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FloodSmart
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  NOTICE:There is a service interruption for a number of stream gauges nationwide due to the Global Positioning System (GPS) Rollover that occurred on April 6 at 23:59 GMT. The National Weather Service is working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure those affected gauges obtain the necessary updates to resume data transmission. We apologize for the service interruption and hope to have the data restored as soon as possible.

Hydrograph River at a Glance Download
Black Warrior River at Cordova Stage (ft)USGS--Water Resources of the United StatesCRDA1(plotting HGIRG) Graph Created (3:45AM Apr 22, 2019)ObservedLatest observed value: 12.75 ft at 10:15 PM CDT 18-Apr-2019. Flood Stage is 22 ft
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Tabular Data (CDT)
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Datum: Not Available
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NOTE: 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.

NOTE: Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations.

NOTE: Forecasts for the Black Warrior River at Cordova are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

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Upstream Gauge - at Smith Dam Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - at Bankhead Lock and Dam
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 28
Moderate Flood Stage: 24
Flood Stage: 22
Action Stage: 18
Low Stage (in feet): -9999

Historic Crests
(1) 39.80 ft on 03/30/1951
(2) 27.50 ft on 02/23/1961
(3) 24.70 ft on 01/07/2009
(4) 24.27 ft on 02/17/1990
(5) 23.83 ft on 12/27/2015 (P)
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 23.83 ft on 12/27/2015 (P)
(2) 14.91 ft on 01/12/2012
(3) 18.74 ft on 03/10/2011
(4) 17.72 ft on 05/03/2010
(5) 24.70 ft on 01/07/2009
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
Currently none available.

For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov.
Zoom Level:14
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Gauge LocationGauge Map Marker
 Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
40 The Vulcan Asphalt Plant is totally inundated with major flooding.
36 The River Road bridge at the Vulcan Asphalt Plant begins to flood with most of the plant inundated.
34 Flooding of the Vulcan Asphalt office basement and lower parking lot occurs. Widespread flooding of the Vulcan Asphalt storage tank area occurs.
29 Water reaches the basement level of the Vulcan Asphalt office building and overflows portions of the lower storage tank area west of River Road.
28.5 Flooding of industries in the area increases sharply as the river level continues to rise.
28 Flooding of industries in the area increases. The highest levels of Barney Loop Road become inundated with significant flooding of homes in the area.
26 Water reaches the floor level of the building of the BAE Facility downstream of Cordova...and flooding increases there as levels continue to rise. Water begins to reach some homes near Frog Ague Creek along the southern fringes of Cordova.
24 The outlet valve at the Vulcan Asphalt Plant is overtopped. Some flooding of the Vulcan Asphalt Plant may occur and some low lying areas and homes on Cain Creek and in the Barney and Dovertown areas become cutoff.
22 Flooding of dock and boat houses in the Barney Beach and Dovertown areas increases. A few secondary roads in the area begin to flood.
20 Bankfull Stage. Some minor overflow in the area may occur...especially in low lying areas downstream of the railroad bridge at Cordova. Water begins to overflow the river bank of the BAE facility just downstream of Cordova. Portions of Gross Camp and Bagget Camp in the Copeland Ferry and Underwood Ferry areas are flooded.
18 Caution Stage. Low lying banks in areas downstream of Cordova begin to overflow...including the Barney Beach...Copeland Ferry and Underwood Ferry areas. Docks also begin to be impacted in these areas.
About This Location Collapse

Latitude: 33.757500° N, Longitude: 87.170278° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 22 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)		 Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)		 Elevation information source
NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 243.6 ft 243.6 ft Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other Not Available Not Available  

Current/Historical Observations:
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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.
NWS Information
National Weather Service
Birmingham Weather Forecast Office
465 Weathervane Road
Calera, AL 35040-5427
(205) 664-3010
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