Middle Oconee River at US 78 at Athens, GA
River level and flood forecast · Clarke County
Normal1.7 ftas of Mon 4:30 PM
The river is 16.3 ft below flood stage (18 ft).
Forecast to fall to 1.1 ft by Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.
Flow: 407 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:34 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 20 ft |
| Flood stage | 18 ft |
| Action stage | 15 ft |
| Record crest (February 28, 1902) | 25.5 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 ftMajor flooding begins. Many streets and homes will flood in West Athens. Estimated record crest around 22 feet occurred February 28...1902.
- 21 ftModerate flooding expands. Many basements and yards and some streets are flooded in residential areas bordering the river in West Athens.
- 20 ftModerate flooding begins. Flood waters flow from behind Beechwood to the Macon Highway Bridge. One street in West Athens is usually flooded at 20 feet.
- 18 ftFlood Stage is reached. Residential yards are flooded in West Athens.
- 15 ftBankfull Stage is reached.
Highest crests on record
- 25.5 ft — February 28, 1902
- 23.6 ft — March 5, 1929
- 23 ft — August 19, 1939
- 21.3 ft — October 2, 1929
- 21.2 ft — February 5, 1998
Recent crests: 18.48 ft (January 11, 2024) · 18.04 ft (February 8, 2020) · 19.68 ft (April 21, 2019) · 19.4 ft (July 3, 2003) · 19.75 ft (March 21, 2003)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamMiddle Oconee River near Arcade, GA
- North Oconee River at College Street at Athens, GA
- Apalachee River at Snows Mill Road near Bishop, GA
- Apalachee River near Bostwick, GA
- Parks Creek at Lyle Field Road near Jefferson, GA
- Oconee River near Penfield, GA
- Mulberry Creek (GA) near Winder, GA
- North Oconee River at Woodbridge Road near Commerce, GA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MOCG1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.