Rivers in Alabama
Black Warrior River at Oliver Lock and Dam
Below flood stage
96.77ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 11:30 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 129.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 96.20 ftWed, Sep 23, 1:00 AM CDT
- Record crest
- 149.00 ft1961
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 146.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 138.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 129.00 ft |
| Action | 122.00 ft |
- 153.00 ftWater reaches the top of the levee at Northport. At higher stages flooding of Northport can be expected.
- 149.00 ftExtensive business and industrial flooding occurs along the Jack Warner Parkway in Tuscaloosa.
- 147.00 ftFlooding along Jack Warner Parkway worsens. The park at Manderson Landing floods at stages of 148 feet.
- 146.00 ftConsiderable flooding of industrial and commercial interests along Jack Warner Parkway occurs.
- 144.00 ftFlooding of Rice Mine Road in Northport and northeast Tuscaloosa begins.
- 140.00 ftFlooding of portions of Jack Warner Parkway can be expected. Some industrial property may also begin to flood along Jack Warner Parkway. Residential flooding will commence in areas southwest of Tuscaloosa at stages above 140 feet.
- 135.00 ftNumerous camphouses and some permanent residences southwest of Tuscaloosa become cutoff.
- 132.00 ftFlooding of rural roads southwest of Tuscaloosa occurs.
- 129.00 ftFlooding of agricultural lands in areas southwest of Tuscaloosa occurs. Elevated property just off Flag Road and along View Lane near the Knoxville area will flood. Areas along River Beach Road near Moundville will flood. Areas along River Bend Road will flood.
- 125.00 ftFlooding of some roads leading into homes in the Hemphill Bend area southwest of Tuscaloosa occurs.
- 122.00 ftCattle in low lands begin to be cut off and may need to be moved to higher ground.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| 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
38 crests on NOAA’s list since 1946.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 22, 1961 | 149.00 ft |
| 2 | March 29, 1951 | 148.30 ft |
| 3 | April 13, 1979 | 148.00 ft |
| 4 | January 6, 1949 | 146.70 ft |
| 5 | February 11, 1946 | 145.80 ft |
| 6 | March 20, 1970 | 144.20 ft |
| 7 | February 16, 1990 | 143.10 ft |
| 8 | December 4, 1983 | 143.10 ft |
| 9 | September 6, 2011 | 142.87 ft |
| 10 | April 4, 2000 | 142.49 ft |
| 11 | December 26, 1973 | 140.80 ft |
| 12 | January 7, 2009 | 140.68 ft |
| 13 | April 14, 1980 | 140.10 ft |
| 14 | February 7, 2004 | 140.08 ft |
| 15 | May 20, 1983 | 138.99 ft |
| 16 | December 28, 2018 | 138.78 ft |
| 17 | January 27, 1996 | 138.60 ft |
| 18 | February 7, 2004 | 137.81 ft |
| 19 | January 8, 1998 | 136.50 ft |
| 20 | April 8, 2014 | 135.84 ft |
| 21 | March 17, 1990 | 135.35 ft |
| 22 | December 27, 2015 | 135.25 ft |
| 23 | March 10, 2011 | 134.17 ft |
| 24 | March 8, 1996 | 133.40 ft |
| 25 | January 16, 2013 | 132.54 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 22, 2019: 131.54 ft
- December 28, 2018: 138.78 ft
- June 24, 2017: 126.41 ft
- December 3, 2016: 98.64 ft
- December 27, 2015: 135.25 ft
- April 8, 2014: 135.84 ft
- January 16, 2013: 132.54 ft
- January 27, 2012: 122.93 ft
- September 6, 2011: 142.87 ft
- March 10, 2011: 134.17 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Southeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. 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.