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Cape Fear River at Wilmington (IN MLLW)

Highest listed crest 9.03 ftFlood stage 5.5 ft481 crests since 1944

The Cape Fear River at Wilmington (IN MLLW) crested above flood stage 481 times among the 481 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1944 to 2026. The highest, 9.03 ft on August 4, 2020, was moderate flooding, 3.53 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
9.03 ft
August 4, 2020
Flood stage
5.5 ft
Major flooding from 10.0 ft
Crests at major
0
481 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 15, 2026
6.01 ft, minor flooding
Location
New Hanover County
Near Wilmington (4.0 mi), Leland (5.2 mi)
Identifiers
NWS WLON7
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 Wilmington (IN MLLW)
Action stage5.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)5.5457Jun 15, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage6.824Sep 22, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage10.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

481 crests from 1944 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cape Fear River at Wilmington (IN MLLW), 1944 to 2026 5678910ft Flood stage 5.5 ftMajor 10.0 ft Aug 2, 1944: 6.05 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1952: 5.95 ft, minor floodingOct 15, 1954: 8.05 ft, moderate floodingAug 17, 1955: 6.15 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1962: 6.05 ft, minor floodingFeb 12, 1973: 5.90 ft, minor floodingMar 17, 1973: 5.99 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1973: 6.01 ft, minor floodingJun 2, 1977: 5.80 ft, minor floodingNov 10, 1977: 5.92 ft, minor floodingMay 5, 1978: 5.83 ft, minor floodingSep 5, 1979: 6.34 ft, minor floodingOct 5, 1979: 5.79 ft, minor floodingJan 18, 1980: 5.79 ft, minor floodingNov 14, 1981: 5.81 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1983: 5.91 ft, minor floodingFeb 25, 1983: 5.80 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 1983: 5.80 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 1983: 6.05 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1983: 6.04 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1984: 5.90 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 1984: 5.92 ft, minor floodingSep 13, 1984: 6.14 ft, minor floodingFeb 12, 1985: 6.35 ft, minor floodingDec 2, 1986: 6.23 ft, minor floodingJan 1, 1987: 6.90 ft, moderate floodingMar 1, 1987: 5.88 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 1987: 5.83 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1989: 5.92 ft, minor floodingMay 6, 1989: 6.20 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 1989: 6.35 ft, minor floodingMay 24, 1990: 5.78 ft, minor floodingNov 10, 1990: 5.82 ft, minor floodingAug 10, 1991: 5.79 ft, minor floodingNov 2, 1991: 6.12 ft, minor floodingJul 1, 1992: 5.79 ft, minor floodingNov 21, 1992: 5.97 ft, minor floodingJan 8, 1993: 5.81 ft, minor floodingJan 12, 1993: 6.05 ft, minor floodingJan 17, 1993: 5.83 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1993: 7.50 ft, moderate floodingApr 9, 1993: 5.98 ft, minor floodingMay 23, 1994: 6.00 ft, minor floodingDec 31, 1994: 5.87 ft, minor floodingJul 12, 1995: 6.19 ft, minor floodingNov 23, 1995: 5.82 ft, minor floodingSep 6, 1996: 7.01 ft, moderate floodingSep 14, 1996: 5.91 ft, minor floodingSep 19, 1996: 5.87 ft, minor floodingSep 25, 1996: 5.98 ft, minor floodingOct 8, 1996: 7.22 ft, moderate floodingJan 9, 1997: 6.04 ft, minor floodingJan 30, 1998: 6.34 ft, minor floodingFeb 4, 1998: 6.53 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 1998: 6.11 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1998: 5.92 ft, minor floodingFeb 27, 1998: 6.61 ft, minor floodingFeb 2, 1999: 5.89 ft, minor floodingSep 1, 1999: 5.84 ft, minor floodingSep 16, 1999: 7.31 ft, moderate floodingSep 24, 1999: 6.89 ft, moderate floodingSep 29, 1999: 6.49 ft, minor floodingOct 7, 1999: 6.02 ft, minor floodingOct 17, 1999: 6.01 ft, minor floodingOct 23, 1999: 6.03 ft, minor floodingJul 3, 2000: 5.82 ft, minor floodingAug 31, 2000: 5.78 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2001: 6.00 ft, minor floodingJul 22, 2001: 5.87 ft, minor floodingSep 17, 2001: 6.04 ft, minor floodingMar 30, 2002: 5.97 ft, minor floodingAug 9, 2002: 5.82 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2002: 5.86 ft, minor floodingNov 6, 2002: 5.95 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2003: 6.19 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 2003: 6.10 ft, minor floodingApr 21, 2003: 6.28 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2003: 5.78 ft, minor floodingSep 28, 2003: 6.24 ft, minor floodingAug 30, 2004: 5.84 ft, minor floodingOct 15, 2004: 6.06 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 2005: 6.09 ft, minor floodingMay 26, 2005: 5.97 ft, minor floodingSep 18, 2005: 5.92 ft, minor floodingOct 7, 2005: 5.96 ft, minor floodingOct 16, 2005: 6.35 ft, minor floodingSep 4, 2006: 5.81 ft, minor floodingSep 8, 2006: 6.24 ft, minor floodingSep 13, 2006: 5.96 ft, minor floodingOct 9, 2006: 6.17 ft, minor floodingNov 7, 2006: 5.84 ft, minor floodingNov 25, 2006: 5.86 ft, minor floodingDec 25, 2006: 6.46 ft, minor floodingJan 1, 2007: 5.96 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 2007: 5.88 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2007: 6.14 ft, minor floodingJun 16, 2007: 5.99 ft, minor floodingApr 10, 2008: 6.22 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2008: 5.92 ft, minor floodingSep 6, 2008: 6.71 ft, minor floodingSep 15, 2008: 6.00 ft, minor floodingSep 20, 2008: 5.79 ft, minor floodingSep 26, 2008: 6.25 ft, minor floodingOct 25, 2008: 6.26 ft, minor floodingNov 13, 2008: 6.17 ft, minor floodingJun 23, 2009: 6.38 ft, minor floodingSep 15, 2009: 5.84 ft, minor floodingSep 19, 2009: 5.99 ft, minor floodingOct 17, 2009: 5.90 ft, minor floodingNov 4, 2009: 5.82 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2009: 6.52 ft, minor floodingNov 19, 2009: 6.16 ft, minor floodingDec 2, 2009: 5.98 ft, minor floodingDec 9, 2009: 6.29 ft, minor floodingDec 19, 2009: 6.22 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 2010: 5.92 ft, minor floodingJan 30, 2010: 5.81 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2010: 6.10 ft, minor floodingOct 5, 2010: 6.09 ft, minor floodingOct 9, 2010: 6.43 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 2011: 6.01 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2011: 6.07 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2011: 5.83 ft, minor floodingDec 27, 2011: 6.01 ft, minor floodingApr 7, 2012: 6.14 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 2012: 6.09 ft, minor floodingJun 2, 2012: 5.92 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 2012: 6.34 ft, minor floodingAug 31, 2012: 5.87 ft, minor floodingSep 18, 2012: 6.00 ft, minor floodingOct 30, 2012: 5.91 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2012: 6.05 ft, minor floodingDec 14, 2012: 5.82 ft, minor floodingMay 26, 2013: 5.86 ft, minor floodingJun 23, 2013: 5.96 ft, minor floodingJul 22, 2013: 6.23 ft, minor floodingAug 20, 2013: 5.79 ft, minor floodingDec 4, 2013: 5.87 ft, minor floodingJan 5, 2014: 6.26 ft, minor floodingFeb 27, 2014: 6.12 ft, minor floodingApr 22, 2014: 6.02 ft, minor floodingApr 29, 2014: 5.98 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2014: 6.06 ft, minor floodingJun 14, 2014: 5.87 ft, minor floodingAug 10, 2014: 6.11 ft, minor floodingAug 15, 2014: 5.82 ft, minor floodingSep 11, 2014: 6.10 ft, minor floodingOct 6, 2014: 5.96 ft, minor floodingDec 24, 2014: 6.08 ft, minor floodingJan 18, 2015: 5.92 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 2015: 6.14 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 2015: 5.79 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2015: 5.94 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 2015: 6.20 ft, minor floodingSep 28, 2015: 6.46 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2015: 6.84 ft, moderate floodingOct 8, 2015: 6.07 ft, minor floodingOct 12, 2015: 5.97 ft, minor floodingOct 28, 2015: 6.63 ft, minor floodingNov 10, 2015: 5.94 ft, minor floodingNov 24, 2015: 6.01 ft, minor floodingNov 28, 2015: 5.92 ft, minor floodingDec 24, 2015: 5.80 ft, minor floodingDec 29, 2015: 5.95 ft, minor floodingJan 10, 2016: 6.58 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 2016: 5.85 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 2016: 6.72 ft, minor floodingFeb 16, 2016: 5.84 ft, minor floodingFeb 24, 2016: 5.97 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2016: 6.36 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2016: 5.81 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 2016: 6.20 ft, minor floodingJul 3, 2016: 5.92 ft, minor floodingSep 3, 2016: 6.12 ft, minor floodingOct 8, 2016: 8.21 ft, moderate floodingOct 12, 2016: 6.60 ft, minor floodingOct 17, 2016: 7.36 ft, moderate floodingOct 21, 2016: 6.51 ft, minor floodingNov 14, 2016: 6.17 ft, minor floodingDec 15, 2016: 5.86 ft, minor floodingMar 31, 2017: 5.85 ft, minor floodingApr 25, 2017: 6.28 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 2017: 6.06 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 2017: 5.96 ft, minor floodingJun 24, 2017: 5.94 ft, minor floodingJul 22, 2017: 5.91 ft, minor floodingAug 19, 2017: 5.79 ft, minor floodingSep 12, 2017: 6.06 ft, minor floodingSep 20, 2017: 6.03 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 2017: 5.90 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 2018: 6.15 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2018: 5.79 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 2018: 5.83 ft, minor floodingJun 13, 2018: 5.89 ft, minor floodingJul 11, 2018: 5.81 ft, minor floodingAug 11, 2018: 6.13 ft, minor floodingAug 25, 2018: 5.79 ft, minor floodingSep 10, 2018: 6.05 ft, minor floodingSep 14, 2018: 8.28 ft, moderate floodingSep 19, 2018: 6.10 ft, minor floodingSep 23, 2018: 7.00 ft, moderate floodingSep 27, 2018: 6.77 ft, moderate floodingOct 1, 2018: 5.81 ft, minor floodingOct 5, 2018: 6.00 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2018: 7.07 ft, moderate floodingOct 26, 2018: 5.89 ft, minor floodingNov 5, 2018: 5.78 ft, minor floodingNov 9, 2018: 5.92 ft, minor floodingNov 20, 2018: 5.84 ft, minor floodingNov 24, 2018: 7.48 ft, moderate floodingNov 28, 2018: 5.82 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 2018: 5.97 ft, minor floodingDec 9, 2018: 5.97 ft, minor floodingDec 21, 2018: 6.76 ft, moderate floodingJan 20, 2019: 6.19 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 2019: 6.11 ft, minor floodingFeb 20, 2019: 6.32 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2019: 6.17 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 2019: 5.86 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 2019: 5.64 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2019: 6.32 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 2019: 5.67 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2019: 6.02 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2019: 6.12 ft, minor floodingMay 20, 2019: 5.74 ft, minor floodingJun 3, 2019: 5.87 ft, minor floodingJun 15, 2019: 5.69 ft, minor floodingJun 19, 2019: 5.58 ft, minor floodingJul 3, 2019: 6.13 ft, minor floodingJul 7, 2019: 5.84 ft, minor floodingJul 18, 2019: 5.69 ft, minor floodingAug 1, 2019: 6.07 ft, minor floodingAug 5, 2019: 5.57 ft, minor floodingAug 14, 2019: 5.59 ft, minor floodingAug 26, 2019: 5.78 ft, minor floodingAug 30, 2019: 6.26 ft, minor floodingSep 5, 2019: 6.24 ft, minor floodingSep 12, 2019: 5.54 ft, minor floodingSep 19, 2019: 5.51 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 2019: 6.00 ft, minor floodingOct 1, 2019: 6.09 ft, minor floodingOct 6, 2019: 5.51 ft, minor floodingOct 13, 2019: 6.14 ft, minor floodingOct 22, 2019: 5.66 ft, minor floodingOct 27, 2019: 5.87 ft, minor floodingOct 31, 2019: 5.96 ft, minor floodingNov 10, 2019: 5.56 ft, minor floodingNov 14, 2019: 5.67 ft, minor floodingNov 18, 2019: 6.39 ft, minor floodingNov 25, 2019: 5.55 ft, minor floodingDec 1, 2019: 5.62 ft, minor floodingDec 14, 2019: 5.57 ft, minor floodingDec 25, 2019: 5.96 ft, minor floodingJan 19, 2020: 5.53 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 2020: 5.59 ft, minor floodingFeb 7, 2020: 6.22 ft, minor floodingFeb 11, 2020: 5.99 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 2020: 5.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 22, 2020: 5.70 ft, minor floodingFeb 27, 2020: 5.58 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 2020: 5.60 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 2020: 5.57 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 2020: 5.52 ft, minor floodingApr 6, 2020: 5.97 ft, minor floodingApr 10, 2020: 6.18 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2020: 5.54 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2020: 6.08 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 2020: 5.77 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 2020: 6.01 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2020: 5.89 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 2020: 6.58 ft, minor floodingJun 10, 2020: 6.02 ft, minor floodingJun 21, 2020: 5.67 ft, minor floodingJun 25, 2020: 5.90 ft, minor floodingJul 1, 2020: 5.86 ft, minor floodingJul 5, 2020: 6.14 ft, minor floodingJul 22, 2020: 5.69 ft, minor floodingJul 30, 2020: 5.72 ft, minor floodingAug 4, 2020: 9.03 ft, moderate floodingAug 15, 2020: 5.84 ft, minor floodingAug 19, 2020: 6.10 ft, minor floodingAug 23, 2020: 5.56 ft, minor floodingSep 1, 2020: 5.52 ft, minor floodingSep 13, 2020: 5.65 ft, minor floodingSep 18, 2020: 6.58 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 2020: 6.36 ft, minor floodingSep 26, 2020: 5.58 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2020: 6.47 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2020: 5.78 ft, minor floodingOct 13, 2020: 5.79 ft, minor floodingOct 18, 2020: 6.36 ft, minor floodingOct 22, 2020: 5.72 ft, minor floodingNov 1, 2020: 6.12 ft, minor floodingNov 11, 2020: 5.57 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2020: 6.91 ft, moderate floodingNov 19, 2020: 5.91 ft, minor floodingNov 30, 2020: 6.07 ft, minor floodingDec 12, 2020: 5.62 ft, minor floodingDec 16, 2020: 6.58 ft, minor floodingDec 31, 2020: 5.58 ft, minor floodingJan 5, 2021: 5.50 ft, minor floodingJan 9, 2021: 6.39 ft, minor floodingJan 13, 2021: 6.23 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 2021: 6.18 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 2021: 5.72 ft, minor floodingFeb 11, 2021: 5.