Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights water level

River gauge, Cahaba River, Alabama, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

1.40ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
3.1 cfs
0 10 20 30 Highest onrecord 28.86 ft Minor floodstage 14.00 ft

History

1.52.0ftOct 12Oct 14Oct 17Oct 20Oct 231.52.0ftOct 12Oct 17Oct 23
23ftSep 19Sep 27Oct 6Oct 14Oct 2323ftSep 19Oct 6Oct 23
51015ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage51015ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
2468ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20262468ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.40 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 01:00 PM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 08:54 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The gauge at Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights reads 1.40 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 1.47 ft, based on 40 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.07 ft below typical. It is 12.60 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 1.45 ft, a difference of −0.05 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.40 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 01:00 PM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.37 ft and 2.48 ft.

Compared with 40 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.47 ft0.07 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.26 ft – 1.94 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (40 years of records)
Same day last year
1.45 ft−0.05 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.37 ft – 2.48 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.29 ft – 5.85 ft
Highest on record
28.86 ftApril 13, 1979
Forecast peak
1.40 ftSunday, October 18 at 01:00 PM

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 14.00 ft, still 12.60 ft away.

What happens at each level

25.00 ft
Severe residential flooding occurs in areas near the river.
24.00 ft
Residential flooding becomes more severe and widespread near the river.
22.50 ft
Some residential flooding develops as the river continues to rise.
20.00 ft
Water overflows the yards of some homes near the river.
17.00 ft
Flooding of some commercial property in the area begins as stages continues to rise.
14.00 ft
Minor flooding occurs in the Cahaba Heights area.
1.40 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: 11 %.

RankLevelDate
128.86 ftApril 13, 1979
227.91 ftMay 8, 2003
324.00 ftJune 29, 1999
423.95 ftSeptember 17, 2004
523.58 ftApril 7, 2014
623.24 ftNovember 24, 2004
722.28 ftApril 4, 2000
822.02 ftJanuary 8, 1998
921.92 ftMarch 4, 1979
1021.88 ftApril 4, 2001

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

18 Sun 70° 44° – Wind 10 mph
19 Mon 72° 43° – Wind 9 mph
20 Tue 75° 47° – Wind 5 mph
21 Wed 77° 56° – Wind 4 mph
22 Thu 77° 56° – Wind 6 mph
23 Fri 77° 55° – Wind 6 mph
24 Sat 74° 54° – Wind 10 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 06:54 AM Sunset 06:11 PM Daylight 11 hr, 17 min First quarter 53%

Map

Other gauges on the Cahaba River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Cahaba River near TrussvilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.50 ft No reference yet +0.02 ft 19 mi
Cahaba River at TrussvilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.0 cfs Low ±0 16 mi
Cahaba River near Whites ChapelRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.16 ft Low −0.01 ft 17 mi
Cahaba River near Mountain BrookRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.60 ft Normal −0.02 ft 4.8 mi
Cahaba River near HooverRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.60 ft Low ±0 4.1 mi
Cahaba River near ActonRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.75 ft Very low −0.06 ft 5.6 mi
Cahaba River near HelenaRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.43 ft Normal −0.02 ft 12 mi
Cahaba River near West BloctonRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.09 ft Below flood stage ±0 29 mi
Cahaba River at CentrevilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.51 ft Low −0.06 ft 40 mi
Cahaba River near SuttleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 3.26 ft Low −0.12 ft 67 mi
Cahaba River near Marion JunctionRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.06 ft Normal −0.13 ft 72 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Little Cahaba River at Cah Bea Road near Cahaba HtsRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 1.33 ft Normal +0.20 ft 2.9 mi
Shades Creek near HomewoodRiver gauge, Shades Creek 3.46 ft Normal +0.01 ft 4.8 mi
Cahaba Valley Creek at Indian Trail Road near Indian SpringsRiver gauge, Cahaba Valley Creek 3.68 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 5.0 mi
Shades Creek at Elder St near SpringdaleRiver gauge, Shades Creek 3.5 cfs Normal +0.5 cfs 7 mi
Cahaba Valley Creek at Cross Creek Road at PelhamRiver gauge, Cahaba Valley Creek 2.35 ft Normal +0.01 ft 8 mi
Valley Creek at Center St at BirminghamRiver gauge, Valley Creek 1.54 ft Below flood stage ±0 8 mi
TRIB TO VILLAGE CREEK AT 50th ST IN BIRMINGHAMRiver gauge 0.40 ft Very low −0.03 ft 9 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights higher than last year?

No, it is 0.05 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.45 ft.

What is flood stage for the Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights?

The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 12.60 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.47 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.26 ft and 1.94 ft, based on 40 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 Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 03:30 PM CDT, the water level was 1.40 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.66 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 40 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:02423425 (Agency page)
Coordinates
33.41566, -86.73971 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 1.40 ft 2026-10-18 20:30 Provisional
Flow 3.1 cfs 2026-10-18 20:30 Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cahaba River near Cahaba Heights (usgs:02423425). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/cahaba-river-near-cahaba-heights

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