Rivers in Georgia
Oconee River below Oconee
Below flood stage
0.97ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 20, 5:45 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 17.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 1.60 ftMon, Sep 21, 8:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 29.90 ft1998
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 25.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 21.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 17.00 ft |
| Action | 14.00 ft |
- 29.00 ftNear record flooding occurs with widespread inundation of the woodlands along the river. Some areas will be up to 10 feet under water. Old Balls Ferry Road north of Georgia Highway 57 will be under 3 to 7 feet of water. The water level will be around 4 feet deep in the USGS gage house near the boat ramp. This will likely cause a loss of data transmission.
- 27.00 ftMajor flooding continues. Most of Old Balls Ferry Road north of Georgia Highway 57 will be under 3 to 5 feet of water. The water level will be around two feet deep in the USGS gage house near the boat ramp. This may affect data transmission. Widespread flooding up to several feet deep of the woodlands near the river occurs.
- 25.00 ftMajor flooding occurs. Most of Old Balls Ferry Road north of Georgia Highway 57 will be under one to three feet of water. The water level reaches the bottom of the USGS gaging equipment near the boat ramp. Widespread flooding up to several feet deep of the woodlands near the river occurs.
- 23.00 ftModerate flooding continues. Portions of the Old Balls Ferry Road leading to the boat ramp becomes flooded with a foot of water or more. The entire dirt parking lot near the boat ramp is under three to five feet of water. Extensive flooding of the woodlands near the river continues.
- 21.00 ftModerate flooding begins. The dirt parking lot by the Old Balls Ferry Road boat ramp is under one to three feet of water. The end of Old Balls Ferry Road begins to flood. Flooding continues and spreads further into the woodlands near the river.
- 19.00 ftThe water level begins to flood the dirt parking lot area near the Old Balls Ferry Road boat ramp...just upstream and rightbank from the Georgia Highway 57 bridge. Minor flooding continues and spreads further into the woodlands near the river.
- 18.00 ftThe water level begins to flood portions of the dirt parking lot area near the Old Balls Ferry Road boat ramp...just upstream and rightbank from the Georgia Highway 57 bridge. Minor flooding continues in the woodlands near the river.
- 17.00 ftFlood stage is reached. The water level reaches the top of the Old Balls Ferry Road boat ramp...just upstream and rightbank from the Georgia Highway 57 bridge. Minor flooding of woodlands near the river occurs.
- 14.00 ftBankfull conditions are reached along the river. The Old Balls Ferry Road boat ramp...just upstream and right bank from the Georgia Highway 57 bridge...will begin to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 26% |
| Moderate flooding | 11% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
72 crests on NOAA’s list since 1992.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 10, 1998 | 29.90 ft |
| 2 | December 26, 2015 | 27.01 ft |
| 3 | February 9, 2020 | 26.39 ft |
| 4 | February 20, 1995 | 25.82 ft |
| 5 | March 29, 2023 | 25.55 ft |
| 6 | April 4, 2009 | 25.28 ft |
| 7 | April 9, 2022 | 24.84 ft |
| 8 | February 15, 2024 | 24.22 ft |
| 9 | March 9, 1996 | 24.02 ft |
| 10 | February 21, 2020 | 24.00 ft |
| 11 | November 14, 2009 | 23.76 ft |
| 12 | March 8, 2020 | 23.53 ft |
| 13 | November 28, 1992 | 23.32 ft |
| 14 | September 30, 2004 | 23.11 ft |
| 15 | January 7, 2019 | 23.10 ft |
| 16 | January 13, 2024 | 22.50 ft |
| 17 | April 4, 2016 | 22.49 ft |
| 18 | October 10, 2021 | 22.18 ft |
| 19 | February 9, 2010 | 21.24 ft |
| 20 | December 21, 2009 | 21.04 ft |
| 21 | January 28, 2010 | 20.84 ft |
| 22 | December 13, 2018 | 20.73 ft |
| 23 | April 10, 2025 | 20.64 ft |
| 24 | September 20, 2020 | 20.61 ft |
| 25 | September 24, 2009 | 20.50 ft |
Most recent crests
- March 2, 2026: 18.19 ft
- August 9, 2025: 18.89 ft
- April 10, 2025: 20.64 ft
- February 18, 2025: 18.93 ft
- September 30, 2024: 19.36 ft
- March 10, 2024: 19.87 ft
- February 15, 2024: 24.22 ft
- January 13, 2024: 22.50 ft
- March 29, 2023: 25.55 ft
- February 15, 2023: 18.22 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. 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.