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 15, 2021: 5.65 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 2021: 5.85 ft, minor floodingFeb 27, 2021: 6.08 ft, minor floodingMar 4, 2021: 5.94 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 2021: 5.79 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 2021: 5.58 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2021: 6.07 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 2021: 5.59 ft, minor floodingMay 29, 2021: 5.88 ft, minor floodingJun 14, 2021: 5.83 ft, minor floodingJun 25, 2021: 5.78 ft, minor floodingJul 12, 2021: 5.66 ft, minor floodingJul 20, 2021: 5.50 ft, minor floodingJul 24, 2021: 6.12 ft, minor floodingJul 28, 2021: 5.68 ft, minor floodingAug 9, 2021: 5.67 ft, minor floodingAug 17, 2021: 5.77 ft, minor floodingAug 21, 2021: 5.86 ft, minor floodingSep 5, 2021: 5.55 ft, minor floodingSep 9, 2021: 5.59 ft, minor floodingSep 16, 2021: 5.52 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 2021: 5.86 ft, minor floodingOct 7, 2021: 5.89 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2021: 5.96 ft, minor floodingOct 17, 2021: 5.50 ft, minor floodingOct 29, 2021: 5.63 ft, minor floodingNov 4, 2021: 5.96 ft, minor floodingNov 8, 2021: 6.45 ft, minor floodingDec 6, 2021: 5.82 ft, minor floodingDec 30, 2021: 5.52 ft, minor floodingJan 3, 2022: 7.06 ft, moderate floodingJan 7, 2022: 5.82 ft, minor floodingJan 30, 2022: 5.87 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 2022: 5.61 ft, minor floodingMar 22, 2022: 5.65 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 2022: 5.82 ft, minor floodingApr 6, 2022: 5.75 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2022: 5.68 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 2022: 6.13 ft, minor floodingMay 17, 2022: 6.39 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 2022: 5.78 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 2022: 5.57 ft, minor floodingJun 12, 2022: 5.70 ft, minor floodingJun 16, 2022: 6.18 ft, minor floodingJul 13, 2022: 6.06 ft, minor floodingJul 17, 2022: 5.74 ft, minor floodingAug 14, 2022: 5.83 ft, minor floodingSep 6, 2022: 5.57 ft, minor floodingSep 10, 2022: 6.15 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 2022: 5.70 ft, minor floodingSep 26, 2022: 5.65 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2022: 7.66 ft, moderate floodingOct 4, 2022: 6.13 ft, minor floodingOct 8, 2022: 5.56 ft, minor floodingOct 13, 2022: 5.75 ft, minor floodingOct 24, 2022: 5.54 ft, minor floodingOct 28, 2022: 5.87 ft, minor floodingNov 11, 2022: 6.01 ft, minor floodingNov 27, 2022: 6.06 ft, minor floodingDec 6, 2022: 5.50 ft, minor floodingDec 22, 2022: 6.58 ft, minor floodingJan 22, 2023: 6.05 ft, minor floodingFeb 20, 2023: 5.62 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 2023: 5.81 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2023: 5.61 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 2023: 5.81 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 2023: 5.54 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2023: 5.98 