Cape Fear River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 3:15 AM, the Cape Fear River is flowing at 417 cfs at Lillington, NC — 63% of normal for the date and down 5% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Cape Fear River map
See the Cape Fear River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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Cape Fear River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Lillington, the Cape Fear River is running 417 cfs — 63% of normal, down 5% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 63% of normal).
How the Cape Fear River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Lillington114 ft 417 cfs63%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Cape Fear River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (63%).
Cape Fear River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Fear River At Lillington NC
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 02102500 |
417 cfs | 63% | -5% | 2.11 ft | 11.9 ft below | 114 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Cape Fear River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Cape Fear River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is approximately 202 miles long and runs through North Carolina. The river has a rich history, dating back to the early Native American settlements in the area. Today, the river is used for hydroelectric power generation, with several dams and reservoirs built along its course. The largest of these is the Jordan Lake Reservoir, which provides drinking water to the surrounding communities. The river is also used for recreational purposes, such as fishing, boating, and swimming. Agricultural uses include irrigation and livestock watering. Despite its many uses, the river faces challenges from pollution and other environmental issues, which threaten its health and the well-being of those who rely on it.
Fishing near the Cape Fear River
About the Cape Fear River
How is the Cape Fear River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Cape Fear River is flowing at 417 cfs at Lillington, NC, about 63% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Cape Fear River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Cape Fear River is at 63% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Cape Fear River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Lillington (14.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.