Limestone Creek near Athens water level
River gauge, Limestone Creek, Alabama, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 13.0 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Limestone Creek near Athens reads 1.38 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 1.16 ft, based on 30 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.22 ft above typical. It is 10.62 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.86 ft, a difference of −0.48 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.30 ft and 1.78 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.16 ft0.22 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.85 ft – 2.29 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.86 ft−0.48 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.30 ft – 1.78 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.30 ft – 5.99 ft
- Highest on record
- 17.48 ftMarch 16, 1973
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 12.00 ft, still 10.62 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
- Water covers Highway 72 at Limestone Creek.
- 16.00 ft
- Water approaches the underside of the Highway 72 bridges. Significant flooding of farmland and other lowlands near the river is occurring.
- 12.00 ft
- Water spills over the banks of Limestone Creek...flooding lowlands near the river.
- 1.38 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.48 ft | March 16, 1973 |
| 2 | 15.50 ft | March 12, 1963 |
| 3 | 15.20 ft | December 23, 1991 |
| 4 | 15.10 ft | April 28, 2011 |
| 5 | 14.32 ft | January 21, 1954 |
| 6 | 13.56 ft | January 23, 1999 |
| 7 | 13.16 ft | February 1, 1951 |
| 8 | 13.00 ft | March 15, 1964 |
| 9 | 12.99 ft | February 6, 2004 |
| 10 | 12.89 ft | January 5, 1949 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Creek below AthensRiver gauge, Swan Creek | 3.15 ft | Normal | ±0 | 7 mi |
| Indian Creek near MadisonRiver gauge, Indian Creek | 2.62 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 8 mi |
| Aldridge Creek at Toney Drive at HuntsvilleRiver gauge, Aldridge Creek | 3.11 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Aldridge Creek at Sherwood Drain near HuntsvilleRiver gauge, Aldridge Creek | 3.46 ft | Below flood stage | +0.06 ft | 16 mi |
| Aldridge Creek near FarleyRiver gauge, Aldridge Creek | 2.36 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Elk River at ProspectRiver gauge, Elk River | 0.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Flint River at BrownsboroRiver gauge, Flint River | 7.23 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Cotaco Creek at FloretteRiver gauge, Cotaco Creek | 14.2 cfs | Normal | −1.8 cfs | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Limestone Creek near Athens higher than last year?
No, it is 0.48 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.86 ft.
What is flood stage for Limestone Creek near Athens?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 10.62 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Limestone Creek near Athens in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.16 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.85 ft and 2.29 ft, based on 30 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 Limestone Creek near Athens today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 05:00 AM CDT, the water level was 1.38 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Limestone Creek near Athens rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Limestone Creek near Athens normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 30 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:03576250(Agency page)- Coordinates
34.75176, -86.82333(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 | 1.38 ft | 2026-10-19 10:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 13.0 cfs | 2026-10-19 10:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Limestone Creek near Athens (usgs:03576250). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/limestone-creek-near-athens
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