Bayou Sara at Saraland water level

Name: Bayou Sara at Saraland 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, Bayou Sara, Alabama, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.18ft Up 0.61 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 12:30 AM CDT (1 hour ago)

Water temperature: 65 °F

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Bayou Sara at Saraland, where the gauge shows 3.18 ft.

It is 0.82 ft below the flood stage of 4.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.36 ft (−1.18 ft).

It is on the way up, by 0.61 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 0.82 ft of room before flood stage. The 30-day range is 1.14 ft – 4.63 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 65 °F.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Same day last year: 4.36 ft−1.18 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.14 ft – 4.63 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.19 ft – 7.66 ft
Highest on record: 10.15 ftJune 19, 2026

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 4.00 ft.

What happens at each level

14.30 ft: Flooding of the U.S. 43 bridge and the I-65 bridge occur.
11.00 ft: Extensive flooding will occur along Bayou Sara and Norton Creeks with many bridges flooded.
8.30 ft: Bayou Sara Avenue floods east of gauging site. Numerous houses and streets flood east of the railroad between Bayou Sara and Norton Creek.
7.90 ft: Streets along Bayou Sara flood. Low lying areas along Gunnison Creek in Satuma flood. Above 8 feet, numererous streets and houses east of the railroad between Bayou Sara and Norton Creeks flood.
7.50 ft: Numerous houses flood at 7.5 feet and some evacuations also become necessary.
6.00 ft: Flooding of residences in the area will occur.
5.00 ft: Street flooding east of the railroad becomes widespread.
4.00 ft: Flooding of streets begin.
3.18 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: 22 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	10.15 ft	June 19, 2026
2	9.80 ft	September 28, 1998
3	9.30 ft	September 1, 2008
4	8.94 ft	May 22, 2026
5	7.90 ft	February 25, 2020
6	7.84 ft	April 26, 1979
7	7.80 ft	April 13, 1980
8	7.50 ft	April 3, 1980
9	7.00 ft	August 30, 2021
10	7.00 ft	April 1, 2005

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 06:58 AM Sunset 06:18 PM Daylight 11 hr, 20 min First quarter 56%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Chickasaw Creek near KushlaRiver gauge, Chickasaw Creek	3.08 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	4.6 mi
Mobile River at Barry Steamplant near Bucks (Intake)Estuary gauge, Mobile River	2.69 ft	Normal	+0.51 ft	13 mi
Hamilton Creek at Snow Road near SemmesRiver gauge, Hamilton Creek	13.8 cfs	Normal	+0.2 cfs	14 mi
Crooked Creek near FairviewRiver gauge, Crooked Creek	0.49 ft	Normal	−0.05 ft	15 mi
Big Creek at County Road 63 near WilmerRiver gauge, Big Creek	1.50 ft	Low	±0	16 mi
Escatawpa River near WilmerRiver gauge, Escatawpa River	7.99 ft	Below flood stage	±0	21 mi
Big Creek near Seven HillsRiver gauge, Big Creek	6.69 ft	Low	−0.02 ft	23 mi
Fowl River at Half-Mile Road near LaurendineRiver gauge, Fowl River	1.59 ft	Very low	−0.06 ft	23 mi

Questions and answers

How does Bayou Sara at Saraland compare with last year?

It is 1.18 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.36 ft.

What is flood stage for Bayou Sara at Saraland?

The official flood stage is 4.00 ft. The level is currently 0.82 ft below it.

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 Bayou Sara at Saraland today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 12:30 AM CDT, the water level was 3.18 ft. Up 0.61 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Bayou Sara at Saraland rising or falling?

Up 0.61 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Bayou Sara at Saraland normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Bayou Sara at Saraland?

The highest level on record is 10.15 ft on June 19, 2026.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02470805 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 30.82522, -88.07003 (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	3.18 ft	2026-10-19 05:30	Provisional
Water temperature	65 °F	2026-10-19 05:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Bayou Sara at Saraland (usgs:02470805). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/bayou-sara-at-saraland

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