Rivers in Georgia
Yellow River at Gees Mill Road near Milstead
Below flood stage
2.07ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 12:30 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 11.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 1.80 ftWed, Sep 23, 2:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 22.54 ft2009
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 20.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 16.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 11.00 ft |
| Action | 9.00 ft |
- 26.00 ftMajor and Extensive flooding occurs. In Newton County...Between 50 and 100 homes will flood in the Riverside Estates Mobile Home Park along East Dollar Circle and West Dollar Circle. Evacuations are required. In Rockdale County...flooding expands in the Lake Capri subdivision. Flooding occurs along the several roads including Lake Sorrento Court...Lake Capri Drive...Capistrano Way...Rivieria...and Westminister Lane. Several homes will experience flooding.
- 24.00 ftMajor flooding expands. In Newton County...Between 25 to 50 homes will flood in the Riverside Estates Mobile Home Park along West Dollar Circle. Evacuations are required. In Rockdale County...flooding expands in the Lake Capri subdivision. Flooding occurs along the several roads including Lake Sorrento Court...Lake Capri Drive...Capistrano Way...Rivieria...and Westminister Lane. Several homes will experience flooding.
- 22.00 ftMajor flooding expands. Gees Mill Road floods in low areas near the Yellow River in Rockdale County. In Rockdale County...flooding expands in the Lake Capri subdivision. Flooding occurs along the several roads including Lake Sorrento Court...Lake Capri Drive...Capistrano Way...Rivieria...and Westminister Lane. Several homes will experience flooding.
- 20.00 ftMajor flooding begins. In Newton County...Riverside Estates Travel and Mobile Home Park floods. West Dollar and Sycamore Roads flood. Between 10 to 25 homes will flood...trailors will need to be moved to higher ground and evacuations will be required. In Rockdale County...flooding expands in the Lake Capri subdivision. Flooding occurs along the several roads including Lake Sorrento Court...Lake Capri Drive...Capistrano Way...Rivieria...and Westminister Lane. Several homes will experience flooding.
- 16.00 ftModerate flooding begins. In Newton County...Riverside Estates Travel and Mobile Home Park begins to experience significant flooding. Trailers must be moved to higher ground and several mobile homes will flood. Evacuations may be needed. In Rockdale County...some flooding begins in the Lake Capri subdivision.
- 13.00 ftMinor flooding continues to expand into the woodlands...fields and pasture along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Gees Mill Road in Rockdale County. Most of Sockwell Road by the river in Newton County will be flooded with up to 4 feet of water. Minor flooding also occurs in Newton County in the Riverside Estates Travel and Trailer Park. Any trailers near the river may need to be moved to higher ground. A playground by the river will begin to flood.
- 12.00 ftMinor flooding continues in the woodlands...fields and pasture along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Gees Mill Road in Rockdale County. Large portions of Sockwell Road by the river in Newton County will be up to 3 feet under water.
- 11.00 ftFlood Stage is reached. Minor flooding begins in the woodlands...fields and pasture along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Gees Mill Road in Rockdale County. Portions of Sockwell Road by the river in Newton County will be around two feet under water.
- 10.00 ftBankfull conditions continue upstream and downstream from the gage on Gees Mill Road in Rockdale County. Portions of Sockwell Road by the river in Newton County will be around one foot under water.
- 9.00 ftBankfull conditions are reached upstream and downstream from the gage on Gees Mill Road in Rockdale County. Low portions of Sockwell Road near the river in Newton County will begin to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 11% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
39 crests on NOAA’s list since 2003.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 22, 2009 | 22.54 ft |
| 2 | December 25, 2015 | 16.47 ft |
| 3 | July 8, 2005 | 16.36 ft |
| 4 | September 28, 2024 | 16.34 ft |
| 5 | May 7, 2003 | 16.31 ft |
| 6 | April 20, 2019 | 15.49 ft |
| 7 | September 18, 2004 | 14.31 ft |
| 8 | March 20, 2003 | 14.26 ft |
| 9 | April 1, 2005 | 14.07 ft |
| 10 | April 1, 2005 | 14.07 ft |
| 11 | January 10, 2024 | 14.06 ft |
| 12 | March 29, 2005 | 13.91 ft |
| 13 | February 7, 2020 | 13.67 ft |
| 14 | November 12, 2009 | 13.60 ft |
| 15 | February 14, 2025 | 13.58 ft |
| 16 | January 25, 2010 | 13.58 ft |
| 17 | October 14, 2009 | 13.44 ft |
| 18 | March 7, 2024 | 13.38 ft |
| 19 | October 12, 2020 | 13.35 ft |
| 20 | December 30, 2018 | 13.12 ft |
| 21 | September 18, 2020 | 12.95 ft |
| 22 | May 5, 2010 | 12.85 ft |
| 23 | December 31, 2015 | 12.84 ft |
| 24 | February 6, 2010 | 12.59 ft |
| 25 | March 29, 2009 | 12.43 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 28, 2026: 11.71 ft
- February 14, 2025: 13.58 ft
- September 28, 2024: 16.34 ft
- March 7, 2024: 13.38 ft
- February 13, 2024: 11.59 ft
- January 10, 2024: 14.06 ft
- January 5, 2023: 11.62 ft
- April 7, 2022: 11.24 ft
- December 31, 2021: 11.43 ft
- May 5, 2021: 12.25 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamYellow River at Pleasant Hill Road near Lithonia
- DownstreamYellow River at Rocky Plains Road near Rocky Plains
- Big Haynes Creek at Bald Rock Road near Milstead
- Little Haynes Creek at Dial Mill Road near Milstead
- Yellow River at Milstead
- Big Haynes Creek at Jack Turner Dam near Milstead
- Little Cornish Creek at County Road 95 near Oxford
- Swift Creek at Rock Chapel Road near Lithonia
- Cornish Creek at Lower Jersey Road near Covington
- Cornish Creek at Hazelbrand Road near Covington
What this means
Forecasts by the Southeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Automated gauge readings are now available, courtesy of the USGS. 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.
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.