, 1971: 23.10 ft, action stageOct 28, 1971: 28.50 ft, minor floodingJan 15, 1972: 21.20 ft, action stageFeb 6, 1972: 28.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 15, 1972: 22.20 ft, action stageMay 18, 1972: 20.00 ft, action stageJun 25, 1972: 27.80 ft, minor floodingNov 23, 1972: 21.60 ft, action stageNov 28, 1972: 20.50 ft, action stageDec 20, 1972: 30.40 ft, minor floodingDec 25, 1972: 27.10 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1973: 21.90 ft, action stageFeb 6, 1973: 32.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 17, 1973: 20.50 ft, action stageMar 7, 1973: 26.30 ft, minor floodingMar 14, 1973: 20.20 ft, action stageApr 5, 1973: 31.70 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 1973: 28.70 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1973: 23.80 ft, action stageJun 25, 1973: 27.00 ft, minor floodingJul 2, 1973: 21.80 ft, action stageJan 31, 1974: 23.30 ft, action stageFeb 5, 1974: 20.00 ft, action stageFeb 10, 1974: 20.50 ft, action stageApr 1, 1974: 22.40 ft, action stageMay 15, 1974: 20.30 ft, action stageAug 8, 1974: 24.00 ft, action stageSep 10, 1974: 24.90 ft, action stageDec 10, 1974: 21.10 ft, action stageJan 16, 1975: 30.20 ft, minor floodingJan 22, 1975: 22.60 ft, action stageJan 28, 1975: 27.10 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 1975: 25.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 1975: 19.90 ft, below flood stageMar 21, 1975: 30.80 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1975: 21.80 ft, action stageMay 21, 1975: 19.80 ft, below flood stageJul 19, 1975: 31.80 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 1975: 24.90 ft, action stageJan 3, 1976: 22.10 ft, action stageJan 30, 1976: 23.00 ft, action stageFeb 4, 1976: 22.70 ft, action stageJun 23, 1976: 18.80 ft, below flood stageDec 15, 1976: 21.10 ft, action stageJan 13, 1977: 25.90 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1977: 22.40 ft, action stageMar 15, 1977: 24.20 ft, action stageMar 24, 1977: 23.40 ft, action stageApr 2, 1977: 22.90 ft, action stageSep 11, 1977: 20.70 ft, action stageJan 13, 1978: 23.80 ft, action stageJan 17, 1978: 25.70 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 1978: 29.60 ft, minor floodingJan 29, 1978: 29.90 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1978: 27.20 ft, minor floodingApr 29, 1978: 30.10 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 1978: 28.90 ft, minor floodingJun 11, 1978: 20.10 ft, action stageJan 25, 1979: 28.00 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 1979: 32.60 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1979: 24.00 ft, action stageApr 7, 1979: 22.00 ft, action stageApr 30, 1979: 21.00 ft, action stageMay 17, 1979: 23.00 ft, action stageJun 6, 1979: 20.00 ft, action stageSep 10, 1979: 29.30 ft, minor floodingNov 14, 1979: 24.50 ft, action stageNov 28, 1979: 20.80 ft, action stageJan 14, 1980: 19.80 ft, below flood stageJan 21, 1980: 22.50 ft, action stageJan 25, 1980: 21.20 ft, action stageMar 8, 1980: 20.80 ft, action stageMar 24, 1980: 26.60 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 1980: 22.50 ft, action stageApr 17, 1980: 21.30 ft, action stageFeb 14, 1981: 22.00 ft, action stageFeb 22, 1981: 20.10 ft, action stageJan 6, 1982: 26.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 7, 1982: 23.50 ft, action stageMar 10, 1982: 24.40 ft, action stageApr 30, 1982: 20.80 ft, action stageJun 9, 1982: 22.80 ft, action stageJun 14, 1982: 27.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 1983: 20.10 ft, action stageFeb 18, 1983: 25.60 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1983: 22.70 ft, action stageMar 22, 1983: 28.70 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1983: 25.90 ft, minor floodingApr 5, 1983: 20.00 ft, action stageApr 19, 1983: 22.00 ft, action stageDec 9, 1983: 24.50 ft, action stageDec 14, 1983: 22.70 ft, action stageFeb 18, 1984: 27.