U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2016–1205

Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data at 

Selected Streamgaging Stations in North Carolina 

and South Carolina for Flooding Following 

Hurricane Matthew, October 2016
Front cover. USGS hydrographer standing on flooded West 5th Street in Lumberton, North Carolina, on October 13, 2016, preparing to 

make a discharge measurement of the Lumber River at Lumberton (USGS station 02134170). Photograph by Jeffrey Moss, USGS. 
Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow 

Data at Selected Streamgaging Stations 

in North Carolina and South Carolina for 

Flooding Following Hurricane Matthew, 

October 2016

By J. Curtis Weaver, Toby D. Feaster, and Jeanne C. Robbins

Open-File Report 2016–1205

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2016

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as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.

Suggested citation:

Weaver, J.C., Feaster, T.D., and Robbins, J.C., 2016, Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data at selected streamgaging stations in North Carolina and South Carolina for flooding following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1205, 38 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161205. 

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
iii

Contents

Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3

Study Area..............................................................................................................................................6

General Weather Conditions and Precipitation Causing the October 2016 Flooding.........................6

Methods Used to Collect Streamflow Data...............................................................................................8

Peak Streamflow and Stage ......................................................................................................................10

Comparison of the October 2016 Flood to Past Floods ..........................................................................11

Summary........................................................................................................................................................14

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................15

Figures

1. Map showing Hurricane Matthew storm total rainfall, October 4–10, 2016.......................2

2. Graph showing cumulative storm rainfall total and running totals for 

various time increments on October 7–9, 2016, at the Cape Fear River at 

William O. Huske Lock near Tarheel in Bladen County, North Carolina..............................3

3. Image showing flooding in Lumberton in Robeson County, North Carolina, on

October 11, 2016, just south and east of the I-95 crossing over the Lumber River............4

4. Image showing flooding in and near Princeville in Edgecombe County, 

North Carolina, on October 13, 2016, near the U.S. Highway 64 crossing over

the Tar River...................................................................................................................................4

5. Map showing selected U.S. Geological Survey real-time streamgages in 

North and South Carolina............................................................................................................5

6. Map showing the track of Hurricane Matthew through the Atlantic basin 

from September 29 through October 9, 2016............................................................................7

7. Photograph of U.S. Geological Survey personnel using an acoustic Doppler

current profiler to make a streamflow measurement at USGS station 02089000,

Neuse River near Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina, October 10, 2015 ...........8

8. Graph showing rating curves developed for use before and after the 

October 2016 flood for Lumber River at Boardman near the border between 

Robeson and Columbus Counties, North Carolina, showing streamflow

measurements made during the event .....................................................................................9

9. Photograph of U.S. Geological Survey field crews conducting surveys of 

high-water marks to document the elevation of flood waters in Robeson County

North Carolina, for the October 2016 flood...............................................................................9
iv

10. Graphs showing cumulative rainfall and stage and streamflow at Flat Creek

near Inverness in Hoke County, North Carolina, for September 1 through

October 31, 2016..........................................................................................................................10

11. Graph showing stage and streamflow at Black River near Tomahawk in 

Sampson County, North Carolina, and stage at Black River near Currie in 

Pender County, North Carolina, for October 1–31, 2016.......................................................11

12. Graphs showing observed stage before, during, and after Hurricane Matthew

for Falls Lake and six USGS streamgages on the Neuse River downstream from

Falls Lake, October 1–November 10, 2016....................................................................................12

13. Graphs showing observed streamflow before, during, and after Hurricane

Matthew for Falls Lake and six USGS streamgages on the Neuse River

downstream from Falls Lake, October 1–November 10, 2016 .............................................13

Tables

1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages

in North Carolina and South Carolina for the flood of October 2016 following

Hurricane Matthew....................................................................................................................18

2. Chronology of major floods in North Carolina since 1876....................................................36

3. Chronology of major floods in South Carolina since 1893 ...................................................38
v

Conversion Factors

U.S. customary units to International System of Units

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2) 259.0 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Flow rate

foot per second (ft/s) 0.3048 meter per second (m/s)

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

mile per hour (mi/h) 1.609 kilometer per hour (km/h)

Datums

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to either the North American Datum of 1927 

(NAD 27) or the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data at 

Selected Streamgaging Stations in North Carolina 

and South Carolina for Flooding Following 

Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

By J. Curtis Weaver, Toby D. Feaster, and Jeanne C. Robbins

Abstract 

The passage of Hurricane Matthew across the central and 

eastern regions of North Carolina and South Carolina during 

October 7–9, 2016, resulted in heavy rainfall that caused 

major flooding in parts of the eastern Piedmont in North 

Carolina and coastal regions of both States. Rainfall totals of 

3 to 8 inches and 8 to more than 15 inches were widespread 

throughout the central and eastern regions, respectively. 

U.S. Geological Survey streamgages recorded peaks of record 

at 26 locations, including 11 sites with long-term periods of 

30 or more years of record. A total of 44 additional locations 

had peak streamflows that ranked in the top 5 for the period 

of record. Additionally, among 23 U.S. Geological Survey 

streamgages within the affected basins in North Carolina 

where stage-only data are collected, new peak stages were 

recorded at 5 locations during the flooding. U.S. Geological 

Survey personnel made 102 streamflow measurements at 

60 locations in both States to verify, update, or extend existing 

rating curves (which are used to determine stage-discharge 

relations) during the October 2016 flood event. 

Introduction

Hurricane Matthew brought tropical moisture to parts 

of the Southeastern United States, including North Carolina 

and South Carolina, during October 7–9, 2016, resulting in 

heavy rainfall across the region (fig. 1). The heavy rainfall 

across the Carolinas resulted in major flooding from the 

Albemarle-Chowan River Basin in northeastern North 

Carolina to the Little Pee Dee River Basin in northeastern 

South Carolina. Rainfall totals of 3 to 8 inches and 8 to more 

than 15 inches were widespread throughout the central and 

eastern regions of both States, respectively, (fig. 1; Southeast 

Regional Climate Center, 2016). One U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) raingage at the Cape Fear River at William O. Huske 

Lock near Tarheel in Bladen County, North Carolina (USGS 

station 02105500), recorded 16.87 inches of rain for the period 

October 7–9, 2016 (fig. 2). The National Weather Service 

reported that an observer affiliated with the Community 

Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network 

reported 17.00 inches of rain on October 7–9 near Hope 

Mills in Cumberland County, North Carolina, while a second 

CoCoRaHS observer reported 18.38 inches of rain for the 

same period near Elizabethtown in Bladen County in North 

Carolina (Nicholas Petro, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration [NOAA] National Weather Service, written 

commun., November 9, 2016). 

In South Carolina, rainfall totals in the Coastal Plain 

region for October 7–9, 2016, ranged from about 3 inches 

to as high as 17.22 inches near Dillion, South Carolina 

(fig. 1; Hope Mizzell, South Carolina Department of Natural 

Resources, written commun., November 4, 2016). For 

that same period, 16.9 inches of rain also was recorded on 

Edisto Island, S.C., which is located southwest of Charleston. 

Because of damages and losses that resulted from the 

high winds, storm surges, and flooding in South Carolina, 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated Beaufort, 

Cherokee, Jasper, and Union Counties as primary natural 

disaster areas (AgFax Media, 2016). 

By the end of October, the passage of Hurricane 

Matthew had resulted in 28 fatalities in North Carolina, of 

which 17 were associated with vehicles that were swept 

off flooded roadways (Stradling, 2016). Five fatalities in 

South Carolina were attributed to flooding from Hurricane 

Matthew (M.C. Lamm, South Carolina Department of Natural 

Resources, written commun., November 15, 2016). At the 

height of the event more than 600 roads had to be closed 

in North Carolina, including portions of Interstates 40 and 

95, resulting in more than 2,100 required road repairs that 

included shoulder washouts and damage to drainage structures 

such as pipes, reinforced concrete box culverts, and bridges 
2 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Figure 1. Hurricane Matthew storm total rainfall, October 4–10, 2016 (Southeast Regional Climate Center, 2016).

(Matthew Lauffer, N.C. Department of Transportation, 

written commun., November 30, 2016). The N.C. Department 

of Environmental Quality, Division of Energy, Mineral and 

Land Resources, reported that 20 dams across southeastern 

North Carolina were breached or partially breached as a result 

of runoff from Hurricane Matthew (Shane Cook, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Energy, Mineral 

and Land Resources, Dam Safety Program, written commun., 

December 16, 2016). In South Carolina, 797 highway 

structures had to be closed during the event (721 roads and 

76 bridges), including 167 roads that were reopened the 

same day they were closed (J. Feda, S.C. Department of 

Transportation, written commun., October 31, 2016). The 

S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reports 

that 25 dams in the State were breached as a result of the 

runoff from Hurricane Matthew (S.C. Department of Health 

and Environmental Control, 2016).

In North Carolina, nearly 1.6 million customers lost 

power as a result of winds that downed trees and power lines 

(Nicholas Petro, NOAA National Weather Service, written 
Introduction 3

0

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7 8 9 10

Rainfall totals, in inches

October 2016 

EXPLANATION

Figure 2

Cumulative rainfall, in inches

Running 2-hour total, in inches

Running 3-hour total, in inches

Running 6-hour total, in inches

Running 12-hour total, in inches

Running 24-hour total, in inches

Figure 2. Cumulative storm rainfall total and running totals for various time increments on October 7–9, 2016, at the 

Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock near Tarheel in Bladen County, North Carolina (USGS station 02105500).

variety of purposes, including providing information for flood 

forecasts and documenting flood extent and levels. Leading 

up to and during flooding, streamflow data are vital for flood 

warning, forecasting, and emergency management. The longterm, systematic streamflow data are used to assess risk and to 

mitigate flooding through flood-plain management and in the 

design or repair of infrastructure (for example, roads, bridges, 

reservoirs, and pipelines), houses, and buildings.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to provide preliminary 

data documenting the peak streamflows and stages for rivers 

and streams in North Carolina and South Carolina that are 

part of the USGS Real-Time Data Network and that were 

impacted by the catastrophic flooding following the passage 

of Hurricane Matthew on October 7–9, 2016 (fig. 5). The 

2016 peak streamflows are placed into context by ranking 

the October 2016 flood peaks with other annual flood peaks 

for the period of record at each streamgage as well as with 

historic floods that precede USGS systematic records. 

National Weather Service (NWS) flood stage information is 

also provided for sites where a NWS flood stage has been 

defined (table 1 at the end of the report).

commun., November 9, 2016). The N.C. Department of 

Public Safety’s Floodplain Mapping Program reported that 

nearly 99,000 structures across the State were inundated 

with water when portions of towns, such as Lumberton in 

Robeson County (fig. 3) and Princeville in Edgecombe County 

(fig. 4), were flooded. Emergency management officials have 

estimated the damage in North Carolina from the storm at 

approximately $1.5 billion, not including damage to the State 

infrastructure or the agriculture industry (Nicholas Petro, 

NOAA National Weather Service, written commun., 

November 9, 2016). On the basis of historical information 

compiled by the State Climate Office of North Carolina, 

Hurricane Matthew was the fourth costliest and fifth deadliest 

tropical cyclone on record in North Carolina (State Climate 

Office of North Carolina, 2015). In South Carolina, Hurricane 

Matthew caused nearly $341 million in damage to public 

property, including about $100 million in damage to Stateowned roads (Wilks, 2016).

The USGS computes and disseminates streamflow 

data collected at more than 9,900 streamgaging stations 

nationwide. In North and South Carolina, the USGS operates 

approximately 260 and 160 real-time streamgages, respectively, in cooperation with numerous local, State, and Federal 

agencies, monitoring gage height, streamflow, reservoir 

elevations, and tidal flow. Streamflow data collection serves a 
4 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Figure 3. Flooding in Lumberton in Robeson County, North Carolina, on October 11, 2016, just south and east of the 

I-95 crossing over the Lumber River (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Geodetic Survey 

Remote Sensing Division, 2016).

Figure 4. Flooding in and 

near Princeville in Edgecombe 

County, North Carolina, on 

October 13, 2016, near the 

U.S. Highway 64 crossing over 

the Tar River (National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration 

National Geodetic Survey 

Remote Sensing Division, 2016).
Introduction 5

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Figure 5

River basins from the 1:100,000-scale NHD Watershed Boundary Dataset

Streams and Lakes from the 1:2,000,000-scale National Hydrography Dataset

State boundaries from the U.S. Census Tiger-Line files

Ecoregions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1:7,500,000-scale 

 digital data (Omernik, 1987, revised 2002)

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto 

River Basin

Catawba-Santee 

River Basin

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin

ATLANTIC OCEAN

SAND HILLS

Cape Fear River Basin

Roanoke River Basin

EXPLANATION

Blue Ridge

Physiographic

 Province

Piedmont

Coastal Plain

Fall Line

Tar River Basin

Neuse River Basin

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 MILES

0 25 50 75 100 KILOMETERS

Chowan 

River Basin

White Oak/New River Basins

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 in table 1

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Figure 5. Selected U.S. Geological Survey real-time streamgages in North and South Carolina.
6 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Study Area

The streamgage data (peak stage and streamflow) 

documented in this report are part of the USGS Real-Time 

Data Network for North Carolina and South Carolina, which 

have areas of 53,819 and 32,020 square miles, respectively. 