ft, minor floodingApr 23, 2023: 5.70 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2023: 5.52 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 2023: 5.80 ft, minor floodingMay 19, 2023: 5.73 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 2023: 5.50 ft, minor floodingMay 31, 2023: 5.52 ft, minor floodingJun 5, 2023: 6.40 ft, minor floodingJun 9, 2023: 5.54 ft, minor floodingJun 18, 2023: 5.77 ft, minor floodingJun 23, 2023: 5.58 ft, minor floodingJul 2, 2023: 5.79 ft, minor floodingJul 6, 2023: 6.25 ft, minor floodingJul 11, 2023: 5.71 ft, minor floodingJul 16, 2023: 5.79 ft, minor floodingJul 21, 2023: 5.57 ft, minor floodingAug 3, 2023: 6.29 ft, minor floodingAug 31, 2023: 6.74 ft, minor floodingSep 4, 2023: 6.18 ft, minor floodingSep 16, 2023: 5.53 ft, minor floodingSep 25, 2023: 5.81 ft, minor floodingSep 29, 2023: 6.51 ft, minor floodingOct 3, 2023: 6.08 ft, minor floodingOct 14, 2023: 6.26 ft, minor floodingOct 20, 2023: 5.81 ft, minor floodingOct 30, 2023: 6.11 ft, minor floodingNov 13, 2023: 5.61 ft, minor floodingNov 17, 2023: 5.61 ft, minor floodingNov 21, 2023: 5.57 ft, minor floodingNov 26, 2023: 6.02 ft, minor floodingDec 17, 2023: 7.03 ft, moderate floodingDec 27, 2023: 5.92 ft, minor floodingJan 10, 2024: 6.59 ft, minor floodingJan 14, 2024: 5.75 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 2024: 6.02 ft, minor floodingFeb 13, 2024: 5.73 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 2024: 5.50 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 2024: 6.28 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 2024: 5.62 ft, minor floodingMar 17, 2024: 5.64 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 2024: 5.82 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 2024: 5.52 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 2024: 5.86 ft, minor floodingApr 12, 2024: 6.48 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 2024: 5.64 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 2024: 5.86 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 2024: 5.60 ft, minor floodingMay 22, 2024: 5.94 ft, minor floodingMay 27, 2024: 5.68 ft, minor floodingJun 7, 2024: 5.95 ft, minor floodingJun 24, 2024: 5.58 ft, minor floodingJul 5, 2024: 5.65 ft, minor floodingJul 24, 2024: 5.98 ft, minor floodingJul 30, 2024: 5.86 ft, minor floodingAug 3, 2024: 5.61 ft, minor floodingAug 8, 2024: 6.24 ft, minor floodingAug 15, 2024: 5.81 ft, minor floodingAug 19, 2024: 6.83 ft, moderate floodingAug 23, 2024: 5.98 ft, minor floodingSep 4, 2024: 5.55 ft, minor floodingSep 9, 2024: 5.52 ft, minor floodingSep 17, 2024: 7.11 ft, moderate floodingSep 22, 2024: 7.03 ft, moderate floodingSep 26, 2024: 6.29 ft, minor floodingOct 1, 2024: 6.38 ft, minor floodingOct 7, 2024: 6.05 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2024: 5.77 ft, minor floodingOct 16, 2024: 5.52 ft, minor floodingOct 20, 2024: 6.00 ft, minor floodingNov 4, 2024: 5.67 ft, minor floodingNov 16, 2024: 6.69 ft, minor floodingNov 20, 2024: 5.58 ft, minor floodingDec 15, 2024: 5.59 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 2025: 5.62 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 2025: 5.55 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2025: 5.82 ft, minor floodingMay 23, 2025: 5.68 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 2025: 6.06 ft, minor floodingJun 22, 2025: 5.60 ft, minor floodingJun 27, 2025: 5.93 ft, minor floodingJul 12, 2025: 5.70 ft, minor floodingJul 16, 2025: 5.51 ft, minor floodingJul 20, 2025: 5.91 ft, minor floodingJul 24, 2025: 