SF Catawba River below George Poston Park, 1 N Lowell, NC

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 9:50 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 17 ftMajor, devastating flooding of the town of Cramerton is ongoing.
• 16.5 ftMajor Flooding continues. Several roads adjacent to the South Fork Catawba River in Cramerton and McAdenville may be inundated. Significant flooding of homes and businesses along the river may be ongoing. Additionally, floodwaters may be inundating parts of Lakeview Dr. in McAdenville and and Catawba Run in Lowell. Floodwaters may be impacting the Willow Rd. water treatment plant in McAdenville.
• 15.5 ftMajor Flood Stage. South Fork Catawba River floodwaters may be inundating the Cramerton Fire Department, Cramerton Drug Store, the former South Fork Masonic Lodge building, and adjacent homes and businesses along 8th Ave. Floodwaters may be flooding the lowest elevations of the Cramerton Police Department parking lot. Flooding of Duharts Creek may be impacting adjacent sections of Mayflower Rd., and Cramer Mountain Rd. may be inundated with several inches of water.
• 13 ftModerate Flood Stage. Unusual, damaging flooding is developing adjacent to the South Fork Catawba River with considerable impacts to property. Significant flooding of Goat Island Park and Riverside Park is ongoing. Floodwaters are threatening the Cramerton Fire Department and adjacent businesses. The river is approaching the crawl spaces of homes along Riverside Dr between 4th St and 5th St in Cramerton.
• 12 ftMinor Flooding continues. South Fork Catawba River floodwaters may approach the Cramerton Fire Department building at the intersection 8th Ave and 9th St. The parking lot behind the adjacent Cramerton Drug Company may be flooded. Floodwaters may approach one home along Riverside Dr. in Cramerton.
• 11.5 ftMinor Flooding continues. The South Fork Catawba River is likely inundating Riverside Dr. between 5th and 6th Streets in Cramerton with several inches of water. The pumping station at Pharr Yarns in McAdenville may begin to flood.
• 11 ftMinor Flood Stage continues. The South Fork Catawba River may begin flooding Riverside Dr. between 5th and 6th Streets in Cramerton. Floodwaters may also approach residential yards along Catawba Run Rd., near the streamgauge. Hoyle Creek floodwaters, possibly due to backwater effects from the South Fork Catawba River, may begin to impact the Old Willis School Road bridge near Sandcastle Rd.
• 10 ftMinor Flood Stage. South Fork Catawba River floodwaters are beginning to inundate Goat Island Park. More significant inundation is beginning to occur at Riverside Park. Floodwaters are approaching Riverside Dr near 5th and 6th Streets in Cramerton.
• 9 ftAction/Advisory Stage. South Fork Catawba River floodwaters begin to enter Riverside Park in Cramerton.

Highest crests on record

1. 21.33 ft — August 15, 1940
2. 17.5 ft — July 29, 2013
3. 17.38 ft — August 11, 1970
4. 16.98 ft — September 19, 1945
5. 16.22 ft — February 7, 2020

Recent crests: 15.43 ft (September 28, 2024) · 9.08 ft (August 8, 2024) · 15.14 ft (January 10, 2024) · 11.44 ft (December 28, 2023) · 16.22 ft (February 7, 2020)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamSouth Fork Catawba River near Laboratory, NC
• Long Creek at Rhyne NC, NC
• Long Creek near Bessemer City 3 NE, NC
• Paw Creek at Wilkinson Blvd, NC
• Gum Branch at Gum Branch road, NC
• Beaverdam Creek above Windy Gap Rd, NC
• Killian Creek near MARIPOSA, NC
• Long Creek at PAW CREEK, NC
• Taggart Creek at West Blvd (NC 160), 1 WSW Reid Park, NC