Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad water level

Name: Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Big Escambia Creek, Alabama, United States

Directions

Very low for late October

Water level

0.90ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 04:30 AM CDT (24 min ago)

Flow: 92.1 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

At 0.90 ft, Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad is far below normal for late October.

The median for late October is 1.69 ft, based on 26 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.79 ft below typical. It is 11.10 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.20 ft, a difference of −0.30 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 1.69 ft0.79 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.20 ft – 2.66 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (26 years of records)
Same day last year: 1.20 ft−0.30 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 0.78 ft – 1.68 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 0.72 ft – 15.34 ft
Highest on record: 18.74 ftJune 20, 2026

What the stage means on the water

Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 12.00 ft, still 11.10 ft away.

What happens at each level

20.00 ft: Water begins to flood the middle bath house. Most of the park is under several feet of water.
18.00 ft: Most of the park is several feet under water. The north and south bath houses are flooded. Water approaches the middle bath house.
16.00 ft: Most of the park is flooded. Some rescues may be necessary.
15.00 ft: Water is overflowing at various locations on Big Creek Road. Water from the ponds is also overflowing, impacting trailer parking spots.
12.00 ft: Water is out of its banks and could affect some of the recreational areas near the creek.
0.90 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	18.74 ft	June 20, 2026
2	18.02 ft	December 15, 2009
3	16.77 ft	February 5, 2022
4	16.63 ft	March 5, 2001
5	16.15 ft	December 25, 2015
6	16.09 ft	January 3, 2017
7	14.50 ft	May 15, 2014
8	14.30 ft	September 18, 2004
9	13.50 ft	June 10, 2025
10	11.27 ft	September 26, 2002

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

21 Wed 76° 46° – Wind 7 mph

22 Thu 79° 50° – Wind 6 mph

23 Fri 79° 54° – Wind 7 mph

24 Sat 76° 51° – Wind 11 mph

25 Sun 77° 56° – Wind 12 mph

26 Mon 78° 54° – Wind 10 mph

27 Tue 79° 56° – Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 06:57 AM Sunset 06:12 PM Daylight 11 hr, 15 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Other gauges on Big Escambia Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Escambia Creek at FlomatonRiver gauge, Big Escambia Creek	7.08 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	10 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Escambia River near CenturyRiver gauge, Escambia River	4.36 ft	Below flood stage	+0.13 ft	14 mi
Burnt Corn Creek at State Highway 41 near BrewtonRiver gauge, Burnt Corn Creek	2.88 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	17 mi
Murder Creek at State Highway 41 at BrewtonRiver gauge, Murder Creek	9.95 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	18 mi
Conecuh River at State Highway 41 near BrewtonRiver gauge, Conecuh River	9.96 ft	Normal	−0.08 ft	19 mi
Limestone Creek near MonroevilleRiver gauge, Limestone Creek	49.1 cfs	Normal	−0.6 cfs	30 mi
Murder Creek near EvergreenRiver gauge, Murder Creek	3.09 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	30 mi
Perdido River at Barrineau ParkRiver gauge, Perdido River	1.52 ft	Low	−0.02 ft	31 mi
Escambia River near MolinoRiver gauge, Escambia River	2.06 ft	Normal	−0.32 ft	32 mi

Questions and answers

Is Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad higher than last year?

No, it is 0.30 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.20 ft.

What is flood stage for Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 11.10 ft below it.

What is a normal level for Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad in late October?

The median for late October is 1.69 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.20 ft and 2.66 ft, based on 26 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 04:30 AM CDT, the water level was 0.90 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.20 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad normal?

Very low for late October. Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02374950 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 31.12962, -87.37054 (WGS84)
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	0.90 ft	2026-10-21 09:30	Provisional
Flow	92.1 cfs	2026-10-21 09:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Big Escambia Creek at Sardine Branch near Stanley Crossroad (usgs:02374950). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/big-escambia-creek-at-sardine-branch-near-stanley-crossroad

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer