Chattahoochee River at Atlanta
Georgia — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Fulton County, Georgia on the Chattahoochee River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 02336000, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
20 ft
29,283 cfs
Moderate Flood
18 ft
24,386 cfs
Minor Flood
14 ft
17,400 cfs
Action Stage
12 ft
14,900 cfs
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
34 ft
Record flooding never seen before occurs with both of the old wooden and concrete Paces Ferry Road bridges completely submerged. This catastropic and massive flood will affect numerous homes...businesses and restaurants on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive and Farmington Drive with up to 14 feet of water in some locations. Some of the buildings on the Lovett School campus will be flooded with up to 8 feet of water. Transportation in and out of the area will be impossible due to road closures.
32 ft
Record flooding never seen before continues. Both of the old wooden and concrete Paces Ferry Road bridges will be flooded out. This catastropic and massive flood will affect numerous homes...businesses and restaurants on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive and Farmington Drive with up to 12 feet of water in some locations. A few buildings on the Lovett School campus will be flooded with up to 6 feet of water. Transportation in and out of the area will be nearly impossible due to road closures.
30 ft
Record flooding never seen before occurs near the gage on Paces Ferry Road. The Old Paces Ferry Road wooden bridge will be flooded out. This catastropic and massive flood will affect numerous homes...businesses and restaurants on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive and Farmington Drive with up to 10 feet of water in some locations. A few buildings on the Lovett School campus will be flooded with up to 4 feet of water. Transportation in and out of the area will be nearly impossible due to road closures.
29 ft
Record flooding occurs near the gage on Paces Ferry Road. Numerous homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive and Farmington Drive will be flooded with up to 9 feet of water. A restaurant near the Paces Ferry Road bridge will be under 7 feet of water as the flood waters hit the bridge. Flood waters will affect other businesses nearby. Some of the buildings on the Lovett School campus will be flooded with up to 3 feet of water. This will be worse than the epic flooding in September 2009.
28 ft
Near record flooding occurs around the gage on Paces Ferry Road. Numerous homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive and Farmington Drive will be flooded with up to 8 feet of water. A restaurant near the Paces Ferry Road bridge will be under 6 feet of water as the flood waters hit the bridge. Flood waters will begin to enter other businesses nearby. Some of the buildings on the Lovett School campus will be flooded with two feet of water. This will be similar to the epic flooding in September 2009.
26 ft
Extensive inundation flooding occurs around the gage on Paces Ferry Road. The water level will reach the bottom of the bridge. Numerous homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive will be flooded with up to 6 feet of water. A restaurant near the bridge will be flooded with 4 feet of water. Flood waters will be approaching other businesses nearby and some of the buildings on the Lovett School campus. Around 3 miles downstream...a water treatment plant will begin to flood.
24 ft
Widespread inundation flooding continues of residential yards and roads near the gage on Paces Ferry Road. The athletic fields and track at Lovett School will be flooded. Many homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive will be flooded with up to 4 feet of water. A restaurant near the Paces Ferry Road bridge will be flooded with two feet of water. Around 3 miles downstream...half of a cement plant and most of a supply line railroad bridge will be flooded.
22 ft
Major flooding expands with widespread inundation flooding of residential yards and roads near the gage on Paces Ferry Road. An athletic field at Lovett School will be under 9 feet of water. Several homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive...and a restaurant parking lot near the bridge will be under two feet of water. The restaurant will begin to flood. Around 3 miles downstream...portions of a cement plant and supply line railroad bridge will be flooded.
20 ft
Major flooding begins. Widespread inundation flooding occurs upstream and downstream from the gage on Paces Ferry Road. An athletic field at Lovett School and backyards of residential homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive will be under 7 feet of water. Several homes...businesses and a restaurant parking lot and patio in this area will begin to flood. Around 3 miles downstream...portions of a cement plant and a supply line railroad bridge will begin to flood.
19 ft
Significant flooding expands along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Paces Ferry Road. An athletic field at Lovett School and backyards of residential homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive...and walking paths by a restaurant will be under 6 feet of water. Some homes in these areas will be flooded with around one foot of water.
18 ft
Moderate flooding begins. Significant flooding of the woodlands along the river occurs upstream and downstream from the gage on Paces Ferry Road. An athletic field at Lovett School and backyards of residential homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive...and walking paths by a restaurant will be under 5 feet of water. The flood waters will begin to reach the foundations of some homes in lower lying areas.
16 ft
Minor flooding continues to expand into the woodlands along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Paces Ferry Road. Most of an athletic field at Lovett School...backyards of residential homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive...and walking paths by a restaurant will be under 3 feet of water.
14 ft
Flood stage is reached. Minor flooding begins in the woodlands along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Paces Ferry Road. Portions of an athletic field at Lovett School...backyards of residential homes on Cochise Drive...Paces Ferry Drive...Paces Manor and Farmington Drive...and walking paths by a restaurant will be under one foot of water.
12 ft
Bankfull conditions occur along the river upstream and downstream from the gage on Paces Ferry Road. Low lying areas of residential yards on the Cobb County side of the river and an athletic field at Lovett School will begin to flood.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
750-850 cfs
Minimum flow required at the intersection of the Chattahoochee River and Peachtree Creek for discharge of treated effluent to assimilate waste and ensure that water quality criteria will be met.
850-1000 cfs
Minimum flow required to paddle the 3.5 mi stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Powers Ferry to West Palisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch). Minimum flow required to paddle the 56.2 mi stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Buford Dam to Sweetwater Creek (Metro Hooch).
1000-1500 cfs
Advantageous for recreational opportunities and resources supported by the river as it flows through the Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area (from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek).
1500-2000 cfs
The 3.5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Powers Ferry to West Palisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch) is considered “low†for paddlers at this flow; however, rafts will not get stuck on rocks at this level. Habitat values for trout peak at river flows less than 2,000 cfs.
2000-12000 cfs
Habitat values for trout decline at river flow increases from 2,000 cfs to 12,000 cfs.
2500-3500 cfs
Lowest flow for the 3.5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Powers Ferry to West Palisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch) to be considered “optimal†for paddlers.
3500-5000 cfs
Good surfing on the 3.5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Powers Ferry to West Palisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch).
5000-12000 cfs
All rocks underwater. Lots of good sidesurfing holes on the 3.5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Powers Ferry to West Palisades/Paces Mill (Metro Hooch).
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 1919 | 29 ft | 64,000 cfs |
| Dec 9, 1919 | 29 ft | 64,000 cfs |
| Sep 21, 2009 | 28.12 ft | 59,534 cfs |
| Sep 21, 2009 | 28.12 ft | 59,534 cfs |
| Jan 8, 1946 | 28 ft | 59,000 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
VING1
River
Chattahoochee River
County
Fulton, GA
Coordinates
33.8589°N, 84.4542°W
Get Flood Alerts for Chattahoochee River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Chattahoochee River at Atlanta?
The Chattahoochee River at Atlanta gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02336000) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Chattahoochee River at Atlanta?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Chattahoochee River at Atlanta is 14 feet. Action stage begins at 12 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 20 feet.
How do I get alerts when Chattahoochee River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Chattahoochee River at Atlanta to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Chattahoochee River at Atlanta gauge located?
The gauge is located in Fulton County, Georgia at coordinates 33.8589°N, 84.4542°W. USGS site number: 02336000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Gauge reading affected by power generation.
- 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.