Both States are located on the South Atlantic slope adjacent 

to the Atlantic Ocean and are generally divided into three 

major physiographic provinces: Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and 

Coastal Plain (Cooke, 1936; fig. 5).

The Blue Ridge is a mountainous region of steep terrain 

with some stream gradients greater than 250 feet (ft) per 

mile (Bloxham, 1979). Land-surface elevations range from 

1,000 to more than 3,500 ft above sea level in South Carolina 

and more than 6,000 ft above sea level in North Carolina. 

The Piedmont is characterized by rolling hills, elongated 

ridges, and moderately deep to shallow valleys. Piedmont 

land-surface elevations range from about 1,000 ft above sea 

level at the Blue Ridge foothills to about 300 – 400 ft above sea 

level at the Fall Line, which is the name given to the boundary 

between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions (fig. 5). 

About two-thirds of South Carolina is in the Coastal Plain 

region where bedrock is overlain by sediments that thicken 

from just a few feet near the Fall Line to about 3,800 ft near 

Hilton Head Island near the southernmost corner of the 

State (Badr and others, 2004). The Coastal Plain in North 

Carolina comprises about one-third of the State’s total area 

and is overlain by a sedimentary wedge that thickens from a 

featheredge at the Fall Line to more than 10,000 ft at Cape 

Hatteras at the Outer Banks (Giese and Mason, 1993; Winner 

and Coble, 1996). At the Fall Line, a narrow, hilly region, 

known as the Sand Hills, is located where the Piedmont 

descends to the Coastal Plain (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2015b; fig. 5). The Sand Hills region 

is about 30 to 40 miles wide with elevations ranging from 

about 200 to more than 500 ft. The lower part of the Coastal 

Plain consists of low-elevation, flat plains with many swamps, 

marshes, dunes, barrier islands, and beaches, which typically 

are lower, flatter, and more poorly drained than the upper part 

of the Coastal Plain (Omernik, 1987).

In both States, precipitation is principally delivered by 

storms that move inward from the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean (U.S. Geological Survey, 

1985). Additionally, local and upwind land surfaces, as well 

as lakes and reservoirs, provide moisture to the atmosphere 

by evaporation. In a normal year, monthly precipitation is 

highest in the winter, reaching a maximum in early March and 

then decreasing sharply in April and May. Fall is typically a 

dry season (except in rare instances when tropical storms or 

hurricanes occur) with minimal statewide precipitation during 

October and November.

Annual rainfall in South Carolina averages as much as 

80 inches in the highest elevations of the Blue Ridge to less 

than 45 inches in parts of the upper portion of the Coastal Plain 

and Sand Hills regions (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 2015b). In general, the Blue Ridge region 

receives an average of about 56 inches or more of annual rainfall, the upper portion of the Piedmont about 47 to 55 inches, 

the lower portion of the Piedmont about 45 to 48 inches, the 

upper portion of the Coastal Plain about 44 to 49 inches, and 

the lower portion of the Coastal Plain about 46 to 53 inches.

In the Blue Ridge of North Carolina, the annual 

average precipitation ranges from more than 90 inches in 

the southwestern part of the State (the rainiest region in 

the Eastern United States) to only 37 inches just less than 

50 miles to the north in the valley of the French Broad River 

(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2015a). 

The average annual precipitation in the Piedmont ranges from 

about 40 inches in the west to about 50 inches in the east in 

the vicinity of the Fall Line (State Climate Office of North 

Carolina, 2016a). Average annual precipitation in the Coastal 

Plain generally ranges from 50 to 55 inches, with higher 

values near 60 inches that have been attributed to past tropical 

storms that have affected parts of the southern coastal region 

of North Carolina.

General Weather Conditions and 

Precipitation Causing the 

October 2016 Flooding

Hurricane Matthew began as a tropical wave off the coast 

of Africa in late September 2016, identified by forecasters 

as Invest 97L just southwest of the Cape Verde Islands on 

September 25 (State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2016b; 

The Weather Channel, 2016). The system was named Tropical 

Storm Matthew on September 28 as it moved westward across 

the Atlantic Ocean just north of the coast of South America. 

The tropical system strengthened to hurricane status on 

September 29 and reached its peak intensity with maximum 

sustained winds of 161 miles per hour on October 1 as a 

Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale (State Climate 

Office of North Carolina, 2016d). The storm made a hard right 

turn near the border between Columbia and Venezuela under 

the steering influence of a high-pressure ridge near Bermuda 

and began a northward track that would take it through 

the Caribbean and the Bahamas and eventually toward the 

Southeastern United States (State Climate Office of North 

Carolina, 2016d; fig. 6).

Along its northward track, Hurricane Matthew maintained 

Category 4 strength through the Caribbean Sea, making 

landfall in eastern Cuba and western Haiti on October 4 

(State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2016b). After moving 

through the Bahamas on October 5–6 at Category 3 and 4 

strength, the hurricane skirted the coasts of Florida and 

Georgia on October 7 as a Category 3 and 2 storm, bringing 

heavy storm surge and high winds into the coastal regions. 

Hurricane Matthew officially made landfall as a Category 1 

storm southeast of McClellanville, South Carolina, in the 

early morning hours of October 8 (State Climate Office of 

North Carolina, 2016b; fig. 6).
General Weather Conditions and Precipitation Causing the October 2016 Flooding 7

Forecast tracks in early October suggested a landfall near 

the North Carolina/South Carolina border followed by a path 

through the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. But just several 

days prior to anticipated landfall, a stationary front located off 

the east coast led forecasters to believe the storm would make 

another hard right turn toward the east off the northern South 

Carolina coast followed by a loop back toward the Bahamas. 

The front moved back inland, however, allowing Hurricane 

Matthew to come further north toward North Carolina before 

making the anticipated turn (State Climate Office of North 

Carolina, 2016d). The hurricane moved toward the north 

and east just off the southern North Carolina coast, bringing 

hurricane force winds to parts of the southern Outer Banks 

before heading out to sea on October 9 (fig. 6). Large storm 

systems making sharp turns along their pathways may slow 

down in forward speed, which is regarded as a primary factor 

in what resulted in the heavy precipitation over eastern parts 

of both North Carolina and South Carolina for almost 2 days 

(Mike Moneypenny, National Weather Service, oral commun., 

October 27, 2016).

The heavy rainfall across both States during October 7–9 

resulted in all-time record 1-day amounts for a number of 

locations across the region with periods of climatic record 

ranging from 18 to 146 years (commonly 50+ years) 

(Nicholas Petro, NOAA National Weather Service, written 

commun., November 9, 2016). The 1-day records were set 

in four locations in North Carolina and at least two locations 

in South Carolina, with records exceeding 100 years at two 

locations: Dillon, South Carolina (17.22 inches, surpassing 

7.65 inches previously set on September 5, 1979; records 

back to 1904) and Tarboro, North Carolina (9.50 inches, 

tying previous record set on October 25, 1872; records back 

to 1870). Other notable rainfall totals in North Carolina 

included areas where some of the worst flooding in recorded 

history occurred during the October 2016 event: Fayetteville 

(14.00 inches, surpassing 5.13 inches previously set just 

10 days prior on September 29, 2016; records traced back to 

1910) and Lumberton (12.53 inches, surpassing 7.62 inches 

set on September 15, 1999; records back to 1948). The other 

two locations where all-time 1-day rainfall records were set 

were Raleigh, North Carolina (6.45 inches), and Florence, 

South Carolina (11.74 inches). In addition to the 1-day record 

rainfall in Dillon, South Carolina, a total of 16.9 inches of rain 

also was recorded on Edisto Island, South Carolina, which 

is located southwest of Charleston, (Hope Mizzell, South 

Carolina Department of Natural Resources, written commun., 

November 4, 2016).

In addition to locations where 1-day records were 

set, there were also seven locations in North Carolina 

and one location in South Carolina where all-time 2-day 

rainfall records were set during the event. These locations 

included Wilson (9.22 inches), Elizabeth City (8.22 inches), 

Edenton (8.50 inches), Plymouth (9.10 inches), Williamston 

(9.07 inches), Washington (8.00 inches), and Greenville 

(9.07 inches) in North Carolina and North Myrtle Beach 

(8.90 inches) in South Carolina.

Figure 6. The track of Hurricane Matthew through the Atlantic basin from September 29 through October 9, 2016.

(State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2016b).
8 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Although rainfall records were set during the passage 

of Hurricane Matthew through the central and eastern 

Carolinas, rainfall rates reached levels representing return 

periods exceeding 200 years. At the USGS raingage at 

Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock near Tarheel in 

Bladen County, North Carolina (USGS station 02105500), 

a total of 16.87 inches was recorded during October 7–9 

(fig. 2). Because rainfall data at this site are recorded using 

a 15-minute interval, the record can be used to compute 

running totals for varying time increments as each interval is 

recorded. At the USGS raingage near Tarheel, the observed 

maximum total rainfall during October 7–9 was computed 

for the following time increments: 2 hours (5.32 inches), 

3 hours (7.06 inches), 6 hours (10.61 inches), 12 hours 

(15.06), and 24 hours (16.50 inches), all of which were 

observed on October 8 (fig. 2). On the basis of the NOAA 

rainfall-frequency statistics developed for this location, 

these maximum rainfall totals correspond to intensities 

with return periods at or exceeding 200 years: 2 hours 

(at 200 years), 3 hours (between 500 and 1,000 years), 

6 hours (>1,000 years), 12 hours (>1,000 years), and 

24 hours (>1,000 years) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 2014). These rainfall totals are consistent 

with information received from the National Weather 

Service indicating that rainfall for 3-hour time increments 

during the storm corresponded to intensities with return 

periods exceeding 200 years as the heaviest rainfall moved 

through North Carolina along and adjacent to the Interstate 

95 corridor (Mike Moneypenny, National Weather Service, 

written commun., December 1, 2016).

Methods Used to Collect 

Streamflow Data

In this report, streamgage data refer to both stage or gage 

height (in feet) and volumetric streamflow rates (in cubic 

feet per second). These data were collected systematically at 

continuous record streamgaging stations or determined from 

field measurements of stage in cases where the gage structure 

or equipment was damaged by flood waters.

U.S. Geological Survey streamgages operate autonomously by collecting data at regular time intervals (typically 

either 5 or 15 minutes) depending on watershed size and 

“flashiness” of the stream (that is, how quickly streamflow 

levels respond to rainfall). Typically, streamgages automatically 

record stage data. The stage data are collected using a variety 

of methods (float and tape, submersible pressure transducer, 

non-submersible pressure transducer, or non-contact radar). 

More information about how USGS streamgages operate is 

available in Lurry (2011). Although stage data are important, 

streamflow data are often more important for such purposes 

as streamflow forecasting for flood warning, water-quality 

loading, flood-frequency analysis, and flood-mitigation 

planning. Computation of streamflow at a streamgaging station 

requires periodic measurements of streamflow over a range 

of stage. The relation defined between stage and measured 

streamflow is used to convert the stage data to streamflow data. 

Physical observations of stream velocity and stream depth are 

made onsite by USGS personnel (fig. 7) to determine nearinstantaneous streamflow (Turnipseed and Sauer, 2010).

Figure 7. U.S. Geological Survey personnel using an acoustic Doppler current profiler to make a streamflow measurement at USGS station 02089000, Neuse River near Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina, October 10, 2016. Photograph by John Mazurek, USGS.
Methods Used to Collect Streamflow Data 9

In most cases, the relation is a simple stage-streamflow 

relation or rating curve. After construction of the rating curve, 

continued periodic measurements of streamflow are required 

at various stages to verify or support changes to a station 

rating curve (fig. 8). From October 9 to 14, 2016, USGS 

personnel made 76 streamflow measurements at 46 sites in 

North Carolina and 26 streamflow measurements at 14 sites 

in South Carolina to verify, update, or extend existing 

rating curves.

In some cases, direct measurements of streamflow 

during a flood are not possible or are impractical. In those 

instances, indirect measurement methods can be used 

(Benson and Dalrymple, 1967), whereby water-surface 

profiles determined by high-water marks and roughness 

and geometry of the channel and flood plains are used in 

hydraulic equations based on the principles of conservation 

of energy, conservation of momentum, and continuity to 

compute the peak streamflow for that particular flood. The 

high-water marks and channel geometry are determined by 

field survey. Roughness is subjectively determined on the 

basis of bed material, cross-section irregularities, depth of 

flow, vegetation, and channel alignment. The USGS assigns 

uncertainty/accuracy estimates to each indirect measurement 

on the basis of the hydraulic and geometric conditions found 

at each field site (Benson and Dalrymple, 1967; Dalrymple 

and Benson, 1967; Hulsing, 1967; Matthai, 1967; Bodhaine, 

1968). In other cases, high-water marks are documented 

for the purpose of recording the elevation of the flood peak 

(fig. 9).

