Sweetwater Creek near Austell, GA

River level and flood forecast · Cobb County

Normal2.0 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM

The river is 8.0 ft below flood stage (10 ft).

Forecast to fall to 1.2 ft by Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.

Flow: 254 cubic feet per second (USGS).

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:53 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

Major flood stage	17 ft
Moderate flood stage	13 ft
Flood stage	10 ft
Action stage	8 ft
Record crest (September 22, 2009)	30.82 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

32 ftFlooding never seen before will affect all of Austell and its infrastructure. Sections of Interstate 20 will be flooded with several feet of water. The Thornton Road bridge will flood on the east side of Lithia Springs. This catastrophic and massive flood event will be worse than the Epic Flood of 2009. Numerous homes...businesses...and roads will be affected with over 20 feet of water in some locations. Transportation in and out of Austell and Lithia Springs will be difficult due to road closures.
30 ftNear record flooding occurs around Austell affecting its infrastructure. Sections of Interstate 20 will be flooded with a few feet of water. The Thornton Road bridge begins to flood on the east side of Lithia Springs. A catastrophic and massive flood event occurs similar to the Epic Flood of 2009. Numerous homes...businesses...and roads will be affected with water up to 20 feet deep in some locations. Transportation in and out of Austell and Lithia Springs will be difficult due to road closures.
28 ftMassive inundation flooding affects the infrastructure around Austell. A portion of Interstate 20 over the creek will be flooded. Numerous homes and businesses on Mount Vernon Road...Wren Circle...Bankhead and Veterans Memorial Highways and the Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Old Marietta Road...Old Alabama Road and Maxham Road in Cobb County will be flooded. Powder Springs...Noses and Olley Creeks will backup and flood neighborhoods nearby with several feet of water.
26 ftWidespread inundation flooding expands around Austell. A portion of Interstate 20 over the creek will begin to flood. Numerous homes and businesses on Mount Vernon Road...Wren Circle...Bankhead and Veterans Memorial Highways and the Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Old Marietta Road...Old Alabama Road and Maxham Road in Cobb County will be flooded. Powder Springs...Noses and Olley Creeks will backup and flood neighborhoods nearby with several feet of water.
23 ftWidespread inundation flooding continues to expand around Austell. A paintball playing field near the gage and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park are completely flooded. Numerous homes on Mount Vernon Road...Wren Circle...Robin Road and the Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Old Marietta Road...Old Alabama Road and Maxham Road in Cobb County will be flooded. Powder Springs...Noses and Olley Creeks will backup and flood neighborhoods close to them.
20 ftWidespread inundation flooding occurs from the gage by Interstate 20. A paintball playing field near the bridge and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park are flooded with 10 feet of water. Numerous homes on Mount Vernon Road...Wren Circle...Robin Road and the Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Old Marietta Road...Old Alabama Road and Maxham Road in Cobb County will be flooded. Powder Springs...Noses and Olley Creeks will backup and flood neighborhoods close to them.
18 ftMajor flooding expands upstream and downstream from the gage by the Interstate 20 bridge. The paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park are flooded with 7 to 8 feet of water. Numerous homes on Mount Vernon Road...Wren Circle and Robin Road and portions of Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Sunlight Drive...Old Marietta Road and Brooks Drive in Cobb County will be flooded.
17 ftMajor flooding begins. Extensive flooding occurs upstream and downstream from the gage by the Interstate 20 bridge. Large portions of a paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park are flooded with 6 to 7 feet of water. Numerous homes on Mount Vernon Road...Wren Circle and Robin Road and portions of Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Sunlight Drive...Old Marietta Road and Brooks Drive in Cobb County will be flooded.
15 ftSignificant flooding continues in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage by the Interstate 20 bridge. Portions of a paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park on Mount Vernon Road are flooded with 4 to 5 feet of water. Several homes on Wren Circle and Robin Road and portions of Brook Forest and Beech Gum Mobile Home Parks in Douglas County...and Sunlight Drive and Old Marietta Road in Cobb County will be flooded.
13 ftModerate flooding begins. Significant flooding occurs in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage near the Interstate 20 bridge. Portions of a paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park on Mount Vernon Road are flooded with 2 to 3 feet of water. Water begins to flood a few mobile homes on Brook Forest Road and homes on Wren Circle in Douglas County. Portions of Sunlight Drive in Cobb County will be flooded.
12 ftMinor flooding continues in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage near the Interstate 20 bridge. Portions of a paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge and athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park on Mount Vernon Road are flooded with one to two feet of water. A portion of Wren Circle in Douglas County...the County Iron Works and Sunlight Drive in Cobb County begin to flood.
10 ftFlood Stage is reached. Minor flooding occurs in the woodlands and fields upstream and downstream from the gage near the Interstate 20 bridge. Portions of a paintball playing field just downstream of the bridge begin to flood. Athletic fields in the Woodrow Wilson Park on Mount Vernon Road begin to flood due to water backing up in ditches.
8 ftBankfull conditions are reached upstream and downstream from the gage near the Interstate 20 bridge. Water begins to flow into low areas of the flood plain.

Highest crests on record

30.82 ft — September 22, 2009
21.81 ft — July 12, 2005
20 ft — July 8, 1916
19.9 ft — February 4, 1982
19.3 ft — March 18, 1990

Recent crests: 12.97 ft (February 14, 2025) · 14.33 ft (September 28, 2024) · 12.02 ft (January 27, 2024) · 11.84 ft (January 10, 2024) · 11.84 ft (January 5, 2023)

Up and down the river, and nearby

See it on the live map →Radar & warnings for Cobb County NWS gauge page USGS gauge 02337000

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (AUSG1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.