Rivers in Alabama

Coosa River at Gadsden

Etowah County, AlabamaNWS GAPA1USGS 02400500Calera office

Below flood stage
506.93ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 11:00 PM CDT

Flood stage
511.00 ft
Record crest
525.10 ft1886

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood517.00 ft
Moderate flood514.00 ft
Minor flood511.00 ft
Action511.00 ft
  1. 520.00 ftWidespread and severe residential flooding in Gadsden and adjacent areas along the Coosa River occurs.
  2. 517.00 ftLow elevations of Highway 411 begin to flood. Considerable residential flooding also occurs at this level.
  3. 514.00 ftConsiderable residential flooding occurs in Gadsden and adjacent areas along the Coosa River. Areas from Lonz Street to Aaron Way in eastern Gadsden are vulnerable to flooding as water reaches this stage and higher.
  4. 512.00 ftSome residential flooding begins in the Gadsden area.
  5. 511.00 ftLow lying farm lands in the Gadsden area begin to flood.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.

Crest history

28 crests on NOAA’s list since 1886.

#DateStage
1April 6, 1886525.10 ft
2July 15, 1916519.90 ft
3April 11, 1936518.70 ft
4February 26, 1961517.80 ft
5January 2, 1933517.50 ft
6February 16, 1946517.20 ft
7March 31, 1951516.10 ft
8February 17, 1990515.43 ft
9January 7, 1949515.00 ft
10April 14, 1979514.65 ft
11April 5, 1977514.40 ft
12March 28, 1980513.30 ft
13March 21, 1990512.69 ft
14October 4, 1995512.68 ft
15March 4, 2019512.44 ft
16November 24, 2005511.77 ft
17October 27, 1997511.48 ft
18May 8, 2003511.38 ft
19May 6, 2013511.33 ft
20May 19, 2003511.33 ft
21June 21, 1989511.26 ft
22October 26, 1998511.03 ft
23February 24, 2016511.00 ft
24March 31, 2002510.71 ft
25March 8, 1996510.60 ft

Most recent crests

  • March 4, 2019: 512.44 ft
  • February 24, 2016: 511.00 ft
  • May 6, 2013: 511.33 ft
  • January 24, 2006: 508.09 ft
  • November 24, 2005: 511.77 ft
  • September 17, 2004: 509.16 ft
  • January 26, 2004: 509.16 ft
  • May 19, 2003: 511.33 ft
  • May 8, 2003: 511.38 ft
  • March 31, 2002: 510.71 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Southeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.