Discharge, in cubic feet per second

Stage, in feet above arbitrary datum

0.1

0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1,000 10,000 80,000

0.2

0.5

1

2

5

10

20

Pre-existing rating curve

Rating curve updated and extended based on 

 October 2016 streamflow measurements

October 2016 streamflow measurements

October 2016 peak stage

EXPLANATION

Figure 8

Figure 9. U.S. Geological Survey field crews conducting surveys 

of high-water marks to document the elevation of flood waters in 

Robeson County, North Carolina, for the October 2016 flood. This 

high-water mark identified on October 19, 2016, at a residence 

off LaClaire Road near Lumberton was measured at nearly 7 feet 

above the ground. Photograph by Jonathan J. Graham, USGS.

Figure 8. Rating curves developed for use before (red) and after (blue) the October 2016 flood 

for Lumber River at Boardman near the border between Robeson and Columbus Counties, North 

Carolina (USGS station 02134500), showing streamflow measurements made during the event.
10 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Peak Streamflow and Stage

Peak streamflow and stage data collected during the 

October 2016 flood for 139 streamgages (127 in North 

Carolina and 12 in South Carolina) are listed in table 1 (at 

the end of the report); site locations are shown in figure 5. 

The streamgages listed in table 1 were selected because 

(1) both peak stage and (or) peak streamflow for the 

October 2016 flood event were monitored at the site, and 

(2) historic streamflow and (or) stage data were available for 

comparison. A subset of 23 of the 127 streamgages in North 

Carolina have stage-only records, leaving 104 streamgages 

where both stage and streamflow were monitored during the 

flood. For South Carolina, only streamgages for which the 

peak was ranked in the top 10 for the period of record were 

included. Feaster and others (2015) provide additional historic 

peak information for other streamgages in the USGS RealTime Data Network in South Carolina. Stage and streamflow 

were monitored during the flood at all 12 South Carolina 

streamgages listed in table 1.

The ranking for the October 2016 streamflow peaks at 

selected streamgages for the period of record are presented in 

table 1. Twenty-three of 104 streamgages in North Carolina 

and 3 of 12 streamgages in South Carolina had new peaks 

of record for streamflow. Of the 67 stations with long-term 

records1 of 30 or more years, 11 had new peaks of record: 

02084557, Van Swamp near Hoke, NC (40 years); 02089000, 

Neuse River near Goldsboro, NC (34 years); 02089500, 

Neuse River at Kinston, NC (34 years); 02102500, Cape 

Fear River at Lillington, NC (35 years); 02102908, Flat 

Creek near Inverness, NC (49 years) (fig. 10); 02105500, 

Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock near Tarheel, NC 

(33 years); 02105769, Cape Fear River at Lock #1 near Kelly, 

NC (36 years); 02106500, Black River near Tomahawk, NC 

(69 years) (fig. 11); 02134480, Big Swamp near Tar Heel, 

NC (32 years); 02134500, Lumber River at Boardman, NC 

(95 years); 02135000, Little Pee Dee River at Galivants Ferry, 

SC (76 years).

1

The USGS uses a 30-year criterion to identify those streamgages having 

long-term periods of streamflow record (U.S. Geological Survey, 2014).

1

10

100

1,000

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

09/01/2016 09/06/2016 09/11/2016 09/16/2016 09/21/2016 09/26/2016 10/01/2016 10/06/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second

Stage, in feet above arbitrary datum

Stage, in feet

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second 

0

5

10

15

20

25

09/01/2016 09/06/2016 09/11/2016 09/16/2016 09/21/2016 09/26/2016 10/01/2016 10/06/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2 016 Cumulative rainfall, in inches

Total rainfall for September 1 through October 31, 2016 = 23.23 inches

Cumulative rainfall, in inches

NWS flood stage

NWS moderate flood stage

NWS major flood stage Previous peak stage of record (set on September 6, 2008)

Total rainfall September 27–29 = 7.94 inches

Total rainfall October 7–9 (Hurricane Matthew) = 7.45 inches

Figure 10

Date

Figure 10. Cumulative rainfall and stage and streamflow at Flat Creek near Inverness in Hoke County, North 

Carolina (USGS station 02102908), for September 1 through October 31, 2016. [NWS, National Weather Service]
Comparison of the October 2016 Flood to Past Floods 11

In addition to the 26 streamgaging stations that had new 

peaks of record, 44 streamgages recorded new peaks that 

ranked in the top 5 for the period of record. For streamgaging 

stations with at least 30 years of record, 27 streamgages 

recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period 

of record. 

Among the 23 streamgages in North Carolina with 

stage-only records, 5 recorded new peak stages. Two of those 

five sites had at least 30-year periods of record. At Neuse 

River at Smithfield (USGS station 02087570), the peak stage 

during the October 2016 flood (29.09 ft; table 1) exceeded the 

previous record stage set in September 1999, the highest since 

the 1984 water year2 when regulated flow from Falls Lake 

began. Inspection of the annual peak stages in the peak-flow 

record, however, indicate the stage recorded in the October 

2016 flood may be the highest since August 1908. Similarly, at 

the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville (USGS station 02104000), 

the peak stage during the October 2016 flood (58.94 ft; 

table 1) exceeded the previous record stage set in September 

1996, the highest since the 1982 water year when regulated 

flow from B. Everett Jordan Lake began. Inspection of the 

annual peak stages in the peak-flow record, however, indicate 

the stage recorded at this streamgage in the October 2016 

flood may be the highest since a peak stage of 68.8 ft was 

recorded in September 1945 and the fourth highest since 

a peak stage of 58.5 ft was recorded in May 1901.

2

The annual period from October 1 through September 30, designated 

by the year in which the period ends.

Comparison of the October 2016 Flood 

to Past Floods

In the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin, a new period of 

record peak occurred on October 12, 2016, for USGS station 

02135000, Little Pee Dee River at Galivants Ferry, SC, with 

a peak stage of 17.1 ft and corresponding peak streamflow 

of 59,100 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) (table 1). This was the 

largest peak streamflow for the record that began in 1942 with 

the previous maximum streamflow of 27,600 ft3/s occurring 

on October 9, 1964. On the basis of a historic flood mark, the 

October 2016 flood is likely the largest since at least 1928. 

Annual peak stage and streamflow data have been 

collected at USGS station 02110500, Waccamaw River near 

Longs, SC, in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin since 1951. For 

the 2016 flood, the peak occurred on October 14 and was the 

second largest peak in 66 years (table 1). The maximum peak 

of record occurred on September 22, 1999, and was associated 

with rainfall from Hurricane Floyd.

New records during October 2016 at 7 of the 10 streamgages in North Carolina with long-term periods of record 

exceeded records previously set in two historical flood 

events within the past 20 years: Hurricane Fran in 1996 and 

Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The previous records occurred 

partly because of the tracks each of these storms took across 

the State. The track taken by Hurricane Fran was further 

inland over the eastern Piedmont than the track taken by 

Hurricane Floyd, which crossed over the Coastal Plain. As 

such, the previous records at the three streamgages on the 

1

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

10/01/2016 10/06/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016

Stage, in feet

RDG stage (Currie), in feet

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second

NWS flood stage

NWS moderate flood stage

NWS major flood stage

Previous peak stage of record (set on September 18, 1999)

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second

Stage, in feet above arbitrary datum

Figure 11

10

Date

Figure 11. Stage and streamflow at Black River near Tomahawk in Sampson County, North Carolina 

(USGS station 02106500), and stage at Black River near Currie in Pender County, North Carolina (USGS 

rapid deployment gage [RDG] 02107544), for October 1–31, 2016. [NWS, National Weather Service]
12 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Cape Fear River downstream from Jordan Lake were set in 

1996, whereas previous records at the two streamgages on the 

Neuse River near Goldsboro and at Kinston (downstream from 

Falls Lake) were set in 1999.

Flow releases from Falls Lake and B. Everett Jordan 

Lake in the Neuse and Cape Fear River Basins, respectively, 

were managed during the days immediately following the 

storm passage to allow flooding from the intervening basins 

downstream to subside before lake releases were increased. 

The management of the Falls Lake elevation and flow releases 

from the dam are shown in figures 12 and 13 along with the 

stage and streamflow hydrographs for the six downstream 

streamgages on the Neuse River (stage-only records collected 

at the Smithfield streamgage [USGS station 02087570]). The 

hydrographs show the initial flood peaks from the intervening 

basins below the reservoir moving downstream along the 

Neuse River while minimum flow releases (approximately 

100 ft3/s based on minimum 4-inch gate opening) were made 

from the dam on October 8–21 to prevent dewatering the 

channel immediately downstream from the dam. During this 

period, the lake elevation rose about 7 ft (fig. 12), using about 

50 percent of the flood storage pool available in Falls Lake 

(Michael A. Young, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District, written commun., December 5, 2016).

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

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02087183 Neuse Falls

02087182 Falls Lake Neuse Falls flood stage not defined

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

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Stage, in feet above arbitrary datumStage, in feet above arbitrary datum Lake elevation, in 

feet above NGVD 29

02087570 Smithfield

02087500 Clayton

Smithfield flood stage at 15 feet

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

10/1/2016 10/6/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016 11/5/2016 11/10/2016

02089500 Kinston

02089000 Goldsboro

Kinston flood stage at 14 feet

10/1/2016 10/6/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016 11/5/2016 11/10/2016

Date

02091814 Fort Barnwell

Figure 12

250

258

260

262

264

266

Falls Lake flood stage at elevation 265 feet

0

15

20

25

Clayton flood stage at 9 feet

0

20

25

30

35

Goldsboro flood stage at 18 feet

0

5

10

15

20

25

Fort Barnwell flood stage at 13 ft

252

254

256

10

5

10

15

5

Figure 12. Observed stage hydrographs before, during, and after Hurricane Matthew (October 8–9, 2016) for 

Falls Lake and six USGS streamgages on the Neuse River downstream from Falls Lake, October 1–November 10, 2016.
Comparison of the October 2016 Flood to Past Floods 13

The peak stage and streamflow at the Clayton streamgage 

(USGS station 02087500) were observed at 20.48 ft and 

20,200 ft3/s, respectively, on October 9 (figs. 12 and 13). 

These peaks were the second highest in the period of regulated 

record since the 1984 water year, behind the peak records 

set in 1999 during the flood from Hurricane Floyd. Farther 

downstream, the peak stage and streamflows at the Goldsboro 

and Kinston streamgages were new records for the period 

since 1984, superseding the peak records set in 1999. At the 

Goldsboro streamgage (USGS station 02089000), the new 

record peak stage and streamflow were set at 29.74 ft and 

52,600 ft3/s, respectively, on October 12 (figs. 12 and 13). 

At the Kinston streamgage (USGS station 02089500), the 

new record peak stage and streamflow were set at 28.31 ft 

and 38,200 ft3/s, respectively, on October 14 (figs. 12 and 13). 

Of note, the peak streamflow at Kinston was substantially 

less than the peak observed upstream at Goldsboro and likely 

is indicative of storage within the intervening drainage basin 

(analogous to a detention pond) between the two streamgages.

When flow releases from Falls Lake were increased 

to about 4,000 ft3/s on October 21 to lower the lake level 

in the flood storage pool, secondary but much smaller 

peak streamflows began to move downstream through the 

Neuse River (fig. 12). However, at all six Neuse River 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

10/1/2016 10/6/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016 11/5/2016 11/10/2016

02087183 Neuse Falls

02087182 Falls Lake

10/1/2016 10/6/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016 11/5/2016 11/10/2016

02087500 Clayton

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

10/1/2016 10/6/2016 10/11/2016 10/16/2016 10/21/2016 10/26/2016 10/31/2016 11/5/2016 11/10/2016

02089500 Kinston

02089000 Goldsboro

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Date

Figure 13

02091814 Fort Barnwell

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second

Lake elevation, in

feet above NGVD 29

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

0

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

Figure 13. Observed streamflow hydrographs before, during, and after Hurricane Matthew (October 8–9, 2016) for 

Falls Lake and six USGS streamgages on the Neuse River downstream from Falls Lake, October 1–November 10, 2016.
14 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

streamgages downstream from Falls Lake, the observed 

stages during the flow releases on October 21–31 remained 

below the NWS flood stages, where defined (fig. 12). Flood 

releases from the reservoir were intentionally delayed longer 

than normal and also were not as high as allowed under the 

water control plan due to the record flooding that had just 

occurred downstream in the river reaches near Goldsboro and 

Kinston (Michael A. Young, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Wilmington District, written commun., December 5, 2016). 

The stage increases at the Clayton streamgage from the flow 

releases were substantially less than the observed flood peak, 

which occurred almost 2 weeks prior. Figure 12 also confirms 

that the effects of regulated flow were less pronounced at the 

Goldsboro, Kinston, and Fort Barnwell streamgages where 

the stage increases after the start of releases were substantially 

attenuated in the downstream direction. The streamflow levels 

at the downstream-most streamgage at Fort Barnwell finally 

began to recede on November 7, almost a month after Hurricane Matthew began to cross into North Carolina (fig. 12).

The flooding from Hurricane Matthew was exacerbated 

by wet antecedent conditions. Monthly rainfall totals for 

September typically were 150 to 300 percent or more above 

normal across the Coastal Plain (State Climate Office of North 

Carolina, 2016c). At a streamgage with a small upstream 

basin on Flat Creek near Inverness, NC (USGS station 

02102908), a new record peak stage and streamflow were set 

at 8.63 ft and 733 ft3/s, respectively, on October 8 (fig. 10; 

table 1). The new record peaks supersede previous peaks 

set on September 6, 2008, and are the highest in the 47-year 

systematic period of record (through the 2015 water year) 

since data collection began in 1968. On September 29 about 

9 days prior to Hurricane Matthew’s arrival, the streamflow 

peaked at 547 ft3/s following rainfall amounts of 7.94 inches 

from September 27 to 29 as recorded by an onsite raingage. 

