Chattahoochee River at Helen
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Upstream gauge unavailableWarning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
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Observed (OBS) 06/20/2025 2:00 PM EDTRecord: 12 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 11 ft Moderate Flooding 8 ft Minor Flooding 6 ft Action 4 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Automated gauge readings are now available, courtesy of the USGS.
The above river forecast includes future rainfall. Forecast stages may be different if the rainfall does not occur.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 13 - Record flooding never seen before will affect Helen. A catastrophic and massive flood event will continue to affect numerous homes...businesses...motels and roads in Helen. The flood waters will be 3 to 5 feet deep in many structures and cause widespread inundation of the infrastructure. The Hamby Street...Edelweiss Strasse and Brucken Strasse bridges will be under 1 to 2 feet of water. Transportation in and out of Helen will be almost impossible due to road closures.
- 12 - Near record flooding occurs. A catastrophic and massive flood event will affect numerous homes...businesses...motels and roads in Helen. The flood waters will be 2 to 4 feet deep in many structures and cause widespread inundation of the infrastructure. The Hamby Street...Edelweiss Strasse and Brucken Strasse bridges will be under water. Transportation in and out of Helen will be extremely difficult due to road closures.
- 11 - Major flooding begins in the Helen area with numerous homes...businesses...motels and roads affected. The water will be around two feet deep in the restaurant at Castle Inn and over portions of Edelweiss Strasse. The Helendorf River Inn will be flooded with 3 feet of water. The Hamby Street...Edelweiss Strasse and Brucken Strasse bridges form obstacles and act like dams causing some backwater and erosion eddies to the sides of the bridges. County officials will have them closed.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 5.45 ft | on 03-26-2021 |
| 2. | 6.44 ft | on 05-30-2018 |
| 3. | 6.01 ft | on 08-26-2008 |
| 4. | 6.75 ft | on 09-17-2004 |
| 5. | 5.90 ft | on 03-17-1996 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 5.45 ft | on 03-26-2021 |
| 2. | 6.44 ft | on 05-30-2018 |
| 3. | 6.01 ft | on 08-26-2008 |
| 4. | 6.75 ft | on 09-17-2004 |
| 5. | 5.90 ft | on 03-17-1996 |
| 6. | 5.94 ft | on 03-17-1990 |
| 7. | 7.30 ft | on 05-28-1973 |
| 8. | 12.00 ft | on 08-23-1967 |
| 9. | 10.00 ft | on 03-12-1963 |
| 10. | 10.00 ft | on 03-11-1952 |
| 11. | 11.00 ft | on 04-16-1946 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 12.00 ft | on 08-23-1967 |
| 2. | 11.00 ft | on 04-16-1946 |
| 3. | 10.00 ft | on 03-11-1952 |
| 4. | 10.00 ft | on 03-12-1963 |
| 5. | 7.30 ft | on 05-28-1973 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 12.00 ft | on 08-23-1967 |
| 2. | 11.00 ft | on 04-16-1946 |
| 3. | 10.00 ft | on 03-11-1952 |
| 4. | 10.00 ft | on 03-12-1963 |
| 5. | 7.30 ft | on 05-28-1973 |
| 6. | 6.75 ft | on 09-17-2004 |
| 7. | 6.44 ft | on 05-30-2018 |
| 8. | 6.01 ft | on 08-26-2008 |
| 9. | 5.94 ft | on 03-17-1990 |
| 10. | 5.90 ft | on 03-17-1996 |
| 11. | 5.45 ft | on 03-26-2021 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NGVD29 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 1415.04 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 1412.04 ft |
| minor Flooding | 1410.04 ft |
| action | 1408.04 ft |
| Latest Value | 1404.90 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 1404.04 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Probability Information
No Images Available
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.