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Big Creek near Alpharetta

Highest listed crest 13.05 ftFlood stage 7.0 ft160 crests since 1961

The Big Creek near Alpharetta crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 160 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1961 to 2026. The highest, 13.05 ft on February 3, 1982, was major flooding, 6.05 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
13.05 ft
February 3, 1982; 6,100 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
7.0 ft
Major flooding from 13.0 ft
Crests at major
1
68th of 271 gauges in Georgia
Most recent flood crest
May 26, 2026
8.15 ft, minor flooding
Location
Fulton County
Near Alpharetta (1.4 mi), Johns Creek (4.0 mi), Roswell (4.7 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Big Creek near Alpharetta
Action stage6.02Jan 1, 1999The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)7.0139May 26, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage11.017Oct 12, 2020Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage13.01Feb 3, 1982Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

160 crests from 1961 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Big Creek near Alpharetta, 1961 to 2026 468101214ft Flood stage 7.0 ftMajor 13.0 ft Feb 21, 1961: 12.54 ft, moderate flooding; 5,800 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1961: 11.97 ft, moderate flooding; 4,700 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1963: 10.77 ft, minor flooding; 2,860 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1964: 11.82 ft, moderate flooding; 4,140 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1965: 7.17 ft, minor flooding; 684 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1966: 11.26 ft, moderate flooding; 3,240 cubic feet per secondAug 25, 1967: 9.22 ft, minor flooding; 1,280 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 1968: 9.73 ft, minor flooding; 1,580 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 1969: 9.92 ft, minor flooding; 1,740 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1970: 8.03 ft, minor flooding; 879 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1971: 7.89 ft, minor flooding; 820 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 1972: 10.78 ft, minor flooding; 2,430 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1973: 9.82 ft, minor flooding; 1,740 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1974: 10.81 ft, minor flooding; 2,510 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1975: 10.14 ft, minor flooding; 1,940 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1976: 10.80 ft, minor flooding; 2,620 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1977: 12.20 ft, moderate flooding; 5,080 cubic feet per secondNov 6, 1977: 10.15 ft, minor flooding; 1,890 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1979: 11.65 ft, moderate flooding; 4,220 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1980: 10.62 ft, minor flooding; 2,640 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1981: 7.87 ft, minor flooding; 823 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1982: 13.05 ft, major flooding; 6,100 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1983: 9.08 ft, minor flooding; 1,150 cubic feet per secondDec 6, 1983: 12.30 ft, moderate flooding; 4,880 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1985: 7.61 ft, minor flooding; 817 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1986: 5.22 ft, below flood stage; 379 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1987: 10.49 ft, minor flooding; 2,410 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1988: 10.10 ft, minor flooding; 2,080 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1989: 6.72 ft, action stage; 652 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1990: 12.81 ft, moderate flooding; 5,820 cubic feet per secondSep 2, 1991: 8.30 ft, minor flooding; 1,010 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1992: 9.82 ft, minor flooding; 1,860 cubic feet per secondJan 13, 1993: 11.71 ft, moderate flooding; 3,970 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1994: 7.71 ft, minor flooding; 856 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 1995: 10.40 ft, minor flooding; 2,380 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 1996: 11.09 ft, moderate flooding; 3,140 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1997: 10.76 ft, minor flooding; 2,760 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1997: 10.80 ft, minor flooding; 2,760 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1997: 8.22 ft, minor floodingJul 23, 1997: 7.86 ft, minor floodingSep 25, 1997: 8.01 ft, minor floodingOct 27, 1997: 10.55 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 1998: 11.08 ft, moderate floodingMar 9, 1998: 11.29 ft, moderate flooding; 3,360 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1998: 10.47 ft, minor floodingJan 1, 1999: 6.77 ft, action stage; 754 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 2000: 7.63 ft, minor flooding; 993 cubic feet per secondJan 20, 2001: 8.44 ft, minor flooding; 1,280 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2002: 9.62 ft, minor flooding; 1,860 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 2003: 8.00 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 2003: 10.90 ft, minor flooding; 2,930 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2003: 9.40 ft, minor floodingMay 19, 2003: 7.20 ft, minor floodingJun 13, 2003: 7.86 ft, minor floodingJun 19, 2003: 7.26 ft, minor floodingJul 3, 2003: 9.10 ft, minor floodingSep 17, 2004: 11.93 ft, moderate flooding; 4,230 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2005: 8.27 ft, minor flooding; 1,217 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 2006: 9.42 ft, minor flooding; 1,742 cubic feet per secondJan 7, 2009: 10.78 ft, minor flooding; 2,797 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2009: 12.50 ft, moderate flooding; 5,200 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 2009: 10.61 ft, minor flooding; 2,630 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 2009: 11.08 ft, moderate flooding; 3,112 cubic feet per secondDec 3, 2009: 8.50 ft, minor flooding; 1,301 cubic feet per secondDec 10, 2009: 9.12 ft, minor flooding; 1,573 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2009: 9.32 ft, minor flooding; 1,685 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 2009: 8.96 ft, minor flooding; 1,492 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2010: 9.53 ft, minor flooding; 1,807 cubic feet per secondFeb 6, 2010: 9.95 ft, minor flooding; 2,068 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2010: 9.74 ft, minor flooding; 1,936 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2010: 7.08 ft, minor flooding; 821 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 2010: 8.02 ft, minor flooding; 1,117 cubic feet per secondDec 1, 2010: 7.47 ft, minor flooding; 940 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 2011: 9.23 ft, minor flooding; 1,634 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2012: 7.58 ft, minor flooding; 974 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 2013: 7.40 ft, minor flooding; 918 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 2013: 7.02 ft, minor flooding; 802 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2013: 7.45 ft, minor flooding; 932 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2013: 9.74 ft, minor flooding; 1,936 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2013: 10.25 ft, minor flooding; 2,312 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2013: 7.89 ft, minor flooding; 1,070 cubic feet per secondAug 2, 2013: 9.31 ft, minor flooding; 1,677 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 2013: 8.62 ft, minor flooding; 1,348 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 2013: 9.05 ft, minor flooding; 1,540 cubic feet per secondDec 10, 2013: 8.01 ft, minor flooding; 1,116 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 2013: 10.48 ft, minor flooding; 2,513 cubic feet per secondJan 12, 2014: 7.63 ft, minor flooding; 989 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2014: 7.02 ft, minor flooding; 803 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2014: 10.21 ft, minor flooding; 2,279 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2014: 7.15 ft, minor flooding; 842 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2015: 10.47 ft, minor flooding; 2,501 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 2015: 8.42 ft, minor flooding; 1,268 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 2015: 8.86 ft, minor flooding; 1,454 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 2015: 7.00 ft, minor flooding; 798 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 2015: 9.79 ft, minor flooding; 1,968 cubic feet per secondNov 8, 2015: 7.53 ft, minor flooding; 959 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 2015: 9.11 ft, minor flooding; 1,570 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2015: 9.92 ft, minor flooding; 2,053 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 2015: 7.64 ft, minor flooding; 993 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 2016: 8.73 ft, minor flooding; 1,391 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 2016: 8.92 ft, minor flooding; 1,477 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2016: 8.58 ft, minor flooding; 1,331 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2017: 8.60 ft, minor flooding; 1,340 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2017: 7.13 ft, minor flooding; 836 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 2017: 7.11 ft, minor flooding; 830 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2018: 7.89 ft, minor flooding; 1,075 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2018: 9.16 ft, minor flooding; 1,602 cubic feet per secondAug 3, 2018: 7.76 ft, minor flooding; 1,032 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 2018: 7.36 ft, minor flooding; 905 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 2018: 10.65 ft, minor flooding; 2,671 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 2018: 7.55 ft, minor flooding; 964 cubic feet per secondDec 10, 2018: 9.60 ft, minor flooding; 1,849 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2018: 10.97 ft, minor flooding; 3,000 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2019: 7.55 ft, minor flooding; 964 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 2019: 8.17 ft, minor flooding; 1,174 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 2019: 10.09 ft, minor flooding; 2,185 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2019: 7.33 ft, minor flooding; 896 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2019: 10.44 ft, minor flooding; 2,475 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2019: 9.44 ft, minor flooding; 1,754 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 2020: 8.84 ft, minor flooding; 1,441 