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Suwannee River near Benton (in NAVD88)

Highest listed crest 101.93 ftFlood stage 93.0 ft83 crests since 1932

The Suwannee River near Benton (in NAVD88) crested at major flood stage 9 times among the 83 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1932 to 2024. The highest, 101.93 ft on April 6, 1973, was major flooding, 8.93 feet above flood stage. 4 other gauges on the Suwannee River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
101.93 ft
April 6, 1973; 27,700 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
93.0 ft
Major flooding from 97.0 ft
Crests at major
9
17th of 237 gauges in Florida
Most recent flood crest
August 15, 2024
95.91 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Hamilton County
Florida

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Suwannee River near Benton (in NAVD88)
Action stage90.012Mar 24, 2014The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)93.016Apr 18, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage95.014Aug 15, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage97.09Dec 18, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

83 crests from 1932 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Suwannee River near Benton (in NAVD88), 1932 to 2024 80859095100105ft Flood stage 93.0 ftMajor 97.0 ft Aug 28, 1932: 89.55 ft, below flood stage; 5,080 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 1932: 94.54 ft, minor flooding; 9,210 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1933: 94.75 ft, minor flooding; 9,440 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1933: 89.42 ft, below flood stage; 5,000 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 1964: 99.22 ft, major flooding; 17,200 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1973: 101.93 ft, major flooding; 27,700 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1976: 91.39 ft, action stage; 6,800 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 1976: 96.41 ft, moderate flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 1977: 94.67 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 1977: 86.18 ft, below flood stage; 3,770 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 1978: 87.86 ft, below flood stage; 4,350 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1978: 91.56 ft, action stage; 6,030 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1979: 87.48 ft, below flood stage; 4,200 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 1979: 85.48 ft, below flood stage; 3,440 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1979: 85.53 ft, below flood stage; 3,460 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1980: 89.53 ft, below flood stage; 5,010 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1980: 90.38 ft, action stage; 5,370 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1981: 85.66 ft, below flood stage; 3,510 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1983: 93.00 ft, minor flooding; 6,780 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1983: 95.12 ft, moderate flooding; 9,610 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1983: 94.71 ft, minor flooding; 8,930 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1984: 88.32 ft, below flood stage; 4,460 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1984: 92.56 ft, action stage; 6,480 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1984: 97.66 ft, major flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1984: 99.03 ft, major flooding; 18,300 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1984: 85.25 ft, below flood stage; 3,300 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1985: 85.75 ft, below flood stage; 3,480 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 1985: 86.32 ft, below flood stage; 3,690 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1986: 90.04 ft, action stage; 5,160 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 1986: 96.83 ft, moderate flooding; 12,900 cubic feet per secondJan 29, 1987: 94.49 ft, minor flooding; 8,500 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1987: 95.58 ft, moderate flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1987: 94.11 ft, minor flooding; 7,890 cubic feet per secondFeb 29, 1988: 94.00 ft, minor flooding; 7,710 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1990: 87.00 ft, below flood stage; 3,950 cubic feet per secondFeb 11, 1991: 95.71 ft, moderate flooding; 10,700 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1991: 96.43 ft, moderate flooding; 12,100 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1991: 85.53 ft, below flood stage; 3,400 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 1991: 87.46 ft, below flood stage; 4,130 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 1991: 93.21 ft, minor flooding; 6,960 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1992: 84.27 ft, below flood stage; 2,850 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 1992: 85.92 ft, below flood stage; 3,360 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1992: 84.35 ft, below flood stage; 2,870 cubic feet per secondDec 9, 1992: 88.94 ft, below flood stage; 4,590 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1993: 93.48 ft, minor flooding; 7,060 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1993: 88.81 ft, below flood stage; 4,280 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 1994: 95.07 ft, moderate flooding; 9,420 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1994: 93.94 ft, minor flooding; 7,640 cubic feet per secondOct 23, 1994: 92.11 ft, action stage; 5,710 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1995: 84.58 ft, below flood stage; 3,060 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1995: 85.42 ft, below flood stage; 3,340 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1995: 85.02 ft, below flood stage; 3,200 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1996: 86.91 ft, below flood stage; 3,840 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 1996: 92.24 ft, action stage; 7,000 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1997: 84.71 ft, below flood stage; 3,100 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1997: 85.19 ft, below flood stage; 3,260 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 1997: 90.52 ft, action stage; 5,120 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 1997: 85.64 ft, below flood stage; 3,480 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 1997: 90.29 ft, action stage; 5,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1998: 94.35 ft, minor flooding; 9,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1998: 98.50 ft, major flooding; 16,100 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1998: 87.48 ft, below flood stage; 4,040 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2003: 95.87 ft, moderate floodingSep 19, 2004: 96.75 ft, moderate floodingSep 28, 2004: 97.85 ft, major floodingApr 9, 2005: 96.40 ft, moderate floodingJul 12, 2005: 93.21 ft, minor floodingApr 9, 2009: 95.41 ft, moderate floodingFeb 17, 2010: 90.53 ft, action stage; 5,150 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2012: 97.30 ft, major flooding; 11,100 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2013: 84.57 ft, below flood stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2013: 85.43 ft, below flood stage; 3,330 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 2013: 92.38 ft, action stage; 6,090 cubic feet per secondAug 31, 2013: 85.97 ft, below flood stage; 3,540 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2014: 90.78 ft, action stage; 5,260 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2014: 97.37 ft, major flooding; 12,300 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 2017: 94.47 ft, minor floodingDec 18, 2018: 97.87 ft, major floodingJun 16, 2020: 95.21 ft, moderate floodingAug 11, 2021: 96.97 ft, moderate floodingDec 27, 2023: 93.53 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 2024: 94.63 ft, minor floodingAug 15, 2024: 95.91 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 101.93 ft, Apr 6, 1973 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Suwannee River near Benton (in NAVD88) 1930s: 2 1940s: 0 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1970s: 3 1980s: 10 10 1990s: 8 2000s: 6 2010s: 4 2020s: 5 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 83 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Suwannee River near Benton (in NAVD88)
1Apr 6, 1973101.93+8.93Major27,700
2Sep 16, 196499.22+6.22Major17,200
3Apr 6, 198499.03+6.03Major18,300
4Feb 26, 199898.50+5.50Major16,100
5Dec 18, 201897.87+4.87Major—
6Sep 28, 200497.85+4.85Major—
7Mar 13, 198497.66+4.66Major14,700
8Apr 23, 201497.37+4.37Major12,300
9Jul 1, 201297.30+4.30Major11,100
10Aug 11, 202196.97+3.97Moderate—
11Feb 17, 198696.83+3.83Moderate12,900
12Sep 19, 200496.75+3.75Moderate—
13Mar 13, 199196.43+3.43Moderate12,100
14Dec 16, 197696.41+3.41Moderate10,500
15Apr 9, 200596.40+3.40Moderate—
16Aug 15, 202495.91+2.91Moderate—
17Mar 17, 200395.87+2.87Moderate—
18Feb 11, 199195.71+2.71Moderate10,700
19Mar 5, 198795.58+2.58Moderate10,300
20Apr 9, 200995.41+2.41Moderate—
21Jun 16, 202095.21+2.21Moderate—
22Mar 25, 198395.12+2.12Moderate9,610
23Feb 10, 199495.07+2.07Moderate9,420
24Feb 14, 193394.75+1.75Minor9,440
25Apr 20, 198394.71+1.71Minor8,930
26Jan 9, 197794.67+1.67Minor—
27Apr 18, 202494.63+1.63Minor—
28Sep 20, 193294.54+1.54Minor9,210
29Jan 29, 198794.49+1.49Minor8,500
30Sep 21, 201794.47+1.47Minor—
31Feb 3, 199894.35+1.35Minor9,000
32Apr 4, 198794.11+1.11Minor7,890
33Feb 29, 198894.00+1.00Minor7,710
34Mar 11, 199493.94+0.94Minor7,640
35Dec 27, 202393.53+0.53Minor—
36Jan 23, 199393.48+0.48Minor7,060
37Aug 16, 199193.21+0.21Minor6,960
38Jul 12, 200593.21+0.21Minor—
39Feb 23, 198393.000.00Minor6,780
40Feb 14, 198492.56−0.44Action6,480
41Jul 9, 201392.38−0.62Action6,090
42Oct 9, 199692.24−0.76Action7,000
43Oct 23, 199492.11−0.89Action5,710
44Mar 20, 197891.56−1.44Action6,030
45Jun 3, 197691.39−1.61Action6,800
46Mar 24, 201490.78−2.22Action5,260
47Feb 17, 201090.53−2.47Action5,150
48Aug 10, 199790.52−2.48Action5,120
49Apr 14, 198090.38−2.62Action5,370
50Dec 30, 199790.29−2.71Action5,200

