Ocmulgee River at Macon water level

Name: Ocmulgee River at Macon 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, Ocmulgee River, Georgia, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Water level

5.56ft Down 0.14 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 05:30 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 540 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

The forecast expects the river to rise to 5.70 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 09:07 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

At 5.56 ft, the Ocmulgee River at Macon is below normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 6.32 ft, based on 32 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.76 ft below typical. It is 12.44 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 6.00 ft, a difference of −0.44 ft.

The level is falling, down 0.14 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 5.70 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 AM. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 5.03 ft and 12.27 ft.

Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 6.32 ft0.76 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 4.97 ft – 11.89 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
Same day last year: 6.00 ft−0.44 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 5.03 ft – 12.27 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 5.03 ft – 15.92 ft
Highest on record: 35.40 ftJuly 6, 1994
Forecast peak: 5.70 ftMonday, October 19 at 02:00 AM

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 18.00 ft, still 12.44 ft away.

What happens at each level

36.00 ft: Widespread inundation flooding never seen before occurs in the Macon area. This flooding will be worse than July 6, 1994 with Tropical Storm Alberto. Two feet of water will be overflowing the levee. Flood waters several feet deep affect homes on the left bank near Glenridge Drive and businesses and other structures in southeast Macon. Water approaches the Macon Telegraph building. Portions of Interstate 16 and 75 in Macon will be flooded and closed. Water approaches the bottom of the MLK bridge.
35.40 ft: Record widespread inundation flooding occurs in the Macon area. This ties the record set on July 6, 1994 with Tropical Storm Alberto. The Macon levee was breeched at 34 feet flooding the Georgia State Fairgrounds area. Flood waters a few feet deep affect several homes on the left bank near Glenridge Drive and businesses off of Tuft Springs and Mead Roads and other structures in southeast Macon. Evacuations should have been completed. Portions of Interstate 16 and 75 in Macon will be flooded and closed.
34.00 ft: Dangerous flooding expands as the levee is topped on the east side of Macon. Water quickly covers several streets including portions of Martin Luther King Boulevard, Fifth Street, and Riverside Drive. The Georgia State Fairgrounds baseball complex floods. Several homes on the left bank near Glenridge Drive will be flooded up to 4 feet deep. Some businesses off of Tuft and Mead Roads will be flooded. Evacuations will be necessary. Portions of Interstate 16 and 75 will flood at on and off ramps in Macon.
32.00 ft: Dangerous flooding occurs as the water level approaches the top of the Macon levee. A few homes on the left bank near Glenridge Drive will be flooded up to two feet deep. Flood waters will be near the foundations of some businesses off of Tuft Springs and Mead Roads in south Macon. Some evacuations may be necessary! Low portions of Interstate 16 and 75 will begin to experience flooding especially at on and off ramps in Macon. Significant flooding of Amerson Park occurs.
30.00 ft: Major flooding begins. The Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail will be under 10 feet of water. A few homes on the left bank near Glenridge Drive will begin to flood. Flood waters will be approaching some businesses off of Tuft Springs and Mead Roads in south Macon. Large portions of the Southern Railroad tracks will be inundated. Agricultural lands just east and south of Macon will be flooded up to 12 feet deep. Significant flooding of Amerson Park occurs.
29.00 ft: Significant flooding expands over the Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail north of the U.S. Highway 80 bridge with some areas under 9 feet of water. Backyards of a few homes on the left bank near Glenridge Dr. will be completely flooded. Large portions of the Southern Railroad tracks around Mead Road will be a few feet under water. Agricultural lands just east and south of Macon will be under 1 to 10 feet of water. Significant flooding of Amerson Park occurs.
26.00 ft: Moderate flooding begins on the Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail north of the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge with some areas under 6 feet of water. Backyards of a few homes on the left bank near Glenridge Drive will be flooded. Portions of the Southern Railroad tracks around Mead Road will become inundated. Large portions of agricultural lands just east and south of Macon will be under 1 to 8 feet of water. Significant flooding of Amerson Park occurs.
25.00 ft: Minor flooding expands further into the woodlands and over the Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail north of the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge. The flood waters will be up to 5 feet deep on portions of the trail. Large portions of agricultural lands just east and south of Macon will be under 1 to 7 feet of water. Significant flooding of Amerson Park occurs.
23.00 ft: Minor flooding continues to expand. Large portions of the Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail floods north of the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge. The flood waters will be up to 3 feet deep on portions of the trail. Large portions of agricultural lands east of Macon and well downstream will be under 1 to 5 feet of water. Flooding continues to spread to access roads, trails, foot bridges, and parking lots in Amerson Park upstream of the gage site.
21.00 ft: Minor flooding expands. An increasing amount of the Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail floods north of the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge. The flood waters will be up to two feet deep on portions of the trail and both banks overflow upstream from the bridge. Large portions of agricultural lands east of Macon and well downstream will be under 1 to 4 feet of water. Flooding continues to spread to access roads, trails, foot bridges, and parking lots in Amerson Park upstream of the gage site.
20.00 ft: Minor flooding expands. An increasing amount of the Macon GreenWay Ocmulgee Heritage Trail floods north of the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge and Spring Street Landing. The flood waters will be around one foot deep on portions of the trails and both banks overflow upstream from the bridge. Large portions of agricultural lands well downstream will be under 1 to 3 feet of water. Flooding continues to spread to access roads, trails, foot bridges, and parking lots in Amerson Park upstream of the gage site.
19.00 ft: Minor flooding continues. The Macon Greenway Ocmulgee Heritage Trail will begin to flood in areas just north of the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge, as well as near the Spring Street Landing. The public should not use these portions of the trail. In addition, the lowest sections of the Charles Jones Gateway Park will flood. Flooding spreads to access roads, trails, and lower parking lots in Amerson Park upstream of the gage site.
5.56 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 38 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	35.40 ft	July 6, 1994
2	29.90 ft	March 18, 1990
3	29.80 ft	March 19, 1990
4	29.50 ft	March 4, 1971
5	28.00 ft	November 29, 1948
6	27.88 ft	September 29, 2024
7	27.88 ft	March 9, 1998
8	27.78 ft	March 28, 2023
9	27.77 ft	December 27, 2015
10	26.67 ft	November 27, 1992