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 26, 1984: 25.70 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 1984: 26.20 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1984: 28.40 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1984: 23.70 ft, action stageApr 13, 1984: 23.60 ft, action stageApr 26, 1984: 20.40 ft, action stageJun 1, 1984: 22.40 ft, action stageJul 21, 1984: 24.00 ft, action stageAug 3, 1984: 24.50 ft, action stageSep 15, 1984: 16.10 ft, below flood stageJan 6, 1985: 20.30 ft, action stageFeb 5, 1985: 24.40 ft, action stageAug 22, 1985: 21.30 ft, action stageNov 26, 1985: 25.90 ft, minor floodingDec 2, 1985: 23.50 ft, action stageAug 23, 1986: 19.80 ft, below flood stageJan 25, 1987: 28.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 25, 1987: 21.70 ft, action stageMar 5, 1987: 31.10 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 1987: 23.00 ft, action stageNov 3, 1988: 19.20 ft, below flood stageFeb 25, 1989: 24.00 ft, action stageMar 6, 1989: 25.80 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 1989: 27.00 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1989: 28.10 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 1989: 21.50 ft, action stageMay 5, 1989: 27.60 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 1989: 25.20 ft, minor floodingJul 20, 1989: 23.70 ft, action stageOct 6, 1989: 25.20 ft, minor floodingDec 18, 1989: 22.50 ft, action stageFeb 25, 1990: 22.30 ft, action stageApr 3, 1990: 23.70 ft, action stageOct 28, 1990: 24.40 ft, action stageJan 11, 1991: 20.50 ft, action stageJan 15, 1991: 24.10 ft, action stageJan 23, 1991: 23.50 ft, action stageMar 7, 1991: 22.90 ft, action stageApr 1, 1991: 21.90 ft, action stageApr 28, 1992: 21.30 ft, action stageJun 28, 1992: 20.10 ft, action stageJan 11, 1993: 25.80 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 1993: 21.20 ft, action stageMar 8, 1993: 26.40 ft, minor floodingMar 16, 1993: 25.10 ft, minor floodingMar 29, 1993: 25.60 ft, minor floodingApr 9, 1993: 28.40 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1994: 28.10 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1994: 22.50 ft, action stageFeb 21, 1995: 30.20 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 1995: 22.40 ft, action stageJun 21, 1995: 20.90 ft, action stageOct 9, 1995: 23.50 ft, action stageNov 15, 1995: 21.31 ft, action stageJan 29, 1996: 22.20 ft, action stageSep 9, 1996: 32.00 ft, minor floodingSep 19, 1996: 32.00 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 1996: 25.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 1997: 24.80 ft, action stageMay 2, 1997: 25.60 ft, minor floodingJul 27, 1997: 26.30 ft, minor floodingJan 12, 1998: 22.90 ft, action stageJan 21, 1998: 26.00 ft, minor floodingJan 30, 1998: 28.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 6, 1998: 29.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 20, 1998: 29.40 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1998: 29.50 ft, minor floodingMar 23, 1998: 32.00 ft, minor floodingApr 12, 1998: 21.00 ft, action stageJan 27, 1999: 24.30 ft, action stageSep 8, 1999: 20.70 ft, action stageOct 2, 1999: 26.80 ft, minor floodingOct 19, 1999: 24.80 ft, action stageFeb 2, 2000: 22.90 ft, action stageFeb 16, 2000: 21.80 ft, action stageApr 21, 2001: 20.80 ft, action stageJan 26, 2002: 20.80 ft, action stageOct 16, 2002: 20.09 ft, action stageNov 21, 2002: 21.00 ft, action stageFeb 26, 2003: 22.80 ft, action stageMar 5, 2003: 25.40 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 2003: 27.90 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 2003: 30.70 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 2003: 26.70 ft, minor floodingJun 22, 2003: 20.40 ft, action stageJul 5, 2003: 22.20 ft, action stageAug 13, 2003: 27.70 ft, minor floodingSep 1, 2004: 20.60 ft, action stageSep 10, 2004: 29.50 ft, minor floodingJun 17, 2006: 25.00 ft, minor floodingNov 28, 