Sipsey River near Elrod water level
River gauge, Sipsey River, Alabama, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 66.4 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 4.89 ft, the Sipsey River near Elrod is below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 5.71 ft, based on 48 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.82 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 5.30 ft, a difference of −0.41 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.59 ft and 5.48 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 48 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5.71 ft0.82 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.72 ft – 8.89 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (48 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5.30 ft−0.41 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.59 ft – 5.48 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.59 ft – 14.43 ft
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Warrior River below Oliver L&d near TuscaloosaRiver gauge, Black Warrior River | 95.73 ft | Normal | +0.06 ft | 11 mi |
| Black Warrior River at NorthportRiver gauge, Black Warrior River | 123.14 ft | Normal | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Cribbs Mill Creek at Ww Plant at TuscaloosaRiver gauge, Cribbs Mill Creek | 6.9 cfs | Normal | +0.2 cfs | 13 mi |
| Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, AlabamaLake, Lake Tuscaloosa | 221.05 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 16 mi |
| North River near SamanthaRiver gauge, North River | 1.68 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 19 mi |
| Black Warrior River below Holt L&d near HoltRiver gauge, Black Warrior River | 123.09 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 19 mi |
| Black Warrior River at Holt L&d near HoltRiver gauge, Black Warrior River | 186.49 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 19 mi |
| Elliotts Creek at MoundvilleRiver gauge, Elliotts Creek | 1.69 ft | Very low | +0.02 ft | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Sipsey River near Elrod higher than last year?
No, it is 0.41 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.30 ft.
What is a normal level for the Sipsey River near Elrod in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5.71 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.72 ft and 8.89 ft, based on 48 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 Sipsey River near Elrod today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT, the water level was 4.89 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Sipsey River near Elrod rising or falling?
Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.17 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sipsey River near Elrod normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 48 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:02446500(Agency page)- Coordinates
33.25710, -87.77641(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 | 4.89 ft | 2026-10-19 16:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 66.4 cfs | 2026-10-19 16:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sipsey River near Elrod (usgs:02446500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/sipsey-river-near-elrod
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