Big Wills Creek (AL) near Fort Payne, AL
River level and flood forecast · De Kalb County
Normal3.9 ftas of Mon 2:45 PM
The river is 7.1 ft below flood stage (11 ft).
Flow: 13 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 20 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 13 ft |
| Flood stage | 11 ft |
| Action stage | 10 ft |
| Record crest (April 13, 2020) | 17.94 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftWidespread flooding is occurring near Fort Payne.
- 13 ftFlooding of roads and businesses on the North side of Fort Payne...North of Interstate 59...is possible.
- 11 ftLowland flooding occurrs near the creek between Fort Payne and Collinsville.
- 10 ftThe River reaches bankfull.
Highest crests on record
- 17.94 ft — April 13, 2020
- 14.43 ft — June 20, 2021
- 14.36 ft — January 7, 2009
- 14.19 ft — May 6, 2003
- 14.13 ft — February 6, 2020
Recent crests: 12.48 ft (February 13, 2025) · 11.07 ft (February 23, 2022) · 12.55 ft (January 2, 2022) · 14.43 ft (June 20, 2021) · 11.27 ft (March 31, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (BGWA1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.