The worst floods along the Suwannee River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Suwannee River that crested above flood stage within a week.

April 6, 1973: 101.93 ft here, major flooding

September 16, 1964: 99.22 ft here, major flooding

April 6, 1984: 99.03 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Suwannee River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Suwannee River
Gopher River Confluence (in MHHW)FL1.77.15 ft, Sep 27, 20249
Branford - US 27 (in NAVD88)FL25.038.13 ft, Apr 11, 19482
Dowling Park - CR 250 (in NAVD88)FL47.060.82 ft, Apr 8, 19481
Ellaville - US 90 (in NAVD88)FL53.067.38 ft, Apr 7, 19481
FargoGA104.0112.01 ft, Apr 9, 197313
Fowlers Bluff (in NAVD88)FL5.010.90 ft, Apr 14, 19481
Luraville - SR 51 (in NAVD88)FL35.052.83 ft, Apr 8, 19483
Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88)FL7.016.00 ft, Apr 14, 19483
Manatee Springs (in NAVD88)FL7.016.00 ft, Apr 14, 19483
Nobles Ferry (in NAVD88)FL56.065.41 ft, Apr 10, 20090
Rock Bluff near Bell - CR 340 (in NAVD88)FL17.023.13 ft, Apr 13, 19480
White Springs (in NAVD88)FL74.087.73 ft, Apr 10, 19731
Benton (in NAVD88) this gaugeFL93.0101.93 ft, Apr 6, 19739
Suwannee Springs (in NAVD88)FL60.078.20 ft, Apr 12, 19734
Wilcox - US 19 (in NAVD88)FL10.021.13 ft, Apr 14, 19481

Other gauges in Hamilton County

Flood gauges in Hamilton County
Jennings (in NAVD88)80.093.30 ft, Apr 8, 20097
Nobles Ferry (in NAVD88)56.065.41 ft, Apr 10, 20090
Lee (in NAVD88)50.064.33 ft, Apr 10, 20091
Madison (SR 6)60.075.35 ft, Apr 7, 20094

Hamilton County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Florida

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge SBNF1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.