Alabama River at Montgomery water level

Name: Alabama River at Montgomery 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, Alabama River, Alabama, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

22.47ft Up 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 05:30 AM EDT (50 min ago)

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 fall to 22.20 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 02:00 AM. Issued Saturday, October 17 at 10:04 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The Alabama River at Montgomery is above normal at 22.47 ft.

The median for mid-October is 21.99 ft, based on 33 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.48 ft above typical. It is 12.53 ft below the flood stage of 35.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 21.91 ft, a difference of +0.56 ft.

It has risen 0.28 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 22.20 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 02:00 AM. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. In the last month it has stayed between 21.97 ft and 22.96 ft.

Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 21.99 ft0.48 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 21.11 ft – 22.74 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year: 21.91 ft+0.56 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 21.97 ft – 22.96 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 20.83 ft – 28.41 ft
Highest on record: 59.70 ftApril 1, 1886
Forecast peak: 22.20 ftSunday, October 18 at 02:00 AM

Floating and fishing near Alabama River at Montgomery

Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.

Flood stage here is 35.00 ft, 12.53 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

58.00 ft: Extensive flooding of industrial and residential property occurs. Several square miles of industrial and residential property are flooded.
53.00 ft: Residential flooding becomes widespread in portions of North Montgomery and numerous evacuations may be necessary. The railroad bridge become flooded around 56 feet.
45.00 ft: Residential flooding begins in portions of North Montgomery. Evacuations will likely be need at stages around 50 feet or higher.
35.00 ft: Extensive flooding of low lands in the area occurs.
26.00 ft: Some flooding of low lying areas and secondary roads begins in the Montgomery area. Flooding of the golf course at Maxwell Air Force Base and portions of River Road occurs at stages around 30 feet and higher.
22.47 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: < 5 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	59.70 ft	April 1, 1886
2	58.10 ft	February 26, 1961
3	57.10 ft	December 11, 1919
4	56.90 ft	March 17, 1929
5	56.00 ft	November 30, 1948
6	54.75 ft	March 19, 1990
7	54.20 ft	April 11, 1938
8	53.40 ft	January 20, 1925
9	52.40 ft	April 10, 1964
10	51.80 ft	April 16, 1979

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:52 AM Sunset 07:10 PM Daylight 11 hr, 19 min First quarter 48%

Map

Other gauges on the Alabama River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Alabama River near MontgomeryRiver gauge, Alabama River	27.29 ft	High	+0.35 ft	5.6 mi
Alabama River at Robert F Henry Lock and DamRiver gauge, Alabama River	125.01 ft	Normal	+0.25 ft	28 mi
Alabama River below Robert F Henry L&d near BentonRiver gauge, Alabama River	83.53 ft	Normal	−0.18 ft	28 mi
Alabama River at SelmaRiver gauge, Alabama River	19.08 ft	Normal	+0.06 ft	41 mi
Alabama River at Millers Ferry Dam, near CamdenReservoir, Alabama River	79.79 ft	Very low	+0.04 ft	66 mi
Alabama River below Millers Ferry L&d near CamdenRiver gauge, Alabama River	35.27 ft	Normal	−0.54 ft	66 mi
Alabama River at Claiborne L&d near MonroevilleRiver gauge, Alabama River	34.40 ft	Normal	−0.11 ft	90 mi
Alabama River at Choctaw BluffRiver gauge, Alabama River	−3.39 ft	No reference yet	−0.60 ft	111 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Catoma Creek near MontgomeryRiver gauge, Catoma Creek	1.56 ft	Low	−0.07 ft	5.9 mi
Tallapoosa River near Mont.-Mont. Water WorksRiver gauge, Tallapoosa River	3.79 ft	Normal	−0.16 ft	8 mi
Coosa River at WetumpkaRiver gauge, Coosa River	12.02 ft	Normal	+0.40 ft	12 mi
Tallapoosa River at MilsteadRiver gauge, Tallapoosa River	2.43 ft	Low	+0.09 ft	25 mi
Hatchet Creek below RockfordRiver gauge, Hatchet Creek	1.83 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	36 mi
Uphapee Creek near TuskegeeRiver gauge, Uphapee Creek	0.97 ft	Very low	−0.03 ft	37 mi
Mulberry Creek at JonesRiver gauge, Mulberry Creek	0.23 ft	Very low	−0.02 ft	37 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Alabama River at Montgomery higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.56 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 21.91 ft.

What is flood stage for the Alabama River at Montgomery?

The official flood stage is 35.00 ft. The level is currently 12.53 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Alabama River at Montgomery in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 21.99 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 21.11 ft and 22.74 ft, based on 33 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 Alabama River at Montgomery today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 05:30 AM EDT, the water level was 22.47 ft. Up 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Alabama River at Montgomery rising or falling?

Up 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.41 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Alabama River at Montgomery normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 33 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:02419988 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 32.39224, -86.31541 (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	22.47 ft	2026-10-18 09:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Alabama River at Montgomery (usgs:02419988). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/alabama-river-at-montgomery

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