Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin water level

Name: Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Northeast Cape Fear River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Low for late October

Water level

2.08ft Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 04:30 AM EDT (25 min ago)

Flow: 56.3 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin is running below normal at 2.08 ft.

The median for late October is 3.27 ft, based on 29 years of readings, so the river stage is 1.19 ft below typical. It is 10.92 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.15 ft, a difference of −0.07 ft.

It has dropped 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 1.33 ft and 3.52 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 3.27 ft1.19 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.89 ft – 5.43 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (29 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.15 ft−0.07 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.33 ft – 3.52 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.25 ft – 7.53 ft
Highest on record: 25.77 ftSeptember 17, 2018
Lowest on record: 1.00 ftJune 8, 1994

Floating and fishing near Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin

Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.

Flood stage here is 13.00 ft, 10.92 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

25.00 ft: Historic and catastrophic flooding across Duplin county, comparable to the flood following Hurricane Florence. Numerous communities cut off, and travel is next to impossible. Countless homes and businesses are flooded across the county. In the River Landing community near Wallace, devastating flooding is expected with over half of the homes significantly inundated.
22.00 ft: Devastating flooding across most of the county. Travel is nearly impossible with numerous roads countywide impassable or washed out. Many homes across the county are inundated. In the River Landing community near Wallace, several homes are likely inundated, with numerous residences surrounded by water or have water up to their foundations.
20.00 ft: Widespread flooding across much of the county. Many roads flooded and impassable including Highways 41 and 50 and Interstate 40. Numerous homes and communities near the river are surrounded by water, with several likely inundated. In the River Landing community near Wallace, several homes close to the river are likely surrounded by water.
18.00 ft: Numerous roads flooded, and some homes and businesses are likely inundated. Water floods Highways 41 and 50, and parts of Interstate 40. Areas many miles from the river are flooded due to tributaries backing up. Water threatens homes and buildings in the River Landing community near Wallace.
16.00 ft: Many secondary roads are flooded. Water affects Highways 41 and 50 and travel delays are likely. Areas many miles from the river are affected as small streams backup and flood. Muddy Creek, Cypress Creek, and Island Creek flood areas around Chinquapin.
15.00 ft: Secondary roads adjacent to the river flood and may be impassable. Tributaries that drain into the river flood secondary roads. Water surrounds homes and properties in the River Landing community in Wallace.
13.00 ft: Low land flooding adjacent to the river and its tributaries is expected. River access docks are impacted as well.
2.08 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	25.77 ft	September 17, 2018
2	23.51 ft	September 18, 1999
3	22.60 ft	August 1, 1908
4	21.80 ft	September 1, 1928
5	20.16 ft	July 7, 1962
6	19.98 ft	October 11, 2016
7	18.80 ft	September 3, 2006
8	17.97 ft	September 22, 1955
9	17.08 ft	November 24, 2006
10	16.74 ft	October 16, 1942

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:23 AM Sunset 06:31 PM Daylight 11 hr, 8 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Other gauges on the Northeast Cape Fear River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Northeast Cape Fear River near BurgawRiver gauge, Northeast Cape Fear River	2.70 ft	Normal	+0.24 ft	16 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
New River near Gum BranchRiver gauge, New River	2.53 ft	Normal	+0.16 ft	18 mi
Black River near TomahawkRiver gauge, Black River	2.22 ft	Low	−0.10 ft	26 mi
Trent River near TrentonRiver gauge, Trent River	3.59 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	27 mi
Neuse River at KinstonRiver gauge, Neuse River	2.98 ft	Very low	−0.05 ft	33 mi
Neuse River near GoldsboroRiver gauge, Neuse River	2.92 ft	Low	+0.07 ft	36 mi
Trent River at PollocksvilleRiver gauge, Trent River	2.63 ft	Below flood stage	+0.26 ft	37 mi
Cape Fear River at Lock 1 near KellyRiver gauge, Cape Fear River	14.82 ft	Low	+0.01 ft	39 mi
Contentnea Creek at HookertonRiver gauge, Contentnea Creek	4.67 ft	Low	+0.04 ft	44 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin higher than last year?

No, it is 0.07 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.15 ft.

What is flood stage for the Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 10.92 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin in late October?

The median for late October is 3.27 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.89 ft and 5.43 ft, based on 29 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 04:30 AM EDT, the water level was 2.08 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin rising or falling?

Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.80 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin normal?

Low for late October. Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02108000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 34.82889, -77.83222 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	2.08 ft	2026-10-21 08:30	Provisional
Flow	56.3 cfs	2026-10-21 08:30	Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

<iframe src="https://nivelmap.com/embed/12600?lang=en" width="360" height="230" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy" title="Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin water level"></iframe>

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquapin (usgs:02108000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/northeast-cape-fear-river-near-chinquapin

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer