Catawba River at Lookout Shoals Lake and Dam
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 102.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 103.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 104.0 ft; major flooding begins at 106.0 ft.
| Action stage | 102.0 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 103.0 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 104.0 ft |
| Major flooding | 106.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 114.4 ft on Aug 30, 1940 (historic crest)
- 109.5 ft on Sep 28, 2024 (historic crest)
- 108.3 ft on Nov 12, 2020 (historic crest)
- 108.2 ft on Jun 9, 2019 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 100.0 ft | Full Pool. Water begins flowing over the uncontrolled spillway of Lookout Shoals Dam. |
|---|---|
| 102.0 ft | Action/Advisory Stage. Nuisance flooding of low-lying areas including residential yards, docks, and boat-launch areas is ongoing. Residents should take immediate actions to protect property adjacent to the lake and monitor messaging from Catawba County Emergency Management. |
| 103.0 ft | Minor Flood Stage. Significant inundation of low-lying areas including residential yards, docks, and boat-launch areas is ongoing around Lookout Shoals Lake. Lake floodwaters are approaching the crawl space of 4867 Longfield St. Residents along Longfield St and in the Carpenters Cove community should have completed the protection of property adjacent to the lake and be prepared to follow evacuation guidance from Catawba County Emergency Management. |
| 103.5 ft | Minor Flooding continues. Electricity may need to be turned off shortly for a few homes in the Carpenters Cove community as water approaches electrical boxes near homes. Crawl space flooding at 4867 Longfield St is imminent. |
| 104.0 ft | Moderate Flood Stage. Lake floodwaters are approaching some homes in the Carpenters Cove community; electricity shutoff is imminent. Impacted residents, especially in the Carpenters Cove community, should be completing preparations to evacuate and heeding guidance from Catawba County Emergency Management. |
| 106.0 ft | Major Flood Stage. Devastating, widespread structural flooding in the Carpenters Cove community and near the intersection of Longfield St and Shadeview Ln is imminent. Significant inundation of crawl spaces and basements is underway. Unelevated, first-floor flooding is beginning. Evacuations should be complete, but water rescuses may be ongoing. |
| 108.0 ft | Major flooding continues. Devastating, widespread structural flooding within the Carpenters Cove community and along portions of Longfield St near Shadeview Ln is ongoing. Significant first-floor inundation is ongoing, exceeding 4 feet in several locations. Water rescues may be ongoing. |
Forecast office: NWS Greer · River Forecast Center: Southeast River Forecast Center.
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