At the end of September, the monthly total rainfall was 

15.69 inches. The passage of Hurricane Matthew brought an 

additional 7.45 inches to the basin, which resulted in the new 

record peak streamflow on October 8.

The above-normal rainfall during late September also 

resulted in new record peak stage and streamflow observed 

on September 29 at a nearby streamgage on the Little River 

at Manchester, NC (USGS station 02103000; table 1). The 

peak stage and streamflow at 31.18 ft and 9,440 ft3/s on 

September 29 were the highest for the period of record, 

superseding the previous record set on September 19, 1945 

(peak stage at 29.0 ft, peak discharge undetermined). But 

the passage of Hurricane Matthew resulted in yet another 

peak stage and streamflow for the period of record at 32.19 ft 

and 10,600 ft3/s recorded a little more than a week later on 

October 10 (table 1).

The time of travel associated with a flood peak moving 

downstream in a large, unregulated river is depicted in 

figure 11, which shows the peak stage and streamflow that 

occurred at upstream station 02106500 Black River near 

Tomahawk, NC. A new record peak stage of 27.92 ft and 

streamflow of 39,100 ft3/s for the period of record were set at 

the Tomahawk gage on October 10 (table 1), exceeding the 

previous record set in September 1999 following Hurricane 

Floyd. Historical peak streamflow records for this streamgage 

indicate that the October 2016 peak is the highest since at 

least 1928 (a period of 98 years).

Figure 11 also depicts the stage hydrograph for a 

downstream site on the Black River near Currie in Pender 

County, North Carolina (USGS station 02107544), that was 

temporarily established as a rapid deployment gage (RDG) to 

document peak stages resulting from Hurricane Matthew. The 

USGS uses RDGs to collect stage records at ungaged sites or 

when existing streamgages may be threatened by rising flood 

levels that could potentially inundate recording equipment. 

The RDG is designed as a portable “streamgage in a box” 

that can quickly be installed on a bridge or other structure 

crossing a stream. The peak stage recorded at the Currie RDG 

site occurred on October 14, which was 4 days after the record 

peaks occurred at the Tomahawk streamgage. Of note, the 

hydrograph for the Currie RDG site also indicates the return of 

tidal influences beginning on or about October 26 as the stage 

levels continued to recede following the flood (fig. 11). The 

Currie RDG site was installed at the request of the National 

Weather Service and Pender County Emergency Management 

when it became apparent that flooding along the Black River 

was likely to exceed the peak set by Hurricane Floyd. During 

the October 2016 flood, a total of 13 RDGs were quickly 

installed across eastern North Carolina, and the sites were 

monitored to collect additional stage records during the 

event (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/current/?type=tide, 

accessed November 16, 2016).

In the Lumber River Basin, new period of record peak 

stage and streamflow values occurred on October 11, 2016, at 

station 02134500 Lumber River at Boardman, NC. The new 

record peak stage was 14.43 ft with a corresponding record 

peak streamflow of 38,200 ft3/s (table 1). This new record 

peak streamflow is the largest for the systematic period of 

record dating back to the 1930 water year and is almost three 

times the previous maximum streamflow of 13,400 ft3/s that 

occurred on September 24, 1945. Further, on the basis of 

historical information, the October 2016 peak was the highest 

since July 1901, which at the time was considered the highest 

since 1896 (a period of 121 years).

For a historical perspective on the floods caused by the 

heavy rainfall during October 7–9, 2016, chronologies of 

major floods in North Carolina and South Carolina since 1876 

and 1893, respectively, are presented in tables 2 and 3 at the 

end of the report (U.S. Geological Survey, 1985).

Summary

Hurricane Matthew brought heavy rainfall across central 

and eastern parts of North Carolina and South Carolina during 

October 7–9, 2016. Rainfall totals ranging from 3 to more than 

15 inches were widespread in these regions of both States, 

resulting in major flooding. One U.S. Geological Survey 
References Cited 15

(USGS) raingage at Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock

near Tarheel in Bladen County, North Carolina, recorded 

16.87 inches of rain during the period. Thirty-three fatalities 

occurred in North Carolina and South Carolina in the 

days following the storm. At the height of the flood event, 

nearly 1,400 road and bridge closures occurred in the two 

States. Emergency management officials have estimated the 

damage in North Carolina from the storm at approximately 

$1.5 billion, not including damage to the State infrastructure 

or the agriculture industry.

From October 9 to 14, USGS personnel made 76 streamflow 

measurements at 46 sites in North Carolina and 26 streamflow 

measurements at 14 sites in South Carolina to verify, update, 

or extend existing rating curves, which are used to determine 

peak streamflows. Peak streamflow and stage data, collected 

by the USGS, are documented in this report. Twenty-three of 

104 streamgages in North Carolina and 3 of 12 streamgages 

in South Carolina had new peaks of record for streamflow. 

An additional 44 streamgages recorded new peaks that ranked 

in the top 5 for the period of record. Of the 67 stations with 

long-term records of 30 or more years, 11 had new peaks of 

record, and 27 recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the 

period of record. Among the 23 streamgages in North Carolina 

with stage-only records, 5 recorded new peak stages, with 

2 of the 5 sites having at least 30-year periods of record.

In South Carolina, 2 of the 12 streamgages monitored 

during the flood have periods of record of 30 years or more. 

A new period of record peak occurred on October 12 at 

Little Pee Dee River at Galivants Ferry, SC, not only the 

largest peak streamflow for the record that began in 1942, but 

also the largest flood since at least 1928 based on a historic 

flood mark. The second largest peak in 66 years of record was 

set on October 14 at Waccamaw River near Longs, SC, superseding the previous maximum peak of record that occurred in 

1999 following the passage of Hurricane Floyd.

Among the 10 streamgages in North Carolina with longterm periods of record where new record peak streamflows 

were set during the October 2016 flood, the new records at 

7 of the 10 sites exceeded records previously set following 

Hurricane Fran in 1996 and Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Flow 

releases from Falls Lake and B. Everett Jordan Lake in the 

Neuse and Cape Fear River Basins, respectively, were managed 

during the days immediately following the storm passage to 

allow flooding from the intervening basins downstream to 

subside before the releases were increased. The flooding from 

Hurricane Matthew was exacerbated by wet antecedent conditions as evidenced by September rainfall totals from 150 to 

more than 300 percent or more above normal at many locations 

across the Coastal Plain. Additional rainfall from Hurricane 

Matthew in early October thus resulted in new record or 

near-record peaks twice within a 2-week period at Flat Creek 

near Inverness, NC, and Little River near Manchester, NC.

A new record peak stage and streamflow were set on 

October 10 at Black River near Tomahawk, NC, exceeding the 

previous record set in September 1999 following Hurricane 

Floyd. Historical peak streamflow records for this streamgage 

indicate that the October 2016 peak was the highest since at 

least 1928 (a period of 98 years). A new period of record peak 

stage and streamflow occurred on October 11 at Lumber River 

at Boardman, NC, the largest for the systematic period of 

record dating back to the 1930 water year and almost three 

times the previous maximum streamflow that occurred in 

1945. Historical streamflow peaks for this streamgage indicate 

that the October 2016 peak is the highest since the historic 

peak of July 1901, which at the time was considered the 

highest since 1896 (a period of 121 years).

References Cited

AgFax Media, 2016, South Carolina—4 counties declared multidisaster areas: AgFax Media Web page, accessed October 26, 2016,

at http://agfax.com/2016/11/16/south-carolina-4-countiesdeclared-multi-disaster-areas/.

Badr, A.W., Wachob, Andrew, and Gellici, J.A., 2004, South 

Carolina Water Plan (2d ed.): South Carolina Department of 

Natural Resources, Land, Water and Conservation Division, 

120 p.

Benson, M.A., and Dalrymple, Tate, 1967, General field and 

office procedures for indirect discharge measurements: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations, book 3, chap. A1, 30 p. (Also available at 

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/twri03A1.)

Bloxham, W.M., 1979, Low-flow frequency and flow duration 

of South Carolina streams: South Carolina Water Resources 

Commission Report No. 11, 48 p.

Bodhaine, G.L., 1968, Measurement of peak discharge at culverts 

by indirect methods: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of 

Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, chap. A3, 60 p. 

(Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/twri/twri3-a3/.)

Cooke, C.W., 1936, Geology of the Coastal Plain of South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 867, 196 p.

Dalrymple, Tate, and Benson, M.A., 1967, Measurement of peak

discharge by the slope-area method: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, chap. A2,

12 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/twri/twri3-a2/.)

Feaster, T.D., Shelton, J.M., and Robbins, J.C., 2015, Preliminary 

peak stage and streamflow data at selected USGS streamgaging 

stations for the South Carolina flood of October 2015: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015–1201, 19 p. 

(Also available at https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151201.)

Giese, G.L., and Mason, R.R., Jr., 1993, Low-flow characteristics of streams in North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 2403, 29 p. + 2 pl. (Also available at 

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wsp2403.)

Hulsing, Harry, 1967, Measurement of peak discharge at dams 

by indirect methods: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of 

Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, chap. A5, 29 p. 

(Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/twri/twri3-a5/.)
16 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Lurry, D.L., 2011, How does a U.S. Geological Survey streamgage work?: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011–3001, 

2 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3001/.)

Matthai, H.F., 1967, Measurement of peak discharge at width 

contractions by indirect methods: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, 

chap. A4, 44 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

twri/twri3-a4/.)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, [date unknown],

Hurricanes in history—Hurricane Frances 2004: National 

Hurricane Center Web page, accessed December 13, 2016, 

at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/history/#frances.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014, NOAA 

atlas 14 point precipitation frequency estimates—NC: National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service,

Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center Precipitation Frequency Data Server Web page, accessed November 30, 2016, 

for decimal coordinates 34.835556, –78.823611, at http://hdsc.

nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/pfds_map_cont.html?bkmrk=nc.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2015a, Climate of North Carolina: National Climatic Data Center Web 

page, accessed November 11, 2016, at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/

climatenormals/clim60/states/Clim_NC_01.pdf.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2015b, 

Climate of South Carolina: National Climatic Data Center Web 

page, accessed October 8, 2015, at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/

climatenormals/clim60/states/Clim_SC_01.pdf.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2016, Hurricane Matthew imagery: National Geodetic Survey Remote 

Sensing Division Web page, accessed November 10, 2016, 

at http://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/matthew/. 

Omernik, J.M., 1987, Ecoregions of the conterminous United States:

Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 77, 

no. 1, p. 118–125, map scale 1:7,500,000.

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Preparedness/FloodUpdates/MatthewDamBreaches/.

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How the Southern Railway Organization met an emergency: 

Southern Railway Company, 131 p. (Reprinted in 1995 by 

The Overmountain Press.)

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climate normals: State Climate Office of North Carolina Web 

page, accessed at http://climate.ncsu.edu/cronos/normals.php.

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Matthew (2016): State Climate Office of North Carolina Web 

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accessed November 16, 2016, at http://climate.ncsu.edu/water/

map/?end_date=today®ion=NC&boundaries=counties.

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Matthew’s mark on NC includes heavy rain, flooding: State 

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rises to 28: The News & Observer, October 27, 2016, accessed 

November 9, 2016, at http://www.newsobserver.com/ news/

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Turnipseed, D.P., and Sauer, V.B., 2010, Discharge measurements at gaging stations: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques 

and Methods, book 3, chap. A8, 87 p. (Also available at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/tm3-a8/.)

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Hydrologic events and floods and droughts: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, 589 p. (Also available at 

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through time: USGS National Streamflow Information Program

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nsip/history1.html.

