Extensive lowland flooding is expected along portions of the Cape Fear River because of the steady, continuous rain that fell Saturday.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a flood warning through Thursday afternoon for areas along the Cape Fear River, including at William O. Huske Lock And Dam 3 near the Bladen/Cumberland line and the locks at Elizabethtown No flood warning had been issued as of early Sunday morning for Lock And Dam 1 near East Arcadia.
Flooding of farmers fields adjacent to the the river will worsen over the next day or two. The wildlife boat ramp at Tar Heel Ferry Road likely will be inaccessible and Larrimore Lane in Elizabethtown may begin to flood.
At Lock and Dam 3, the river was measured 40.9 feet at 1 a.m. Sunday. The river is expected to rise above the 42-foot flood stage Sunday morning and crest at 49.8 feet Monday evening. It is expected to fall below flood stage early Thursday morning.
At the Elizabethtown locks early Sunday morning, the river was measured at 17.5 feet. Waters are expected to continue to rise about the 25-foot flood stage early Monday morning and crest at 28.4 feet early Tuesday afternoon before beginning to recede Wednesday evening.
The forecast from the National Weather Service is calling for between 2 and 3 inches of rain Saturday in portions of Bladen County.