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Cahaba River near Whites Chapel water level

River gauge, Cahaba River, Alabama, United States

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Right now

Low for mid-October

Water level

1.15ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
9.0 cfs
Water temperature
60 °F
3 5 8 Minor floodstage 8.50 ft

History

History
1.01.52.0ftOct 13Oct 14Oct 16Oct 17Oct 191.01.52.0ftOct 13Oct 16Oct 19
1234ftSep 20Sep 27Oct 4Oct 11Oct 191234ftSep 20Oct 4Oct 19
358ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage358ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
246ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026246ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

What this means

The Cahaba River near Whites Chapel is running below normal at 1.15 ft.

That puts it 0.10 ft below the median of 1.26 ft for mid-October, based on 14 years of readings. It is 7.35 ft below the flood stage of 8.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.36 ft (−0.21 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 1.12 ft and 1.94 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 60 °F.

Compared with 14 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.26 ft0.10 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.06 ft – 1.55 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (14 years of records)
Same day last year
1.36 ft−0.21 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.12 ft – 1.94 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.12 ft – 6.07 ft

Floating and fishing near Cahaba River near Whites Chapel

Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.

Flood stage here is 8.50 ft, 7.35 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

20.00 ft
Water will begin to overtop the bridge on Whites Chapel Road.
17.00 ft
Much of the lower sections of the golf course are flooded. Water reaches a home on Mack Roper Road.
8.50 ft
Water overflows the golf course near hole 5 and threatens the irrigation pump.
1.15 ft
Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 06:55 AM Sunset 06:09 PM Daylight 11 hr, 14 min First quarter 56%

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 +0.01 ft 4.9 mi
Cahaba River at TrussvilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.0 cfs Low ±0 3.2 mi
Cahaba River near Mountain BrookRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.59 ft Normal −0.01 ft 13 mi
Cahaba River near Cahaba HeightsRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.40 ft Normal ±0 17 mi
Cahaba River near HooverRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.58 ft Low −0.01 ft 21 mi
Cahaba River near ActonRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.77 ft Very low −0.01 ft 23 mi
Cahaba River near HelenaRiver gauge, Cahaba River 1.43 ft Normal −0.01 ft 29 mi
Cahaba River near West BloctonRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.08 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 46 mi
Cahaba River at CentrevilleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 0.52 ft Low −0.05 ft 57 mi
Cahaba River near SuttleRiver gauge, Cahaba River 3.23 ft Low −0.11 ft 83 mi
Cahaba River near Marion JunctionRiver gauge, Cahaba River 2.04 ft Normal −0.12 ft 88 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Little Cahaba River below LeedsRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 1.00 ft Very low ±0 4.8 mi
Little Cahaba River near Jefferson ParkRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 0.21 ft Low −0.01 ft 8 mi
Village Creek at 86th St North at RoebuckRiver gauge, Village Creek 1.16 ft Normal ±0 10 mi
Shades Creek at Elder St near SpringdaleRiver gauge, Shades Creek 3.0 cfs Normal +0.4 cfs 11 mi
Turkey Creek at Sewage Plant near PinsonRiver gauge, Turkey Creek 4.83 ft High +0.35 ft 11 mi
TRIB TO VILLAGE CREEK AT 50th ST IN BIRMINGHAMRiver gauge 0.45 ft Very low +0.02 ft 13 mi
Little Cahaba River at Cah Bea Road near Cahaba HtsRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River 1.32 ft Normal +0.19 ft 14 mi
Kelly Creek near VincentRiver gauge, Kelly Creek 1.11 ft Low −0.04 ft 14 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Cahaba River near Whites Chapel compare with last year?

It is 0.21 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.36 ft.

What is flood stage for the Cahaba River near Whites Chapel?

The official flood stage is 8.50 ft. The level is currently 7.35 ft below it.

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

The median for mid-October is 1.26 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.06 ft and 1.55 ft, based on 14 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 Whites Chapel today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 11:15 PM CDT, the water level was 1.15 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cahaba River near Whites Chapel rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.16 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Cahaba River near Whites Chapel normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 14 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:02423160 (Agency page)
Coordinates
33.60371, -86.54915 (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 1.15 ft 2026-10-19 04:15 Provisional
Flow 9.0 cfs 2026-10-19 04:15 Provisional
Water temperature 60 °F 2026-10-19 04:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cahaba River near Whites Chapel (usgs:02423160). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/cahaba-river-near-whites-chapel

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.