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(Also available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1404i/report.pdf.)
Tables 1–3

Table 1
18 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Albemarle-Chowan River Basin 

1 0204382800 PASQUOTANK RIVER NEAR SOUTH 

MILLS, NC

36°25'17" 76°20'33" NAD 83 64.0 

2 02053200 POTECASI CREEK NEAR UNION, NC 36°22'15" 77°01'32" NAD 83 225.0 

3 02053500 AHOSKIE CREEK AT AHOSKIE, NC 36°16'49" 76°59'58" NAD 83 63.3 

Roanoke River Basin 

4 02068500 DAN RIVER NEAR FRANCISCO, NC 36°30'54" 80°18'11" NAD 83 129.0 

5 02069000 DAN RIVER AT PINE HALL, NC 36°19'09" 80°03'01" NAD 27 501.0 

6 02070500 MAYO RIVER NEAR PRICE, NC 36°32'02" 79°59'29" NAD 83 242.0 

7 02071000 DAN RIVER NEAR WENTWORTH, NC 36°24'45" 79°49'34" NAD 83 1,053.0 

8 02074000 SMITH RIVER AT EDEN, NC 36°31'32" 79°45'56" NAD 83 538.0 

9 02077200 HYCO CREEK NEAR LEASBURG, NC 36°23'52" 79°11'48" NAD 83 45.9 

10 02077280 HYCO LAKE AT DAM NR ROXBORO, NC 36°30'42" 79°02'50" NAD 83 189.0 

11 0207730290 AFTERBAY RESERVOIR AT DAM NR 

MCGEHEES MILL, NC

36°31'21" 78°59'51" NAD 83 202.0 

12 02077303 HYCO R BL ABAY D NR MCGEHEES MILL, 

NC

36°31'21" 78°59'51" NAD 83 202.0 

13 02077670 MAYO CR NR BETHEL HILL, NC 36°32'27" 78°52'19" NAD 83 53.5 

14 02080500 ROANOKE RIVER AT ROANOKE RAPIDS, 

NC

36°27'36" 77°38'01" NAD 83 8,384.0 

15 0208062765 ROANOKE RIVER AT HALIFAX, NC 36°19'52" 77°34'49" NAD 83 8,450.0 

16 02081000 ROANOKE RIVER NEAR SCOTLAND 

NECK, NC

36°12'33" 77°23'02" NAD 83 8,671.0 

17 02081022 ROANOKE RIVER NEAR OAK CITY, NC 36°00'49" 77°12'55" NAD 83 8,810.0 

18 02081028 ROANOKE RIVER AT HAMILTON, NC 35°56'51" 77°12'09" NAD 83 8,890.0 

19 02081054 ROANOKE RIVER AT WILLIAMSTON, NC 35°51'35" 77°02'25" NAD 83 9,070.0 

20 02081094 ROANOKE RIVER AT JAMESVILLE, NC 35°48'47" 76°53'34" NAD 83 9,250.0 

21 0208111310 CASHIE RIVER AT SR1257 NEAR 

WINDSOR, NC

36°02'52" 76°59'03" NAD 83 108.0 

22 0208114150 ROANOKE RIVER AT NC 45 NR 

WESTOVER, NC

35°54'54" 76°43'22" NAD 83 9,660.0 
Table 1 19

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Albemarle-Chowan River Basin

9/19/1999 9.85 1,330 1996–2015 1/22 10/10/2016 11.39 2,670 — Tidally influenced

9/17/1999 28.90 17,000 1929, 1940, 

1958–2003, 

2005–15

2/61 10/10/2016 26.98 11,400 — Peak determined from a high water mark 

identified at site after event

9/17/1999 17.32 8,570 1951–2015 2/67 10/10/2016 15.74 5,630 —

Roanoke River Basin

8/17/1985 19.50 21,200 1916, 

1925–26,

1928–87, 

1992–2015

89/89 10/8/2016 1.59 140 13

1/25/2010 25.77 27,800 1987–89, 

2009–15

12/12 10/8/2016 6.88 2,730 —

8/17/1985 15.49 38,000 1930–71, 

1985, 

1994–2015

67/67 10/8/2016 3.28 1,270 8 Previous maximum peak stage and 

streamflow are historic records 

determined in the 1985 water year.

6/22/1972 31.60 54,200 1940–2015 74/78 10/8/2016 9.27 6,540 19

6/21/1972 16.24 24,800 1940–2015 76/78 10/8/2016 5.9 3,620 11

8/27/1995 48.53 — 1965–92, 

1994, 

1996–97, 

1999–2015

3/50 10/9/2016 38.42 5,880 — Maximum peak flow for period of record 

not determined

9/6/1996 13.68 n/a n/a n/a 10/9/2016 13.05 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

9/7/1996 391.11 n/a n/a n/a 10/9/2016 386.25 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

7/14/1975 24.40 11,300 1974–2006, 

2008–15

10/43 10/10/2016 20.04 6,630 — Peak stage verified from a reading of the 

high water mark on crest stage gage

9/4/1974 11.11 4,300 1974, 

1978–2011, 

2013–15

20/40 10/9/2016 5.54 421 8 Previous maximum peak stage and 

streamflow are historic records determined in the 1974 water year.

4/16/1993 11.87 37,700 1878, 1889, 

1912–2015

63/108 10/19/2016 9.26 25,900 9

3/31/1998 47.24 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 41.63 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

8/19/1940 41.98 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 28.91 n/a — Stage-only records available for site, 

POR maximum stage occurred during 

pre-regulation period of record

1/27/2007 22.07 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 21.18 n/a 23 Stage-only records available for site

9/19/1999 18.17 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 17.56 n/a 19 Stage-only records available for site

4/27/2003 11.91 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 11.61 n/a 12 Stage-only records available for site

9/18/1999 5.87 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 4.96 n/a — Tidally influenced, stage-only records 

available for site

9/16/1999 18.52 15,700 1988–2015 2/30 10/9/2016 16.63 12,900 —

8/27/2011 6.49 n/a n/a n/a 10/7/2016 4.97 n/a — Tidally influenced, stage-only records 

available for site
20 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Tar-Pamlico River Basin 

23 02081500 TAR RIVER NEAR TAR RIVER, NC 36°11'39" 78°34'59" NAD 83 167.0 

24 02081747 TAR R AT US 401 AT LOUISBURG, NC 36°05'35" 78°17'46" NAD 83 427.0 

25 02081942 TAR RIVER AT NC-581 NEAR SPRING 

HOPE, NC

35°52'55" 78°05'22" NAD 83 670.7 

26 0208250410 TAR RIVER BELOW DAM NEAR 

LANGLEY CROSSROADS, NC

35°53'59" 77°53'04" NAD 27 775.0 

27 02082585 TAR RIVER AT NC 97 AT ROCKY MOUNT, 

NC

35°57'17" 77°47'14" NAD 83 925.0 

28 02082770 SWIFT CREEK AT HILLIARDSTON, NC 36°06'44" 77°55'12" NAD 83 166.0 

29 02082950 LITTLE FISHING CREEK NEAR WHITE 

OAK, NC

36°11'00" 77°52'34" NAD 83 177.0 

30 02083000 FISHING CREEK NEAR ENFIELD, NC 36°09'02" 77°41'35" NAD 83 526.0 

31 02083500 TAR RIVER AT TARBORO, NC 35°53'40" 77°31'59" NAD 83 2,183.0 

32 02084000 TAR RIVER AT GREENVILLE, NC 35°37'00" 77°22'22" NAD 83 2,660.0 

33 02084160 CHICOD CR AT SR1760 NEAR SIMPSON, 

NC

35°33'42" 77°13'51" NAD 83 45.0 

34 02084472 PAMLICO RIVER AT WASHINGTON, NC 35°32'36" 77°03'43" NAD 83 3,200.0 

35 02084557 VAN SWAMP NEAR HOKE, NC 35°43'51" 76°44'46" NAD 83 23.0 

Neuse River Basin 

36 02085000 ENO RIVER AT HILLSBOROUGH, NC 36°04'16" 79°05'44" NAD 83 66.0 

37 02085039 ENO RIVER AT COLE MILL RD NR 

HUCKLEBERRY SPRING

36°03'33" 78°58'41" NAD 83 120.8 

38 02085070 ENO RIVER NEAR DURHAM, NC 36°04'20" 78°54'28" NAD 83 141.0 

39 0208521324 LITTLE RIVER AT SR1461 NEAR 

ORANGE FACTORY, NC

36°08'30" 78°55'09" NAD 83 78.2 

40 0208524090 MOUNTAIN CREEK AT SR1617 

NR BAHAMA, NC

36°08'59" 78°53'48" NAD 83 8.0 

41 0208524975 LITTLE R BL LITTLE R TRIB AT 

FAIRNTOSH, NC

36°06'48" 78°51'35" NAD 83 98.9 

42 02085500 FLAT RIVER AT BAHAMA, NC 36°10'58" 78°52'44" NAD 83 149.0 
Table 1 21

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Tar-Pamlico River Basin

9/6/1996 24.06 19,900 1940–2015 6/78 10/9/2016 17.56 11,500 16

9/17/1999 26.05 23,700 1964–2015 4/54 10/10/2016 23.25 14,200 20

5/19/2014 18.11 7,220 2012–15 1/6 10/10/2016 23.88 14,500 —

5/20/2014 12.81 9,010 2012–15 1/6 10/9/2016 19.58 15,500 —

9/17/1999 31.66 34,100 1977–2015 2/41 10/10/2016 28.73 23,200 21

9/17/1999 21.30 23,000 1964–2015 3/54 10/9/2016 15.34 6,900 —

9/16/1999 30.80 31,000 1960–2015 3/58 10/9/2016 24.72 13,300 16

9/18/1999 21.65 30,100 1915–2015 3/103 10/11/2016 19.73 15,000 16

9/19/1999 41.51 70,600 1897–1900, 

1906–2015

3/116 10/13/2016 36.29 41,800 19

9/21/1999 29.72 73,000 1919, 1940, 

1997–2009, 

2011–15

3/22 10/14/2016 24.46 44,500 13

9/18/1999 21.46 — 1976–87, 

1992–2004, 

2006–15

2/37 10/8/2016 18.43 >7,900 10 Peak determined from a high water mark 

identified at site after event, rank 

based on stage due to undetermined 

annual peak streamflow for previous 

maximum annual peak stage of record

8/27/2011 7.53 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 5.18 n/a 5 Tidally influenced, stage-only records 

available for site

11/6/1977 7.43 409 1978–2015 1/40 10/10/2016 8.02 793 —

Neuse River Basin

9/6/1996 21.13 10,800 1928, 

1930–71, 

1986–2015

10/75 10/8/2016 16.64 4,860 —

9/6/2008 15.34 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 13.34 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

9/6/1996 23.58 14,700 1964–2015 11/54 10/8/2016 18.02 8,220 20

9/6/1996 13.26 11,600 1962–2015 7/56 10/8/2016 8.96 6,310 — Period of record for annual peak flows 

represents combined streamflow 

records for this site and discontinued 

streamgage USGS station 02085220 

Little River near Orange Factory 

(drainage area 80.4 mi2)

9/6/1996 12.56 — 1995, 

1997–2015

8/22 10/8/2016 9.83 1,320 — Maximum peak flow for period of record 

not determined

9/6/1996 17.27 16,600 1996–2015 6/22 10/8/2016 14.68 7,590 — Flow regulated by releases from the 

Little River Reservoir

9/6/1996 17.26 33,800 1926–2015 10/92 10/9/2016 11.4 13,700 12
22 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Neuse River Basin—Continued 

43 02086500 FLAT RIVER AT DAM NEAR BAHAMA, NC 36°08'55" 78°49'44" NAD 83 168.0 

44 02086624 KNAP OF REEDS CREEK NEAR BUTNER, 

NC

36°07'40" 78°47'55" NAD 27 43.0 

45 0208675010 ELLERBE CREEK AT CLUB BOULEVARD 

AT DURHAM, NC

36°01'09" 78°53'41" NAD 83 6.0 

46 02086849 ELLERBE CREEK NEAR GORMAN, NC 36°03'33" 78°49'58" NAD 27 21.9 

47 0208700550 LITTLE LICK CREEK AT NC HWY 98 AT 

OAK GROVE, NC

35°58'56" 78°49'28" NAD 83 4.1 

48 0208706575 BEAVERDAM CREEK AT DAM NEAR 

CREEDMOOR, NC

36°01'25" 78°41'21" NAD 83 52.5 

49 02087182 FALLS LAKE ABOVE DAM NR FALLS, NC 35°56'28" 78°35'00" NAD 83 771.0 

50 02087183 NEUSE RIVER NEAR FALLS, NC 35°56'24" 78°34'51" NAD 83 771.0 

51 0208726005 CRABTREE CR AT EBENEZER CHURCH 

RD NR RALEIGH, NC

35°50'43" 78°43'28" NAD 83 76.0 

52 02087275 CRABTREE CREEK AT HWY 70 AT 

RALEIGH, NC

35°50'17" 78°40'27" NAD 83 97.6 

53 0208731190 CRABTREE CREEK AT ANDERSON DRIVE 

AT RALEIGH, NC

35°49'16" 78°38'03" NAD 83 111.0 

54 02087322 CRABTREE CR AT OLD WAKE FOREST RD 

AT RALEIGH, NC

35°48'57" 78°37'34" NAD 83 119.0 

55 02087324 CRABTREE CREEK AT US 1 AT 

RALEIGH, NC

35°48'40" 78°36'39" NAD 83 121.0 

56 0208732534 PIGEON HOUSE CR AT CAMERON 

VILLAGE AT RALEIGH, NC

35°47'15" 78°39'17" NAD 83 0.3 

57 0208732885 MARSH CREEK NEAR NEW HOPE, NC 35°49'01" 78°35'35" NAD 83 6.8 

58 0208735012 ROCKY BRANCH BELOW PULLEN DRIVE 

AT RALEIGH, NC

35°46'48" 78°39'59" NAD 83 1.2 
Table 1 23

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Neuse River Basin—Continued

7/26/1938 19.50 19,700 1928–59, 

1962–66, 

1983–93, 

1996, 

2001–15

8/66 10/9/2016 17.73 12,800 — Flow regulated by Lake Michie

3/4/1993 8.31 5,800 1983–95, 

2006–15

3/25 10/8/2016 8.09 5,140 —

9/6/2008 11.09 1,910 2008, 

2013–15

— 10/8/2016 7.42 1,010 — Annual peak flows not determined for 

2009–12 water years

9/6/2008 12.13 — 1983–88, 

1992–94, 

2006–07, 

2010–15

1/20 10/8/2016 12.95 3,130 — Previous maximum peak flow for period 

of record not determined

5/16/2014 9.65 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 9.72 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

2/10/2010 259.89 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 258.93 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

10/1/1999 264.34 n/a n/a n/a 10/14/2016 258.94 n/a 265 Stage-only records available for site

9/16/1996 8.05 7,650 1984–2015 16/34 10/21/2016 3.85 4,040 — Flow regulated since December 1983 by 

Falls Lake, annual peak discharge and 

stage not determined for the 2009 water

year, maximum peak stage and stream

flow was associated with 4,000 ft3/s 

flow release on October 21–31, 2016, 

from Falls Lake to lower lake level 

after downstream flooding had abated.

9/6/1996 22.40 8,200 1989–92, 

1996, 1998–

99, 2000, 

2002–15

3/24 10/8/2016 19.96 5,740 —

6/29/1973 27.69 11,700 1973, 1996, 

1997–2015

5/23 10/8/2016 22.7 6,350 18

6/14/2006 21.22 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 21.3 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

9/16/1999 19.93 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 20.12 n/a 12 Stage-only records available for site

9/6/1996 18.23 12,700 1973, 

1991–2008, 

2010–15

3/27 10/8/2016 17.49 9,650 18

5/12/2007 8.65 — 1997–2003, 

2005–06, 

2008, 

2011–15

17/20 10/8/2016 4.91 156 — Maximum peak flow for period of 

record not determined, annual peak 

flows not determined for 2007, 

2009–10 water years

9/6/1996 13.33 3,900 1984–2015 6/34 10/8/2016 11.68 2,040 —

7/24/1997 9.23 2,590 1997–2015 20/21 10/8/2016 9.07 511 —
24 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Neuse River Basin—Continued 

59 02087359 WALNUT CREEK AT SUNNYBROOK 

DRIVE NR RALEIGH, NC

35°45'30" 78°34'59" NAD 83 29.8 

60 02087500 NEUSE RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, NC 35°38'50" 78°24'19" NAD 83 1,150.0 

61 02087570 NEUSE RIVER AT SMITHFIELD, NC 35°30'45" 78°20'58" NAD 83 1,206.0 

62 02087580 SWIFT CREEK NEAR APEX, NC 35°43'08" 78°45'08" NAD 83 21.0 

63 0208758850 SWIFT CREEK NEAR MCCULLARS 

CROSSROADS, NC

35°41'37" 78°41'32" NAD 83 35.8 

64 0208773375 SWIFT CREEK AT SR1555 NEAR 

CLAYTON, NC

35°34'30" 78°29'55" NAD 83 113.7 

65 02088000 MIDDLE CREEK NEAR CLAYTON, NC 35°34'15" 78°35'26" NAD 83 83.5 

66 02088383 LITTLE RIVER NEAR ZEBULON, NC 35°49'19" 78°21'08" NAD 83 55.0 

67 02088500 LITTLE RIVER NEAR PRINCETON, NC 35°30'41" 78°09'37" NAD 83 232.0 

68 02089000 NEUSE RIVER NEAR GOLDSBORO, NC 35°20'15" 77°59'51" NAD 83 2,399.0 

69 02089500 NEUSE RIVER AT KINSTON, NC 35°15'28" 77°35'08" NAD 83 2,692.0 

70 02090380 CONTENTNEA CREEK NEAR LUCAMA, 

NC

35°41'28" 78°06'35" NAD 83 161.0 

71 02091000 NAHUNTA SWAMP NEAR SHINE, NC 35°29'20" 77°48'22" NAD 83 80.4 

72 02091500 CONTENTNEA CREEK AT HOOKERTON, NC 35°25'44" 77°34'57" NAD 83 733.0 

73 02091814 NEUSE RIVER NEAR FORT BARNWELL, 

NC

35°18'50" 77°18'10" NAD 83 3,900.0 

74 0209205053 SWIFT CREEK AT HWY 43 NR STREETS 

FERRY, NC

35°13'51" 77°06'50" NAD 83 269.0 

75 02092500 TRENT RIVER NEAR TRENTON, NC 35°03'51" 77°27'41" NAD 83 168.0 

76 02092554 TRENT R AT POLLOCKSVILLE, NC 35°00'36" 77°13'08" NAD 83 370.0 
Table 1 25

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Neuse River Basin—Continued

9/6/1996 17.03 6,760 1996–2011, 

2013–15

2/21 10/8/2016 16.1 5,960 —

9/17/1999 20.67 20,500 1984–2015 2/34 10/9/2016 20.48 20,200 9 Flow regulated since December 1983 

by Falls Lake

9/18/1999 26.72 n/a n/a n/a 10/9/2016 29.09 n/a 15 Stage-only records available for site 

since October 1998, flow regulated 

since December 1983 by Falls Lake

6/14/2006 13.86 5,260 1954–71, 

2002–15

2/34 10/8/2016 12.22 3,220 11

9/6/1996 14.15 6,790 1989–2015 1/29 10/8/2016 14.31 7,060 — Flow affected by regulation from 

Lake Wheeler

9/9/2014 14.34 2,900 2009–15 1/9 10/9/2016 21.09 9,640 —

9/6/1996 14.88 11,900 1940–2015 3/78 10/9/2016 16.18 20,600 — Peak determined from a high water mark 

identified at site after event

6/8/2013 3.62 1,820 2009–15 1/9 10/8/2016 5.47 >2,480 — Peak stage determined from a reading 

of the high water mark on crest stage 

gage and is above current stagedischarge rating, indirect discharge 

measurement will be needed to 

estimate peak streamflow

9/17/1999 16.58 20,700 1931–2015 2/87 10/10/2016 14.72 9,650 11

9/20/1999 28.85 38,500 1984–2015 1/34 10/12/2016 29.74 52,600 18 Flow regulated since December 1983 by 

Falls Lake, annual peak discharge and 

stage not determined for the 

2009 water year

9/22/1999 27.71 36,300 1984–2015 1/34 10/14/2016 28.31 38,200 14 Flow regulated since December 1983 by 

Falls Lake

9/17/1999 24.82 24,000 1999–2015 2/19 10/9/2016 19.46 11,200 — Peak determined from a high water mark 

identified at site after event; regulated 

since 1976 by Buckhorn Reservoir 

1 mile upstream, but new dam complete in 1999

9/17/1999 21.00 23,000 1955–2006, 

2008–15

2/62 10/9/2016 17.92 13,200 17 Annual peak discharge and stage not 

determined for the 2007 water year

9/18/1999 28.28 31,900 1929–2015 2/90 10/11/2016 24.15 26,600 13

9/20/1999 22.75 57,200 1997–2015 2/21 10/15/2016 20.51 49,600 13 Flow regulated since December 1983 by 

Falls Lake; tidally influenced, which is 

overcome by basin runoff at high flows

9/21/1999 12.28 10,900 1997–99, 

2001–05

n/a 10/16/2016 8.67 n/a — Stage-only records available for site since 

July 2008; tidally influenced, which is 

overcome by basin runoff at high flows

9/17/1999 22.33 15,000 1928, 

1952–2015

6/67 10/10/2016 18.48 6,760 —

9/19/1999 16.29 18,600 1996–2005 n/a 10/10/2016 8.5 n/a 5 Stage-only records available for site since 

July 2008; tidally influenced, which is 

overcome by basin runoff at high flows
26 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Cape Fear River Basin 

77 02093000 NEW RIVER NEAR GUM BRANCH, NC 34°50'57" 77°31'10" NAD 83 94.0 

78 02093800 REEDY FORK NEAR OAK RIDGE, NC 36°10'21" 79°57'10" NAD 83 20.6 

79 02093877 BRUSH CREEK AT MUIRFIELD RD AT 

GREENSBORO, NC

36°07'41" 79°55'26" NAD 83 5.3 

80 0209399200 HORSEPEN CREEK AT US 220 NR 

GREENSBORO, NC

36°08'16" 79°51'36" NAD 83 15.9 

81 02094500 REEDY FORK NEAR GIBSONVILLE, NC 36°10'23" 79°36'51" NAD 83 131.0 

82 02094659 SOUTH BUFFALO CREEK NR POMONA, 

NC

36°02'58" 79°51'19" NAD 83 7.3 

83 02094770 SOUTH BUFFALO CREEK AT US 220 AT 

GREENSBORO, NC

36°02'17" 79°47'59" NAD 83 15.4 

84 02094775 RYAN CREEK BELOW US 220 AT 

GREENSBORO, NC

36°01'52" 79°47'46" NAD 83 4.1 

85 02095000 SOUTH BUFFALO CR NEAR 

GREENSBORO, NC

36°03'36" 79°43'33" NAD 83 34.0 

86 02095181 N BUFFALO CR AT WESTOVER TERRACE 

AT GREENSBORO, NC

36°04'45" 79°48'46" NAD 83 9.6 

87 02095271 NORTH BUFFALO CREEK AT CHURCH ST 

AT GREENSBORO, NC

36°05'52" 79°46'57" NAD 83 14.2 

88 02095500 NORTH BUFFALO CREEK NEAR 

GREENSBORO, NC

36°07'14" 79°42'29" NAD 83 37.1 

89 0209553650 BUFFALO CREEK AT SR2819 NR 

MCLEANSVILLE, NC

36°07'41" 79°39'42" NAD 83 88.5 

90 02096500 HAW RIVER AT HAW RIVER, NC 36°05'14" 79°21'58" NAD 83 606.0 

91 02096846 CANE CREEK NEAR ORANGE GROVE, NC 35°59'14" 79°12'22" NAD 83 7.5 

92 02096960 HAW RIVER NEAR BYNUM, NC 35°45'55" 79°08'09" NAD 83 1,275.0 

93 0209722970 SANDY CREEK AT CORNWALLIS RD 

NEAR DURHAM, NC

35°58'59" 78°57'24" NAD 83 4.7 

94 02097280 THIRD FORK CR AT WOODCROFT 

PARKWAY NR BLANDS, NC

35°55'21" 78°57'08" NAD 83 14.8 

95 02097314 NEW HOPE CREEK NEAR BLANDS, NC 35°53'06" 78°57'55" NAD 83 75.9 
Table 1 27

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Cape Fear River Basin

9/16/1999 25.12 15,000 1950–73, 

1988–2015

4/54 10/9/2016 20.6 5,330 — Tidally influenced, which is overcome by 

basin runoff at high flows

10/10/1959 12.41 3,950 1956–2015 43/62 10/8/2016 9.3 626 10

3/28/2010 9.98 672 2005–15 8/13 10/8/2016 8.42 400 9

9/23/2003 10.66 2,800 2000–01, 

2003–15

8/17 10/8/2016 10.14 1,060 —

7/1/1916 17.90 8,640 1916, 

1970–2015

19/47 10/9/2016 9.14 2,740 — Flow regulated since 1970 water year by 

series of four upstream reservoirs

9/23/2003 15.45 3,350 1999, 

2000–15

19/19 10/8/2016 7.61 837 11

9/23/2003 16.44 2,770 1999, 

2000–15

9/19 10/8/2016 12.26 1,710 18

7/13/2003 12.53 1,060 1999, 

2000–15

10/19 10/8/2016 6.15 571 8

7/15/1945 14.37 10,000 1929–37, 

1939–58, 

1999–2015

9/48 10/8/2016 13.63 2,930 17

9/23/2003 14.07 — 1999, 

2000–15

18/19 10/8/2016 8.19 997 10 Maximum peak flow for period of record 

not determined

9/23/2003 17.81 3,520 1998–2015 13/20 10/8/2016 12.87 1,680 14

9/22/1979 20.12 9,140 1929–90, 

1999–2015

24/81 10/8/2016 12.45 3,090 13

3/20/2003 19.35 6,720 1999, 

2000–15

7/19 10/9/2016 16.93 5,420 —

9/6/1996 32.83 51,400 1929–2015 37/89 10/9/2016 19.73 12,900 18

9/6/1996 7.90 2,060 1989–2015 9/29 10/8/2016 5.67 778 —

9/6/1996 21.76 76,700 1974–2004, 

2006–15

9/43 10/9/2016 14.98 37,200 11 Annual peak discharge and stage not 

determined for the 2009 water year

6/7/2013 10.56 1,010 2009, 

2011–15

3/8 10/8/2016 9.83 916 — Annual peak discharge and stage not 

determined for the 2010 water year

7/17/2016 10.74 3,030 2009–15 2/9 10/8/2016 9.9 2,270 — New provisional maximum peak flow 

for period of record occurred during 

2016 water year

9/6/1996 14.05 12,700 1983–97, 

1999, 2002, 

2004–09, 

2011–15

3/30 10/9/2016 12.48 7,740 — Maximum gage height of record at 

18.96 ft on April 15, 2003, affected 

by backwater from B. Everett Jordan 

Lake, provisional maximum gage 

height for 2016 water year at 18.21 ft

on January 2, 2016, also affected by 

backwater from the reservoir
28 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Cape Fear River Basin—Continued 

96 0209734440 BOLIN CREEK AT VILLAGE DRIVE AT 

CHAPEL HILL, NC

35°55'20" 79°03'57" NAD 83 7.9 

97 0209741387 NORTHEAST CREEK TRIB AT SR1182 NR 

LOWES GROVE, NC

35°54'55" 78°53'36" NAD 83 3.3 

98 0209741955 NORTHEAST CREEK AT SR1100 NR 

GENLEE, NC

35°52'20" 78°54'47" NAD 83 21.1 

99 02097464 MORGAN CREEK NEAR WHITE CROSS, 

NC

35°55'25" 79°06'54" NAD 83 8.4 

100 02097517 MORGAN CREEK NEAR CHAPEL HILL, 

NC

35°53'36" 79°01'11" NAD 83 41.0 

101 0209782609 WHITE OAK CR AT MOUTH NEAR GREEN 

LEVEL, NC

35°45'37" 78°55'13" NAD 83 11.9 

102 02098197 B. EVERETT JORDAN LAKE AT DAM NR 

MONCURE, NC

35°39'17" 79°04'06" NAD 83 1,689.0 

103 02098206 HAW RIVER NEAR MONCURE, NC 35°37'56" 79°03'36" NAD 83 1,691.0 

104 02099000 EAST FORK DEEP RIVER NEAR HIGH 

POINT, NC

36°02'14" 79°56'44" NAD 83 14.8 

105 02100500 DEEP RIVER AT RAMSEUR, NC 35°43'35" 79°39'20" NAD 83 349.0 

106 0210166029 ROCKY R AT SR1300 NR CRUTCHFIELD 

CROSSROADS, NC

35°48'25" 79°31'39" NAD 83 7.4 

107 02101726 ROCKY R AT US 64 NEAR SILER CITY, NC 35°44'06" 79°25'24" NAD 27 68.7 
Table 1 29

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Cape Fear River Basin—Continued

6/30/2013 9.10 3,050 2013–15 3/5 10/8/2016 6.75 1,120 —

7/17/2016 8.32 n/a n/a n/a 10/8/2016 7.13 n/a — Stage-only records available for site

9/6/1996 13.92 5,140 1983–93, 

1996–2003, 

2006–15

2/31 10/8/2016 11.89 4,380 —

8/27/1995 11.20 3,100 1989–93, 

1995–2015

9/28 10/8/2016 8.89 1,050 — Flow regulated by University Lake

9/6/1996 16.18 4,210 1983–2006, 

2008–15

4/34 10/8/2016 14.58 3,180 —

6/14/2006 13.50 5,920 2000–15 4/18 10/8/2016 10.94 1,610 —

4/15/2003 233.83 n/a n/a n/a 10/14/2016 227.01 n/a 240 Stage-only records available for site

3/22/2014 10.73 10,200 2014–15 1/4 10/17/2016 14.24 12,600 — Peak stage values reported for this site 

are affected by backwater from the 

Deep River, which joins the mainstem 

of the Haw River immediately downstream from this site. Peak streamflows on indicated dates typically 

occur after the peak stage and are 

associated with releases from upstream Jordan Lake. Flow releases 

from the impoundment are typically 

reduced in conjunction with high 

flows from the Deep River Basin

9/24/1947 13.46 6,300 1929–94, 

1998–2002, 

2004–15

60/85 10/8/2016 9.66 1,200 10 Annual peak discharge not determined 

for the 2007 water year

9/18/1945 34.04 43,000 1901, 

1923–2015

59/96 10/8/2016 15.47 9,590 20

9/6/1996 11.91 1,670 1989–2006, 

2008–15

12/28 10/8/2016 7.13 468 — Annual peak streamflow and stage not 

determined for the 2007 water year, 

new provisional maximum peak flow 

for period of record occurred during 

2016 water year

12/30/2015 19.52 10,000 2009–15 2/9 10/8/2016 16.52 4,690 — New provisional maximum peak flow 

for period of record occurred during 

2016 water year
30 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Cape Fear River Basin—Continued 

108 02101800 TICK CREEK NEAR MOUNT VERNON 

SPRINGS, NC

35°39'35" 79°24'06" NAD 83 15.5 

109 02102000 DEEP RIVER AT MONCURE, NC 35°37'37" 79°06'58" NAD 83 1,434.0 

110 02102192 BUCKHORN CREEK NR CORINTH, NC 35°33'35" 78°58'25" NAD 83 76.3 

111 02102500 CAPE FEAR RIVER AT LILLINGTON, NC 35°24'22" 78°48'48" NAD 83 3,464.0 

112 02102908 FLAT CREEK NEAR INVERNESS, NC 35°10'58" 79°10'39" NAD 83 7.6 

113 02103000 LITTLE RIVER AT MANCHESTER, NC 35°11'36" 78°59'08" NAD 83 348.0 

114 02104000 CAPE FEAR RIVER AT FAYETTEVILLE, NC 35°02'50" 78°51'29" NAD 83 4,395.0 

115 02104220 ROCKFISH CREEK AT RAEFORD, NC 34°59'59" 79°12'53" NAD 83 93.1 

116 02105500 CAPE FEAR R AT WILM O HUSKE LOCK 

NR TARHEEL, NC

34°50'08" 78°49'25" NAD 83 4,852.0 

117 02105769 CAPE FEAR R AT LOCK #1 NR KELLY, NC 34°24'16" 78°17'37" NAD 83 5,255.0 

118 02106500 BLACK RIVER NEAR TOMAHAWK, NC 34°45'18" 78°17'19" NAD 83 676.0 

119 02108000 NORTHEAST CAPE FEAR RIVER NEAR 

CHINQUAPIN, NC

34°49'44" 77°49'56" NAD 83 599.0 

120 02108566 NORTHEAST CAPE FEAR R NR BURGAW, 

NC

34°35'54" 77°52'31" NAD 83 920.0 
Table 1 31

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Cape Fear River Basin—Continued

9/6/1996 13.41 4,010 1959–81, 

1994–2015

6/47 10/8/2016 8.6 2,430 —

9/18/1945 17.20 80,300 1931–2015 5/87 10/9/2016 11.45 37,300 9

9/6/1996 16.79 4,300 1981–2015 5/37 10/8/2016 10.44 1,740 — Since December 1980, considerable 

regulation by Harris Lake

9/7/1996 18.97 51,800 1982–2013, 

2015

1/35 10/9/2016 19.41 53,400 14 Flow regulated since September 1981 by 

B. Everett Jordan Lake, annual peak 

streamflow and stage not determined 

for the 2014 water year

9/6/2008 8.20 668 1969–2015 1/49 10/8/2016 8.63 733 7

9/29/2016 31.18 9,440 1939–44, 

1946–50, 

2003–15

1/26 10/10/2016 32.19 10,600 18 Peak determined from observations taken 

by USGS personnel at site during peak 

occurrence, new provisional maximum peak flow for period of record 

occurred during 2016 water year

9/7/1996 46.17 n/a n/a n/a 10/9/2016 58.94 n/a 35 Stage-only records available for site 

since October 1986, streamflow 

regulated since September 1981

by B. Everett Jordan Lake

9/7/2008 9.30 1,750 1989–2015 1/29 10/9/2016 12.94 4,210 15

9/8/1996 26.75 — 1982–95, 

1997–2004, 

2006–12, 

2014–15

1/33 10/10/2016 36.37 77,300 42 Flow regulated since September 1981 

by B. Everett Jordan Lake, previous 

maximum peak flow for period of 

record not determined, annual peak 

discharge not determined for the 

1996 water year, annual peak discharge and stage not determined for 

the 2005 and 2013 water years

9/11/1996 24.29 48,300 1982–2015 1/36 10/13/2016 28.62 66,600 24 Flow regulated since September 1981 by 

B. Everett Jordan Lake

9/18/1999 27.14 28,500 1928, 1945, 

1948, 

1952–2015

1/69 10/10/2016 27.92 39,100 18 Examination of available historical flood 

information for this site indicates the 

peak discharge during October 2016 

flood is highest since at least 1928

9/18/1999 23.51 30,700 1941–2015 3/75 10/11/2016 19.98 18,200 13

9/20/1999 22.77 — n/a n/a 10/11/2016 17.83 n/a 10 Stage-only records available for site 

since December 2005; tidally influenced, which is overcome by basin 

runoff at high flows
32 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin 

121 02109500 WACCAMAW RIVER AT FREELAND, NC 34°05'42" 78°32'54" NAD 83 680.0 

122 02110400 BUCK CREEK NEAR LONGS, SC 33°57'12" 78°43'12" NAD 27 49.4 

123 02110500 WACCAMAW RIVER NEAR LONGS, SC 33°54'45" 78°42'55" NAD 27 1,110.0 

124 02110704 WACCAMAW RIVER AT CONWAY 

MARINA AT CONWAY, SC

33°49'58" 79°02'38" NAD 27 1,440.0 

125 02130840 BLACK CREEK BELOW CHESTERFIELD, 

SC

34°39'48" 80°12'42" NAD 83 51.7 

126 02130900 BLACK CREEK NEAR MCBEE, SC 34°30'50" 80°11'00" NAD 27 108.0 

127 02130980 BLACK CREEK NEAR QUINBY, SC 34°14'37" 79°44'42" NAD 27 438.0 

128 02132320 BIG SHOE HEEL CREEK NR LAURINBURG, NC34°45'02" 79°23'12" NAD 83 83.3 

129 02133500 DROWNING CREEK NEAR HOFFMAN, NC 35°03'40" 79°29'38" NAD 83 183.0 

130 02133624 LUMBER RIVER NEAR MAXTON, NC 34°46'22" 79°19'55" NAD 83 365.0 

131 02134170 LUMBER RIVER AT LUMBERTON, NC 34°37'13" 79°00'40" NAD 83 708.0 

132 02134480 BIG SWAMP NR TAR HEEL, NC 34°42'37" 78°50'11" NAD 83 229.0 

133 02134500 LUMBER RIVER AT BOARDMAN, NC 34°26'33" 78°57'37" NAD 83 1,228.0 

134 02135000 LITTLE PEE DEE RIVER AT GALIVANTS 

FERRY, SC

34°03'25" 79°14'50" NAD 27 2,790.0 

135 02135200 PEE DEE RIVER AT HWY 701 NEAR 

BUCKSPORT, SC

33°39'39" 79°09'17" NAD 27 14,100.0 

136 02136000 BLACK RIVER NEAR KINGSTREE, SC 33°39'40" 79°50'10" NAD 27 1,252.0 
Table 1 33

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin

9/21/1999 19.30 31,200 1940–2012, 

2015

2/76 10/12/2016 19 22,400 —

10/5/2015 15.75 3,280 2006–2015 1/11 10/9/2016 16.88 4,200 — Previous maximum streamflow data, 

which occurred in October 2015, are 

provisional. The upper limit of the 

current rating is 16.30 ft at a streamflow of 4,200 ft3

/s

9/22/1999 17.94 28,200 1951–2015 2/67 10/14/2016 16.95 24,300 —

9/25/1999 17.64 24,100 1994–2015 2/23 10/18/2016 17.89 20,900 11 Tidally influenced, which is overcome 

by basin runoff at high flows

11/23/2006 10.07 1,480 2006–2015 4/12 10/9/2016 9.34 834 14

10/12/1990 13.07 4,500 1960–2015 8/58 10/10/2016 10.33 1,160 15

10/4/2015 16.81 6,530 2002–2015 3/16 10/8/2016 16.46 5,730 10 Previous maximum streamflow data, 

which occurred in October 2015, 

are provisional

9/10/2004 5.52 1,200 1988–91, 

1994–2015

1/28 10/10/2016 6.24 1,970 14

9/18/1945 10.29 10,900 1940–2015 5/78 10/9/2016 9 5,110 8

3/22/1998 13.52 3,380 1988–92, 

1994–2015

1/29 10/11/2016 15.49 7,140 —

9/11/2004 18.29 7,420 2001–15 1/17 10/10/2016 21.77 14,400 13

9/17/1999 14.34 3,570 1986–2015 1/32 10/9/2016 18.72 18,800 16

9/24/1945 10.70 13,400 1901, 1905–

06, 1908–10, 

1928, 

1930–2015

1/95 10/11/2016 14.43 38,200 — Examination of available historical flood 

information for this site indicates the 

peak discharge during October 2016 

flood is highest since a historic peak 

set in July 1901, which at the time was 

considered the highest since 1896

10/9/1964 13.01 27,600 1942–2015 1/76 10/12/2016 17.1 59,100 9 Based on a historic flood mark, the October 2016 peak is likely the largest at 

this location since at least 1928.

4/21/2003 19.54 86,800 2003–2015 1/14 10/14/2016 22.61 112,000 — Regulated; tidally influenced. The peak 

gage height was determined from a 

rapid deployment gage (temporary site 

333939079091400) located on the 

U.S. 701 bridge.

10/6/2015 22.65 83,700 1928–2015 7/90 10/10/2016 16.41 20,600 12 Previous maximum streamflow data, 

which occurred in October 2015, are 

provisional. Annual maximum peak 

stage data contained in reports by the 

National Weather Service indicate the 

October 2015 flood peak is the largest 

since at least 1893
34 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ', minute; ", second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 

and is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Site

index

number

(fig. 5)

USGS

station

number

Station name

Latitude Longitude

Horizontal

datum

Contributing

drainage

area

(miles)

(degree minute second)

Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto River Basin 

137 02172035 TURKEY CREEK ABOVE HUGER, SC 33°07'53" 79°47'02" NAD 27 22.7 

138 02175000 EDISTO RIVER NEAR GIVHANS, SC 33°01'40" 80°23'30" NAD 27 2,730.0 

139 02176500 COOSAWHATCHIE RIVER NEAR 

HAMPTON, SC

32°50'10" 81°07'55" NAD 27 203.0 

1

The peak flow and stage data for October 2016 are provisional and, therefore, subject to change.
Table 1 35

Table 1. Preliminary peak stage and streamflow data collected at selected streamgages in North Carolina and South Carolina for the 

flood of October 2016 following Hurricane Matthew.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °, degree; ‘, minute; “, second; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; mi2, 

square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; —, data not available; n/a, not applicable; POR, period of record. Yellow shading indicates streamgages that 

recorded peaks of record for the October 2016 flood; green shading indicates streamgages that recorded peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record; 

tan shading indicates stage-only sites that recorded peak stage records. Period of record is given in water years, which is the period October 1–September 30 and 

is identified by the year in which the period ends]

Flood data

National

Weather

Service

flood

stage

(ft)

Remarks

Previous maximum

Period of 

record for 

annual peak 

flows

1

Flood of October 2016

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Rank/

number of 

annual peak 

streamflows 

in record

Date

of peak

streamflow

Peak

stage

(ft)

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto River Basin

10/5/2015 13.39 5,610 2005–2015 2/12 10/8/2016 11.06 2,990 11 Previous maximum streamflow data, 

which occurred in October 2015, 

are provisional

10/8/2015 16.06 26,600 1925, 1928, 

1939–2015

10/81 10/13/2016 14.9 18,700 12 Previous maximum streamflow data, 

which occurred in October 2015, are 

provisional. Based on historic flood 

stage information, the October 2015 

flood peak was the largest since at 

least 1904

10/10/1992 7.92 8,910 1952–2015 7/66 10/9/2016 9.45 3,480 12
36 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 2. Chronology of major floods in North Carolina since 1876.—Continued

[Much of the information is from U.S. Geological Survey, 1985, and other sources as noted in Remarks]

Date Area affected Remarks

June 1876 French Broad River Named the “June Freshet,” it was exceeded only by the 1916 flood at 

Asheville.

August 1908 Haw, Cape Fear, and Neuse Rivers Flood of record on Haw and upper Neuse Rivers; stage 34 feet over 

flood stage on Cape Fear River at Fayetteville.

July 14–16, 1916 Western one-third of State At the time, the most extensive and destructive flood in State’s history. 

Excessive rainfall from a tropical cyclone resulted in one of the most 

extensive and destructive floods in the State’s history. In Altapass, 

North Carolina, a weather station measured 22.22 inches of rain from 

2 p.m. on July 15 to 2 p.m. on July 16. Lives lost across the Southeastern U.S. was estimated about 80, many of which were in western 

North Carolina. Estimated damage across Southeastern U.S. about 

$22 million (Southern Railway Company, 1917, reprinted 1995). 

Based on lives lost, considered the deadliest hurricane on record for 

North Carolina (State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2015).

August 15–16, 1928 Broad and French Broad Rivers More than 10 inches of rain in 2 days.

September 17–18, 1928 Southern Coastal Plain Flood of record on Lumber River; Cape Fear River 30 feet above 

flood stage at Fayetteville.

September 15–17, 1933 Middle and northern coast Storm tides rose 2 feet above previous high-water marks in New Bern. 

Lives lost, 21; damage, $3 million.

August 14–17 and 30, 1940 Blue Ridge and western Piedmont, 

Roanoke River

Floods of record in rivers of northern Blue Ridge province. Lives lost, 

30– 40; damage, $30 million.

September 17, 1945 Coastal Plain and central Piedmont Floods on upper Neuse, Haw, Cape Fear, Lumber, Rocky, and lower 

Pee Dee Rivers. Cape Fear River at Fayetteville was 34 feet above 

flood stage.

October 15, 1954 Eastern Coastal Plain Hurricane Hazel was the costliest storm in the State’s history. Lives lost, 

19; damage, $125 million.

August 12 and 17, 1955 Middle coast Hurricanes Connie and Diane. Estuaries of Neuse and Pamlico Rivers 

hardest hit. Damage, $58 million.

September 19, 1955 Middle and northern coast Hurricane Lone caused flooding from New River to Chowan River. 

Lives lost, 7. Damage, $88 million.

September 28 and 

October 4, 1964

Southwestern Blue Ridge Two floods on the upper French Broad, Little Tennessee, and Hiwassee 

Rivers caused damage of $2.7 million.

November 6 –7, 1977 Northwestern Blue Ridge Storm produced 8 to 14 inches of rain. Lives lost, 13; damage, $50 million.

August 26 –28, 1995 Western and central North Carolina Remnants from Tropical Storm Jerry produced up to 10 inches of 

rainfall in southwestern North Carolina as well as parts of Charlotte 

and Mecklenburg County where flood stage records were set. Across 

the State, damage was $11 million, and there were 3 fatalities 

(Wikipedia, 2016a).
Table 2 37

Table 2. Chronology of major floods in North Carolina since 1876.—Continued

[Much of the information is from U.S. Geological Survey, 1985, and other sources as noted in Remarks]

Date Area affected Remarks

September 5– 6, 1996 Central and eastern North Carolina Widespread rainfall totals of 5 to 10+ inches across central and eastern 

North Carolina resulted in significant flooding. Coupled with hurricane 

strength winds reaching far inland, substantial damage was caused by 

toppled trees falling onto structures and power lines. Hurricane Fran 

was responsible for 24 deaths across the State with damage estimates at 

$2.4 billion, making it the fifth deadliest and second costliest hurricane 

in State history (State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2015).

September 14–17, 1999 Eastern North Carolina Hurricane Floyd devastated eastern North Carolina with 15 to 20 inches 

of rain falling across the Coastal Plain, resulting in widespread and 

catastrophic flooding across the region, including the towns of Rocky 

Mount, Tarboro, Greenville, and Washington. The flooding was 

exacerbated by rivers swollen a few weeks earlier when Hurricane 

Dennis struck North Carolina. At $8.58 billion in damages, Hurricane 

Floyd is the costliest hurricane on record for North Carolina. A total of 

52 lives were lost in North Carolina, making it the fifth deadliest hurricane in State history (State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2015).

September 8, 2004 Western North Carolina The remnants of Hurricane Frances moved into the southwestern mountains of North Carolina, resulting in 8 to 15+ inches of rainfall across 

the Blue Ridge physiographic province, including a maximum reported 

rainfall of 18.07 inches at Linville Falls, North Carolina (National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, date unknown). The heavy 

rainfall resulted in widespread major flooding across the region, 

including parts of Asheville and Biltmore Village in Buncombe County. 

Crop damage in North Carolina was reported at $55 million, and widespread power outages were reported as well as a major break in the city 

of Asheville’s water distribution system, leaving the city without water 

for several days (Wikipedia, 2016b).

September 17, 2004 Western North Carolina Rainfall of 4 to 8 inches fell across much of western North Carolina as a 

result of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. This rain fell on an area that 

was already saturated from the remnants of Hurricane Frances that had 

occurred almost 10 days earlier, resulting in repeated flooding of many 

streams and rivers in the area, including parts of Asheville. Numerous 

landslides also occurred, including one in the Peeks Creek Basin near 

Franklin in Macon County that destroyed more than a dozen homes 

and resulted in five fatalities (State Climate Office of North Carolina, 

2015). Combined, Hurricanes Frances (see above) and Ivan resulted 

in 11 fatalities and about $252 million in damage in North Carolina 

(State Climate Office of North Carolina, 2015).
38 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016

Table 3. Chronology of major floods in South Carolina since 1893.

[Much of the information is from U.S. Geological Survey, 1985, and other sources; mi/h, miles per hour]

Date Area affected Remarks

August 27, 1893 Southern coast of South Carolina North-northeast through South Carolina Midlands. Winds 96–120 mi/h; 

tremendous storm surge; major damage; moved north near Columbia, 

then northeast. Deaths, 2,000; damage, $10 million.

June 1903 Santee River Basin (Pacolet River) Major devastation occurred along the Pacolet River with six textile 

mills destroyed in Pacolet and Clifton, as well as 70 homes, bridges, 

churches, businesses, and thousands of bales of cotton. Deaths, at least 

65 (some reports indicate up to 80); damage, $3.5 million.

August 26 –30, 1908 Statewide Most extensive flood in State; rainfall, 12 inches in 24 hours at Anderson.

July 18, 1916 Eastern two-thirds of State Record rainfall, 13 inches in 24 hours at Effingham; damage, $10–11 million.

August 15–17, 1928 Statewide Bridges destroyed, roads and railways impassable.

September 21–24, 1928 Lower Pee Dee River Basin and 

southern South Carolina

Flooding was severe. Rainfall 10 –12 inches. Deaths, 5; damage, 

$4–6 million.

October 2, 1929 Savannah and Santee River Basins Entered Aiken as extratropical storm; intense rains on saturated soil 

caused severe flooding.

August 11–19, 1940 Statewide Hurricane related flooding. Deaths, about 34; property and crop damage, 

$10 million.

September 17–23, 1945 Statewide Hurricane related, severe flooding; Deaths, 1; damage, $6 –7 million.

October 15, 1954 Lower Pee Dee River Basin Hurricane Hazel. One of most severe storms in State to date; Storm surge, 

16.9 feet; western half of State having drought. Deaths 1; damage, 

$27 million.

September 29–30, 1959 Eastern, southern, and central 

South Carolina

Hurricane Gracie. Winds 140 mi/h at landfall. Six-foot storm surge. Rainfall, 6 –8 inches. Deaths, 7; Excessive property damage along the coast 

along with heavy crop damage, $20 million.

November 1, 1969 Coastal, northwest corner Rainfall, 13.6 inches on Edisto Island. Deaths, 1; flood damage to homes.

June 9–15, 1973 Black and Pocotaligo Rivers A sub-tropical disturbance remained over southeastern South Carolina for 

almost a week from June 9–15, 1973. In Clarendon County, 17.5 inches 

of rain was measured on June 12. At I-95, a few miles north of Manning,

 water 3 feet deep was running across the southbound lanes.

September 14, 1973 Northwestern South Carolina, 

Savannah and Santee River Basins

Major flash flood in Laurens; Saluda River at Ware Shoals had highest 

crest since 1929 flood. Damage, $4– 6 million.

August 19, 1981 Lower Pee Dee River Basin Hurricane Dennis, greater than 6 inches of rainfall caused significant 

flood damage in low-lying areas. Greatest flood on upper Waccamaw 

River since 1945.

September 21, 1989 Eastern two-thirds of State Hurricane Hugo made landfall at Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Winds: 

140 mi/h. Gusts: 160 mi/h. Costliest storm in South Carolina’s history. 

Deaths, 35; damage, more than $6 billion. Storm surge over 20 feet. Severe

inland damage as winds gusted to 109 mi/h at Sumter, South Carolina.

October 10 –12, 1990 Central South Carolina The remnants from tropical storms Klaus and Marco caused heavy rains 

and flooding; 10 –11 inches rain reported in Spartanburg County; 

120 dams failed statewide; 80 bridge failures; Deaths, 5.

October 8–9, 1992 Southern South Carolina Rainfall, 9 inches in 24 hours. Bridge failures; homes damaged; 90-car 

train derailed.

August 25–29, 1995 Northwestern Piedmont 

South Carolina

Tropical Storm Jerry tracked through the upstate of South Carolina, causing flash floods and dumping 8 –10 inches of rain in about an 8-hour 

period. Some rain totals exceeded 20 inches. Several large dams failed 

causing flooding across the State. Estimated $4–5 million worth of 

damage to roads and bridges.

September 16, 1999 Waccamaw and Lower Pee Dee 

River Basins

Hurricane Floyd: Rainfall was heavy along coastal counties; 12 inches 

in Georgetown County; 18 inches fell in eastern Horry County. The 

heavy rains caused flooding to many roads and buildings. Waves were 

reported to be 15 feet at Cherry Grove where damage was the greatest.

October 1–5, 2015 Midlands and Coastal Plain Heavy rainfall occurred across South Carolina as a result of an upper 

atmospheric low-pressure system that funneled tropical moisture from 

Hurricane Joaquin into the State. About 21.5 inches of rain was recorded 

in Columbia and almost 27 inches of rain was recorded near Mount Pleasant.
Manuscript approved December 14, 2016

Prepared by the USGS Science Publishing Network

Reston Publishing Service Center

 Edited by Kay P. Naugle

 Layout by Caryl J. Wipperfurth

For additional information regarding this publication, 

please contact:

Director, South Atlantic Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

720 Gracern Road

Stephenson Center, Suite 129

Columbia, SC 29210

(803) 750-6100

Or visit the South Atlantic Water Science Center 

Web site at

http://www.usgs.gov/water/southatlantic/

Back cover. On October 8, 2016, at 2:20 p.m. EDT (18:20 UTC) NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this visible image of Hurricane Matthew’s 

clouds over the Southeastern United States. Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team.
Weaver and others—Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data in North and South Carolina Following Hurricane Matthew, October 2016—Open-File Report 2016–1205

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161205