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Cahaba River near Whites Chapel water level

River gauge, Cahaba River, Alabama, United States

Directions

Right now

Normal for late October

Water level

1.15ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
9.0 cfs
Water temperature
58 °F
3 5 8 Minor floodstage 8.50 ft

History

History
1.21.41.6ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 20Oct 211.21.41.6ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 21
1.01.52.02.5ftSep 22Sep 29Oct 6Oct 13Oct 211.01.52.02.5ftSep 22Oct 6Oct 21
358ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage358ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
246ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026246ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

The Cahaba River near Whites Chapel is at 1.15 ft, in the normal range for late October.

That puts it 0.05 ft below the median of 1.20 ft for late October, based on 15 years of readings. It is 7.35 ft below the flood stage of 8.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.17 ft (−0.02 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.12 ft and 1.94 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 58 °F.

Compared with 15 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.20 ft0.05 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.05 ft – 1.52 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (15 years of records)
Same day last year
1.17 ft−0.02 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.12 ft – 1.94 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.12 ft – 6.07 ft

Floating and fishing near Cahaba River near Whites Chapel

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 8.50 ft, 7.35 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

20.00 ft
Water will begin to overtop the bridge on Whites Chapel Road.
17.00 ft
Much of the lower sections of the golf course are flooded. Water reaches a home on Mack Roper Road.
8.50 ft
Water overflows the golf course near hole 5 and threatens the irrigation pump.
1.15 ft
Right now

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

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

19 Mon 70° 43° – Wind 9 mph
20 Tue 76° 44° – Wind 6 mph
21 Wed 76° 50° – Wind 4 mph
22 Thu 76° 53° – Wind 7 mph
23 Fri 76° 51° – Wind 6 mph
24 Sat 73° 49° – Wind 10 mph
25 Sun 70° 48° – Wind 9 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 06:56 AM Sunset 06:07 PM Daylight 11 hr, 10 min Waxing gibbous 75%

Map

Other gauges on the Cahaba River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Cahaba River near TrussvilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.52 ft No reference yet +0.01 ft 4.9 mi
Cahaba River at TrussvilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.0 cfs Low ±0 3.2 mi
Cahaba River near Mountain BrookRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.56 ft Normal −0.01 ft 13 mi
Cahaba River near Cahaba HeightsRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.42 ft Normal +0.02 ft 17 mi
Cahaba River near HooverRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.56 ft Low −0.03 ft 21 mi
Cahaba River near ActonRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.71 ft Very low −0.07 ft 23 mi
Cahaba River near HelenaRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.42 ft Normal −0.01 ft 29 mi
Cahaba River near West BloctonRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.04 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 46 mi
Cahaba River at CentrevilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.42 ft Very low −0.06 ft 57 mi
Cahaba River near SuttleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 3.09 ft Low −0.03 ft 83 mi
Cahaba River near Marion JunctionRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.89 ft Normal −0.04 ft 88 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Little Cahaba River below LeedsRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 0.99 ft Very low −0.20 ft 4.8 mi
Little Cahaba River near Jefferson ParkRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 0.22 ft Low −0.10 ft 8 mi
Village Creek at 86th St North at RoebuckRiver gauge, Village Creek 1.15 ft Normal −0.01 ft 10 mi
Shades Creek at Elder St near SpringdaleRiver gauge, Shades Creek 1.3 cfs Normal ±0 11 mi
Turkey Creek at Sewage Plant near PinsonRiver gauge, Turkey Creek 4.93 ft Very high +0.05 ft 11 mi
TRIB TO VILLAGE CREEK AT 50th ST IN BIRMINGHAMRiver gauge 0.39 ft Very low −0.04 ft 13 mi
Little Cahaba River at Cah Bea Road near Cahaba HtsRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 1.20 ft Normal −0.24 ft 14 mi
Kelly Creek near VincentRiver gauge, Kelly Creek 1.11 ft Low ±0 14 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Cahaba River near Whites Chapel compare with last year?

It is 0.02 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.17 ft.

What is flood stage for the Cahaba River near Whites Chapel?

The official flood stage is 8.50 ft. The level is currently 7.35 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Cahaba River near Whites Chapel in late October?

The median for late October is 1.20 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.05 ft and 1.52 ft, based on 15 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 Cahaba River near Whites Chapel today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 01:15 AM CDT, the water level was 1.15 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cahaba River near Whites Chapel rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Cahaba River near Whites Chapel normal?

Normal for late October. Compared with 15 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:02423160 (Agency page)
Coordinates
33.60371, -86.54915 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
NAVD88
Update interval
every 15 minutes
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 1.15 ft 2026-10-21 06:15 Provisional
Flow 9.0 cfs 2026-10-21 06:15 Provisional
Water temperature 58 °F 2026-10-21 06:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cahaba River near Whites Chapel (usgs:02423160). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/cahaba-river-near-whites-chapel

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.