Turnpike Creek near McRae water level

Name: Turnpike Creek near McRae 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, Turnpike Creek, Georgia, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

5.40ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 PM EDT (52 min ago)

Flow: 1.9 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

High water at Turnpike Creek near McRae: the latest reading is 5.40 ft, well above normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 3.31 ft, based on 23 years of readings, so the river stage is 2.09 ft above typical. It is 4.60 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.11 ft, a difference of +1.29 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 4.92 ft – 7.56 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 23 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 3.31 ft2.09 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.19 ft – 5.12 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (23 years of records)
Same day last year: 4.11 ft+1.29 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 4.92 ft – 7.56 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.46 ft – 8.23 ft
Highest on record: 11.82 ftMarch 9, 1998

Staying safe in high water

Flood stage is only the first threshold. Above it the National Weather Service sets moderate and major flood stages, and the forecast crest tells you which of those the river is expected to reach.

Upstream gauges on the same river usually show a rise first, which is a useful early warning.

What happens at each level

18.00 ft: Major flooding begins. Widespread inundation flooding occurs in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on U S Highways 441 or 319 south of McRae. The water level will top the bridge causing it to act like a dam. Erosion will likely occur to the sides of the bridge and county officials will have it closed. The water will be 1 to 2 feet over the highway. The flood waters will reach the bottom of the USGS gage house.
16.00 ft: Significant flooding continues to expand further into the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on U S Highways 441 or 319 south of McRae. The water level hits the bridge causing it to act like a dam. Erosion may occur to the sides of the bridge and county officials will likely have it closed. The water level will begin to flow over the highway in low areas.
14.00 ft: Moderate flooding begins. Significant flooding expands further into the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on U S Highways 441 or 319 south of McRae. The water level reaches the bottom of the bridge and county officials may close the bridge.
12.00 ft: Minor flooding continues in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on U S Highways 441 or 319 south of McRae.
10.00 ft: Flood stage is reached. Minor flooding of woodlands and fields begins upstream and downstream from the gage on U S Highways 441 or 319 south of McRae.
8.00 ft: Bankfull conditions are reached upstream and downstream from the gage on U S Highways 441 or 319 south of McRae.
5.40 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.82 ft	March 9, 1998
2	11.04 ft	January 12, 1993
3	11.04 ft	September 27, 2024
4	10.77 ft	March 6, 2020
5	10.74 ft	November 7, 2024
6	10.69 ft	April 3, 2009
7	10.56 ft	November 22, 1985
8	10.51 ft	March 7, 1983
9	10.24 ft	March 3, 1991
10	10.07 ft	July 2, 2013

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 74° 42° – Wind 8 mph

21 Wed 77° 47° – Wind 8 mph

22 Thu 78° 47° – Wind 6 mph

23 Fri 75° 55° – Wind 12 mph

24 Sat 74° 54° – Wind 15 mph

25 Sun 75° 54° – Wind 16 mph

26 Mon 78° 56° – Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:39 AM Sunset 06:55 PM Daylight 11 hr, 16 min Waxing gibbous 72%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Little Ocmulgee River at GA 149, at ScotlandRiver gauge, Little Ocmulgee River	2.10 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	8 mi
Ocmulgee River at Lumber CityRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	2.58 ft	Normal	−0.41 ft	15 mi
Ocmulgee River at AbbevilleRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	1.30 ft	Normal	−0.69 ft	21 mi
Oconee River near Mount VernonRiver gauge, Oconee River	0.59 ft	Low	−0.05 ft	22 mi
Altamaha River at US 221, near CharlottevilleRiver gauge, Altamaha River	1.93 ft	Normal	−0.17 ft	24 mi
Altamaha River near BaxleyRiver gauge, Altamaha River	3.40 ft	Normal	−0.11 ft	34 mi
Ocmulgee River at US 341, at HawkinsvilleRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	1.44 ft	Normal	−0.24 ft	37 mi
Tucsawhatchee Creek near HawkinsvilleRiver gauge, Tucsawhatchee Creek	1.15 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	38 mi

Questions and answers

Is Turnpike Creek near McRae higher than last year?

Yes, it is 1.29 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.11 ft.

What is flood stage for Turnpike Creek near McRae?

The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 4.60 ft below it.

What is a normal level for Turnpike Creek near McRae in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.19 ft and 5.12 ft, based on 23 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 Turnpike Creek near McRae today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 PM EDT, the water level was 5.40 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Turnpike Creek near McRae rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.71 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Turnpike Creek near McRae normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 23 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:02216180 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 31.99139, -82.92194 (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

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	5.40 ft	2026-10-20 22:00	Provisional
Flow	1.9 cfs	2026-10-20 22:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Turnpike Creek near McRae (usgs:02216180). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/georgia/turnpike-creek-near-mcrae

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