Shades Creek near Homewood water level
River gauge, Shades Creek, Alabama, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 8.1 cfs
- Water temperature
- 60 °F
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Shades Creek near Homewood, where the gauge shows 3.48 ft.
That puts it 0.03 ft below the median of 3.51 ft for mid-October, based on 13 years of readings. It is 10.52 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.55 ft (−0.07 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.41 ft – 5.78 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 60 °F.
Compared with 13 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 3.51 ft0.03 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.37 ft – 4.46 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (13 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.55 ft−0.07 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.41 ft – 5.78 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.41 ft – 6.80 ft
- Highest on record
- 19.88 ftSeptember 16, 2004
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 14.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 19.50 ft
- Water reaches the edge of the left downstream apartment complex.
- 17.50 ft
- Water approaches the right upstream apartment complex with water covering much of the yard and nature walk.
- 14.00 ft
- Water rises above bankfull and begins to flood some of the surrounding property including the nature walk.
- 3.48 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.88 ft | September 16, 2004 |
| 2 | 18.79 ft | May 4, 2021 |
| 3 | 17.09 ft | October 7, 2021 |
| 4 | 16.97 ft | February 6, 2020 |
| 5 | 16.08 ft | September 22, 2002 |
| 6 | 15.35 ft | April 3, 2001 |
| 7 | 14.41 ft | December 28, 2018 |
| 8 | 14.40 ft | June 20, 2026 |
| 9 | 13.57 ft | May 8, 2003 |
| 10 | 13.52 ft | September 15, 2024 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Shades Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shades Creek at Elder St near SpringdaleRiver gauge, Shades Creek | 1.5 cfs | Normal | −1.5 cfs | 7 mi |
| Shades Creek near GreenwoodRiver gauge, Shades Creek | 1.68 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 12 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Creek at Center St at BirminghamRiver gauge, Valley Creek | 1.53 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 4.2 mi |
| Valley Creek at Ave W near EnsleyRiver gauge, Valley Creek | 3.89 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 4.5 mi |
| Cahaba River near Cahaba HeightsRiver gauge, Cahaba River | 1.40 ft | Normal | ±0 | 4.8 mi |
| Cahaba River near HooverRiver gauge, Cahaba River | 2.60 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 5.7 mi |
| Cahaba River near ActonRiver gauge, Cahaba River | 1.75 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 5.9 mi |
| Village Creek at Avenue W at EnsleyRiver gauge, Village Creek | 2.10 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 6.1 mi |
| Cahaba River near Mountain BrookRiver gauge, Cahaba River | 0.58 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 6 mi |
| Little Cahaba River at Cah Bea Road near Cahaba HtsRiver gauge, Little Cahaba River | 1.44 ft | Normal | +0.29 ft | 7 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Shades Creek near Homewood compare with last year?
It is 0.07 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.55 ft.
What is flood stage for Shades Creek near Homewood?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 10.52 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Shades Creek near Homewood in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 3.51 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.37 ft and 4.46 ft, based on 13 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 Shades Creek near Homewood today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:15 AM CDT, the water level was 3.48 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Shades Creek near Homewood rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.10 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Shades Creek near Homewood normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 13 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:02423586(Agency page)- Coordinates
33.44872, -86.81360(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 | 3.48 ft | 2026-10-20 05:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 8.1 cfs | 2026-10-20 05:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 60 °F | 2026-10-20 05:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Shades Creek near Homewood (usgs:02423586). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/shades-creek-near-homewood
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