2006: 23.70 ft, action stageMar 5, 2007: 21.50 ft, action stageSep 9, 2008: 26.30 ft, minor floodingMar 5, 2009: 25.10 ft, minor floodingFeb 10, 2010: 29.50 ft, minor floodingJun 11, 2013: 26.00 ft, minor floodingJul 5, 2013: 26.00 ft, minor floodingJul 15, 2013: 25.30 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 2014: 26.20 ft, minor flooding; 25,461 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 25.10 ft, minor flooding; 23,188 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 2016: 36.44 ft, moderate floodingSep 21, 2018: 42.51 ft, major flooding; 202,223 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 2023: 21.05 ft, action stageApr 11, 2023: 26.64 ft, minor floodingDec 20, 2023: 22.08 ft, action stageDec 29, 2023: 20.71 ft, action stageJan 15, 2024: 27.09 ft, minor floodingMar 31, 2024: 21.98 ft, action stageAug 12, 2024: 32.02 ft, minor floodingSep 20, 2024: 26.10 ft, minor floodingSep 29, 2024: 25.15 ft, minor flooding Highest, 43.20 ft, Sep 23, 1945 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown 1910s: 8 1920s: 31 1930s: 32 1940s: 33 1950s: 35 35 1960s: 34 1970s: 29 1980s: 19 1990s: 19 2000s: 9 2010s: 8 2020s: 5 1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 586 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Cape Fear River at Elizabethtown
1Sep 23, 194543.20+18.20Major—
2Sep 21, 201842.51+17.51Major202,223
3Sep 23, 192839.10+14.10Moderate—
4Oct 6, 192938.90+13.90Moderate—
5Oct 11, 201636.44+11.44Moderate—
6Sep 9, 192835.70+10.70Moderate—
7Apr 10, 193634.80+9.80Minor—
8Jul 25, 191934.20+9.20Minor—
9Mar 8, 195234.20+9.20Minor—
10Apr 24, 191833.90+8.90Minor—
11Oct 3, 192433.80+8.80Minor—
12Mar 4, 192933.80+8.80Minor—
13Mar 8, 192933.20+8.20Minor—
14Oct 8, 196433.20+8.20Minor—
15Feb 17, 194832.90+7.90Minor—
16Jan 25, 195432.60+7.60Minor—
17Feb 6, 197332.60+7.60Minor—
18Mar 1, 197932.60+7.60Minor—
19Feb 14, 192132.30+7.30Minor—
20Feb 19, 192232.20+7.20Minor—
21Sep 4, 195232.10+7.10Minor—
22Aug 12, 202432.02+7.02Minor—
23Jun 5, 191532.00+7.00Minor—
24Sep 9, 199632.00+7.00Minor—
25Sep 19, 199632.00+7.00Minor—
26Mar 23, 199832.00+7.00Minor—
27Jan 22, 192531.80+6.80Minor—
28Jul 19, 197531.80+6.80Minor—
29Mar 7, 192231.70+6.70Minor—
30Feb 18, 193631.70+6.70Minor—
31Dec 2, 194831.70+6.70Minor—
32Nov 28, 195731.70+6.70Minor—
33Apr 5, 197331.70+6.70Minor—
34Sep 6, 195531.40+6.40Minor—
35Apr 8, 196031.40+6.40Minor—
36Jan 7, 193631.30+6.30Minor—
37Mar 7, 196631.30+6.30Minor—
38May 1, 192831.20+6.20Minor—
39Mar 6, 197131.20+6.20Minor—
40Feb 14, 194631.10+6.10Minor—
41Mar 5, 198731.10+6.10Minor—
42Jan 10, 196231.00+6.00Minor—
43Jan 12, 193230.90+5.90Minor—
44Mar 3, 193930.80+5.80Minor—
45Oct 4, 194430.80+5.80Minor—
46Mar 21, 197530.80+5.80Minor—
47Jan 14, 192530.70+5.70Minor—
48Jul 28, 193830.70+5.70Minor—
49Apr 15, 200330.70+5.70Minor—
50Mar 21, 193630.60+5.60Minor—

The worst floods along the Cape Fear River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Cape Fear River that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 23, 1945: 43.20 ft here, major flooding

  • W.O. Huske LockNC · Sep 22, 1945 · 75.50 ft · Major · its highest
  • LillingtonNC · Sep 19, 1945 · 33.19 ft · Major · its highest

September 21, 2018: 42.51 ft here, major flooding

September 23, 1928: 39.10 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Cape Fear River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Cape Fear River
Elizabethtown this gaugeNC25.043.20 ft, Sep 23, 19452
FayettevilleNC35.065.30 ft, Oct 4, 19296
LillingtonNC14.033.19 ft, Sep 19, 19452
Lock 1NC24.030.68 ft, Sep 21, 20182
W.O. Huske LockNC42.075.50 ft, Sep 22, 19453
Wilmington (IN MLLW)NC5.59.03 ft, Aug 4, 20200

Other gauges in Bladen County

Flood gauges in Bladen County
Lock 124.030.68 ft, Sep 21, 20182
W.O. Huske Lock42.075.50 ft, Sep 22, 19453

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ELZN7, 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.