Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood water level

Name: Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood 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, Choctawhatchee River, Alabama, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

5.66ft Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 772 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 Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood: the latest reading is 5.66 ft, above normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 4.49 ft, based on 24 years of readings, so the river stage is 1.17 ft above typical. It is 8.34 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft.

It is still going down, by 0.17 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.69 ft – 12.88 ft.

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

Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 4.49 ft1.17 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 3.54 ft – 6.73 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (24 years of records)
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.69 ft – 12.88 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.69 ft – 12.88 ft
Highest on record: 20.47 ftDecember 16, 2009

Paddling and fishing conditions

Above-normal flows push fish to the edges and make wading risky. Wait for the river to drop and clear.

For reference, flood stage is 14.00 ft.

What happens at each level

14.00 ft: Water begins to flood farmland along the river downstream of County Road 45.
5.66 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	20.47 ft	December 16, 2009
2	20.41 ft	March 29, 2009
3	16.86 ft	April 2, 2016
4	16.67 ft	March 30, 2005
5	16.58 ft	February 12, 2013
6	16.43 ft	January 3, 2017
7	16.35 ft	December 26, 2015
8	16.28 ft	September 18, 2020
9	15.85 ft	January 23, 2017
10	15.70 ft	March 5, 2001

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

19 Mon 72° 50° – Wind 13 mph

20 Tue 74° 48° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 74° 53° – Wind 9 mph

22 Thu 76° 55° – Wind 5 mph

23 Fri 76° 56° – Wind 10 mph

24 Sat 74° 54° – Wind 17 mph

25 Sun 73° 56° – Wind 16 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:49 AM Sunset 07:08 PM Daylight 11 hr, 19 min First quarter 61%

Map

Other gauges on the Choctawhatchee River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Choctawhatchee River near NewtonRiver gauge, Choctawhatchee River	3.95 ft	Normal	−0.08 ft	16 mi
Choctawhatchee River near Geneva, AlabamaRiver gauge, Choctawhatchee River	4.44 ft	Normal	−0.37 ft	9 mi
Choctawhatchee River near PittmanRiver gauge, Choctawhatchee River	9.66 ft	High	−0.85 ft	15 mi
Choctawhatchee River at CaryvilleRiver gauge, Choctawhatchee River	7.27 ft	Very high	−2.18 ft	27 mi
Choctawhatchee River near BruceRiver gauge, Choctawhatchee River	12.45 ft	Very high	−0.56 ft	49 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Pea River near SamsonRiver gauge, Pea River	7.82 ft	Very high	−0.43 ft	19 mi
Pea River at ElbaRiver gauge, Pea River	1.18 ft	Low	−0.28 ft	24 mi
Pea River near AritonRiver gauge, Pea River	2.60 ft	High	−0.12 ft	30 mi
Holmes Creek at VernonRiver gauge, Holmes Creek	11.95 ft	Normal	−0.18 ft	37 mi
Bruce Creek at Sh 81 near RedbayRiver gauge, Bruce Creek	12.70 ft	Very high	−0.51 ft	38 mi
Conecuh River at BrantleyRiver gauge, Conecuh River	2.52 ft	High	−0.44 ft	40 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood?

The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 8.34 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 4.49 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.54 ft and 6.73 ft, based on 24 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 Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT, the water level was 5.66 ft. Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood rising or falling?

Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 7.00 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood?

The highest level on record is 20.47 ft on December 16, 2009.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02361500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 31.15934, -85.78438 (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	5.66 ft	2026-10-19 16:45	Provisional
Flow	772 cfs	2026-10-19 16:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Choctawhatchee River near Bellwood (usgs:02361500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/choctawhatchee-river-near-bellwood

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