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2020: 11.27 ft, moderate flooding; 3,340 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 2020: 9.36 ft, minor flooding; 1,708 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2020: 9.46 ft, minor flooding; 1,766 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2020: 9.23 ft, minor flooding; 1,635 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2020: 8.51 ft, minor flooding; 1,305 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2020: 8.80 ft, minor flooding; 1,424 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 2020: 7.67 ft, minor flooding; 1,003 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2020: 9.20 ft, minor flooding; 1,618 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2020: 11.09 ft, moderate flooding; 3,124 cubic feet per secondOct 25, 2020: 7.34 ft, minor flooding; 899 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2020: 7.05 ft, minor flooding; 813 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 2020: 7.91 ft, minor flooding; 1,080 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 2021: 9.33 ft, minor flooding; 1,691 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 2021: 7.41 ft, minor flooding; 920 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2021: 8.14 ft, minor flooding; 1,162 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 2021: 8.23 ft, minor flooding; 1,196 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2021: 9.63 ft, minor flooding; 1,868 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 2021: 9.09 ft, minor flooding; 1,561 cubic feet per secondJan 3, 2022: 8.08 ft, minor flooding; 1,141 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2022: 8.65 ft, minor flooding; 1,363 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2022: 7.83 ft, minor flooding; 1,054 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2022: 7.74 ft, minor flooding; 1,025 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2022: 7.81 ft, minor flooding; 1,047 cubic feet per secondDec 1, 2022: 7.01 ft, minor flooding; 801 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 2022: 9.02 ft, minor flooding; 1,524 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2022: 8.13 ft, minor flooding; 1,158 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2023: 10.61 ft, minor flooding; 2,630 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2023: 7.21 ft, minor floodingApr 9, 2023: 8.81 ft, minor flooding; 1,428 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 2023: 8.21 ft, minor flooding; 1,188 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 10.22 ft, minor flooding; 2,283 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2024: 9.09 ft, minor flooding; 1,559 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2024: 8.57 ft, minor flooding; 1,330 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2024: 8.48 ft, minor flooding; 1,293 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2024: 10.77 ft, minor flooding; 2,788 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2024: 7.49 ft, minor flooding; 946 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 2025: 10.29 ft, minor flooding; 2,342 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2025: 7.53 ft, minor flooding; 958 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2026: 7.45 ft, minor flooding; 934 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2026: 8.15 ft, minor flooding; 1,167 cubic feet per second Highest, 13.05 ft, Feb 3, 1982 197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Big Creek near Alpharetta 1960s: 9 1970s: 10 1980s: 8 1990s: 16 2000s: 21 2010s: 52 52 2020s: 41 1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 160 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Big Creek near Alpharetta
1Feb 3, 198213.05+6.05Major6,100
2Mar 17, 199012.81+5.81Moderate5,820
3Feb 21, 196112.54+5.54Moderate5,800
4Sep 22, 200912.50+5.50Moderate5,200
5Dec 6, 198312.30+5.30Moderate4,880
6Mar 30, 197712.20+5.20Moderate5,080
7Dec 31, 196111.97+4.97Moderate4,700
8Sep 17, 200411.93+4.93Moderate4,230
9Mar 26, 196411.82+4.82Moderate4,140
10Jan 13, 199311.71+4.71Moderate3,970
11Apr 14, 197911.65+4.65Moderate4,220
12Mar 9, 199811.29+4.29Moderate3,360
13Feb 7, 202011.27+4.27Moderate3,340
14Mar 5, 196611.26+4.26Moderate3,240
15Jan 28, 199611.09+4.09Moderate3,140
16Oct 12, 202011.09+4.09Moderate3,124
17Feb 5, 199811.08+4.08Moderate—
18Nov 12, 200911.08+4.08Moderate3,112
19Dec 29, 201810.97+3.97Minor3,000
20Mar 7, 200310.90+3.90Minor2,930
21Jan 1, 197410.81+3.81Minor2,510
22Mar 31, 197610.80+3.80Minor2,620
23Mar 1, 199710.80+3.80Minor2,760
24Jan 11, 197210.78+3.78Minor2,430
25Jan 7, 200910.78+3.78Minor2,797
26Apr 30, 196310.77+3.77Minor2,860
27Sep 27, 202410.77+3.77Minor2,788
28Jan 1, 199710.76+3.76Minor2,760
29Nov 13, 201810.65+3.65Minor2,671
30Mar 9, 198010.62+3.62Minor2,640
31Oct 13, 200910.61+3.61Minor2,630
32Jan 5, 202310.61+3.61Minor2,630
33Oct 27, 199710.55+3.55Minor—
34Mar 1, 198710.49+3.49Minor2,410
35Dec 23, 201310.48+3.48Minor2,513
36Apr 9, 199810.47+3.47Minor—
37Jan 5, 201510.47+3.47Minor2,501
38Apr 20, 201910.44+3.44Minor2,475
39Feb 17, 199510.40+3.40Minor2,380
40Feb 14, 202510.29+3.29Minor2,342
41May 20, 201310.25+3.25Minor2,312
42Jan 10, 202410.22+3.22Minor2,283
43Apr 8, 201410.21+3.21Minor2,279
44Nov 6, 197710.15+3.15Minor1,890
45Mar 14, 197510.14+3.14Minor1,940
46Sep 13, 198810.10+3.10Minor2,080
47Feb 22, 201910.09+3.09Minor2,185
48Feb 6, 20109.95+2.95Minor2,068
49Aug 23, 19699.92+2.92Minor1,740
50Dec 25, 20159.92+2.92Minor2,053

The worst floods along the Big Creek

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

September 22, 2009: 12.50 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Big Creek

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Big Creek
GA 9 near CummingGA6.010.43 ft, Sep 22, 20090
Alpharetta this gaugeGA7.013.05 ft, Feb 3, 19821
Hog Wallow at RoswellGA10.015.41 ft, Sep 22, 20090

Other gauges in Fulton County

Flood gauges in Fulton County
Hog Wallow at Roswell10.015.41 ft, Sep 22, 20090
Roswell9.011.96 ft, Sep 21, 20090
Atlanta14.029.00 ft, Dec 10, 191913
GA 280 near Atlanta24.035.98 ft, Sep 22, 20093
Highway 141 near Norcross12.027.70 ft, Jan 8, 194613
Morgan Falls Dam near Roswell821.0827.01 ft, Sep 22, 20091
Rickenbacker Drive at Atlanta11.015.50 ft, Dec 1, 19738
West Wesley Road at Atlanta12.025.46 ft, Sep 22, 20093
Atlanta17.025.80 ft, Dec 9, 19199
Jackson Parkway at Atlanta13.018.03 ft, Mar 13, 19750
Atlanta12.015.95 ft, Mar 13, 20190
Forrest Park Road at Atlanta15.016.62 ft, Sep 19, 20090
Great Southwest Parkway near Atlanta18.027.89 ft, Sep 22, 20091
Defoors Ferry Road at Atlanta15.023.61 ft, Sep 22, 20091

Fulton County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Georgia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge APHG1, 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.