6.18 ft, minor floodingJul 28, 2025: 5.61 ft, minor floodingAug 10, 2025: 5.95 ft, minor floodingAug 14, 2025: 5.58 ft, minor floodingAug 18, 2025: 6.03 ft, minor floodingAug 22, 2025: 6.73 ft, minor floodingAug 26, 2025: 5.61 ft, minor floodingSep 3, 2025: 5.62 ft, minor floodingSep 7, 2025: 5.63 ft, minor floodingSep 11, 2025: 6.00 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2025: 5.92 ft, minor floodingOct 10, 2025: 6.21 ft, minor floodingOct 15, 2025: 5.94 ft, minor floodingOct 20, 2025: 5.64 ft, minor floodingOct 29, 2025: 5.57 ft, minor floodingNov 7, 2025: 5.67 ft, minor floodingDec 2, 2025: 5.76 ft, minor floodingDec 6, 2025: 5.77 ft, minor floodingJan 4, 2026: 5.79 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2026: 5.92 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 2026: 5.70 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2026: 5.80 ft, minor floodingMay 20, 2026: 5.59 ft, minor floodingJun 4, 2026: 5.52 ft, minor floodingJun 15, 2026: 6.01 ft, minor flooding Highest, 9.03 ft, Aug 4, 2020 1960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cape Fear River at Wilmington (IN MLLW) 1940s: 1 1950s: 3 1960s: 1 1970s: 8 1980s: 18 1990s: 34 2000s: 50 2010s: 138 2020s: 228 228 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 481 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Cape Fear River at Wilmington (IN MLLW)
1Aug 4, 20209.03+3.53Moderate—
2Sep 14, 20188.28+2.78Moderate—
3Oct 8, 20168.21+2.71Moderate—
4Oct 15, 19548.05+2.55Moderate—
5Sep 30, 20227.66+2.16Moderate—
6Mar 13, 19937.50+2.00Moderate—
7Nov 24, 20187.48+1.98Moderate—
8Oct 17, 20167.36+1.86Moderate—
9Sep 16, 19997.31+1.81Moderate—
10Oct 8, 19967.22+1.72Moderate—
11Sep 17, 20247.11+1.61Moderate—
12Oct 11, 20187.07+1.57Moderate—
13Jan 3, 20227.06+1.56Moderate—
14Dec 17, 20237.03+1.53Moderate—
15Sep 22, 20247.03+1.53Moderate—
16Sep 6, 19967.01+1.51Moderate—
17Sep 23, 20187.00+1.50Moderate—
18Nov 15, 20206.91+1.41Moderate—
19Jan 1, 19876.90+1.40Moderate—
20Sep 24, 19996.89+1.39Moderate—
21Oct 4, 20156.84+1.34Moderate—
22Aug 19, 20246.83+1.33Moderate—
23Sep 27, 20186.77+1.27Moderate—
24Dec 21, 20186.76+1.26Moderate—
25Aug 31, 20236.74+1.24Minor—
26Aug 22, 20256.73+1.23Minor—
27Feb 9, 20166.72+1.22Minor—
28Sep 6, 20086.71+1.21Minor—
29Nov 16, 20246.69+1.19Minor—
30Oct 28, 20156.63+1.13Minor—
31Feb 27, 19986.61+1.11Minor—
32Oct 12, 20166.60+1.10Minor—
33Jan 10, 20246.59+1.09Minor—
34Jan 10, 20166.58+1.08Minor—
35Jun 6, 20206.58+1.08Minor—
36Sep 18, 20206.58+1.08Minor—
37Dec 16, 20206.58+1.08Minor—
38Dec 22, 20226.58+1.08Minor—
39Feb 4, 19986.53+1.03Minor—
40Nov 15, 20096.52+1.02Minor—
41Oct 21, 20166.51+1.01Minor—
42Sep 29, 20236.51+1.01Minor—
43Sep 29, 19996.49+0.99Minor—
44Apr 12, 20246.48+0.98Minor—
45Sep 30, 20206.47+0.97Minor—
46Dec 25, 20066.46+0.96Minor—
47Sep 28, 20156.46+0.96Minor—
48Nov 8, 20216.45+0.95Minor—
49Oct 9, 20106.43+0.93Minor—
50Jun 5, 20236.40+0.90Minor—

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 14, 2018: 8.28 ft here, moderate flooding

October 8, 2016: 8.21 ft here, moderate flooding

October 15, 1954: 8.05 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
ElizabethtownNC25.043.20 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) this gaugeNC5.59.03 ft, Aug 4, 20200

Other gauges in New Hanover County

Flood gauges in New Hanover County
Atlantic Coast at Johnnie Mercers Pier at Wrightsville Beach (MLLW)6.016.20 ft, Oct 15, 19542

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WLON7, 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.