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

18 Sun 68° 48° – Wind 15 mph

19 Mon 71° 45° – Wind 10 mph

20 Tue 77° 44° – Wind 7 mph

21 Wed 77° 54° – Wind 7 mph

22 Thu 80° 56° – Wind 4 mph

23 Fri 77° 56° – Wind 9 mph

24 Sat 74° 53° – Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:42 AM Sunset 06:58 PM Daylight 11 hr, 16 min First quarter 58%

Map

Other gauges on the Ocmulgee River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Ocmulgee River near JacksonRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	4.07 ft	Normal	±0	35 mi
Ocmulgee River at GA 18, at Dames FerryRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	3.29 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	14 mi
Ocmulgee River at GA 96, near BonaireRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	2.42 ft	Normal	−0.91 ft	21 mi
Ocmulgee River at US 341, at HawkinsvilleRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	1.93 ft	Normal	−0.62 ft	39 mi
Ocmulgee River at AbbevilleRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	2.53 ft	Normal	−1.29 ft	61 mi
Ocmulgee River at Lumber CityRiver gauge, Ocmulgee River	3.03 ft	Normal	+0.13 ft	84 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Tobesofkee Creek near MaconRiver gauge, Tobesofkee Creek	1.84 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	8 mi
Echeconnee Creek at Houston Road, near ByronRiver gauge, Echeconnee Creek	5.99 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	11 mi
Falling Creek near JulietteRiver gauge, Falling Creek	1.03 ft	Low	±0	19 mi
Towaliga River at GA 83 near JulietteRiver gauge, Towaliga River	1.53 ft	Low	−0.06 ft	24 mi
Commissioner Creek at US 441, at McIntyreRiver gauge, Commissioner Creek	7.24 ft	Very low	−0.18 ft	25 mi
Big Sandy Creek at US 441, near IrwintonRiver gauge, Big Sandy Creek	2.84 ft	Very low	−0.04 ft	27 mi
Big Indian Creek at US 341, near ClinchfieldRiver gauge, Big Indian Creek	14.02 ft	Low	−0.05 ft	28 mi
Oconee River at MilledgevilleRiver gauge, Oconee River	7.07 ft	Very low	−0.01 ft	29 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Ocmulgee River at Macon higher than last year?

No, it is 0.44 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.00 ft.

What is flood stage for the Ocmulgee River at Macon?

The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 12.44 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Ocmulgee River at Macon in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 6.32 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.97 ft and 11.89 ft, based on 32 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 Ocmulgee River at Macon today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 05:30 AM EDT, the water level was 5.56 ft. Down 0.14 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Ocmulgee River at Macon rising or falling?

Down 0.14 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 6.71 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Ocmulgee River at Macon normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:02213000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 32.83861, -83.62056 (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	5.56 ft	2026-10-19 09:30	Provisional
Flow	540 cfs	2026-10-19 09:30	Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

<iframe src="https://nivelmap.com/embed/9540?lang=en" width="360" height="230" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy" title="Ocmulgee River at Macon water level"></iframe>

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Ocmulgee River at Macon (usgs:02213000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/georgia/ocmulgee-river-at-macon

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