South River at Klondike Road near Lithonia, GA
River level and flood forecast · De Kalb County
Normal5.3 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM
The river is 6.7 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Flow: 179 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 21 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 17 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 10 ft |
| Record crest (September 27, 2024) | 15.42 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 21 ftMajor flooding begins. Widespread innundation of water expands further into the woodlands and fields near the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road. The bridge forms an obstacle and acts like a dam causing some backwater and erosion eddies to the sides of the bridge. The water level reaches the top of the bridge. The depth of water on the road at the bridge will be around one foot deep and it will be closed by local officials.
- 20 ftModerate flooding continues to expand further into the woodlands and fields near the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road. The bridge forms an obstacle and acts like a dam causing some backwater and erosion eddies to the sides of the bridge. Portions of Klondike Road will begin to flood and local officials will likely have it closed.
- 19 ftModerate flooding continues to expand further into the woodlands and fields near the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road. The bridge forms an obstacle and acts like a dam causing some backwater and erosion eddies to the sides of the bridge. The bridge will likely be closed by local officials.
- 17 ftModerate flooding begins. Significant flooding will continue to expand further into the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road. The water level reaches the bottom of the bridge. This may cause local officials to close it due to possible erosion around the supports.
- 15 ftMinor flooding expands into the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road.
- 14 ftMinor flooding will continue in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road.
- 12 ftFlood stage is reached. Minor flooding will occur in portions of the woodlands and fields near the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Klondike Road.
- 10 ftBankfull conditions are reached upstream and downstream from the stream gage at Klondike Road.
Highest crests on record
- 15.42 ft — September 27, 2024
- 14.5 ft — February 25, 1961
- 13.55 ft — September 22, 2009
- 13.29 ft — October 5, 1995
- 13.03 ft — March 17, 1990
Recent crests: 15.42 ft (September 27, 2024) · 12.76 ft (March 6, 2024) · 12.37 ft (October 11, 2020) · 12.88 ft (April 20, 2019) · 13.55 ft (September 22, 2009)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamSouth River at Flakes Mill Road near Snapfinger, GA
- DownstreamSouth River at GA 81 at Snapping Shoals, GA
- Pole Bridge Creek at Evans Mill Road near Lithonia, GA
- Honey Creek at GA 212 near Conyers, GA
- Snapfinger Creek at Thompson Mill Road near Lithonia, GA
- Yellow River at Pleasant Hill Road near Lithonia, GA
- Cobbs Creek at Rainbow Drive near Decatur, GA
- Shoal Creek at Columbia Drive near Atlanta, GA
- Swift Creek at Rock Chapel Road near Lithonia, GA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SOUG1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.