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Hiwassee River at Riverside Drive near Hiawassee

Highest listed crest 11.22 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft11 crests since 2008

The Hiwassee River at Riverside Drive near Hiawassee crested above flood stage 7 times among the 11 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2008 to 2024. The highest, 11.22 ft on May 30, 2018, was minor flooding, 1.22 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Hiwassee River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
11.22 ft
May 30, 2018; 2,963 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 14.0 ft
Crests at major
0
7 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
September 27, 2024
10.14 ft, minor flooding
Location
Towns County
Georgia

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Hiwassee River at Riverside Drive near Hiawassee
Action stage8.04Oct 2, 2012The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.07Sep 27, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage14.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

11 crests from 2008 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Hiwassee River at Riverside Drive near Hiawassee, 2008 to 2024 8101214ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 14.0 ft Aug 26, 2008: 10.40 ft, minor flooding; 2,615 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2009: 9.00 ft, action stage; 2,040 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 2011: 8.11 ft, action stage; 1,680 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 2011: 8.89 ft, action stage; 2,000 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 2012: 9.51 ft, action stage; 2,240 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 10.36 ft, minor flooding; 2,590 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2018: 11.22 ft, minor flooding; 2,963 cubic feet per secondOct 29, 2020: 10.85 ft, minor flooding; 2,802 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2021: 10.52 ft, minor flooding; 2,661 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 2021: 10.87 ft, minor flooding; 2,810 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2024: 10.14 ft, minor flooding; 2,502 cubic feet per second Highest, 11.22 ft, May 30, 2018 2010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Hiwassee River at Riverside Drive near Hiawassee 2000s: 1 2010s: 2 2020s: 4 4 2000s2010s2020s
  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

Highest listed crests, Hiwassee River at Riverside Drive near Hiawassee
1May 30, 201811.22+1.22Minor2,963
2Aug 17, 202110.87+0.87Minor2,810
3Oct 29, 202010.85+0.85Minor2,802
4Mar 26, 202110.52+0.52Minor2,661
5Aug 26, 200810.40+0.40Minor2,615
6Dec 29, 201510.36+0.36Minor2,590
7Sep 27, 202410.14+0.14Minor2,502
8Oct 2, 20129.51−0.49Action2,240
9Jul 8, 20099.00−1.00Action2,040
10Nov 28, 20118.89−1.11Action2,000
11Apr 16, 20118.11−1.89Action1,680

The worst floods along the Hiwassee River

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

May 30, 2018: 11.22 ft here, minor flooding

August 17, 2021: 10.87 ft here, minor flooding

October 29, 2020: 10.85 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Hiwassee River

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

Flood gauges on the Hiwassee River
CharlestonTN22.034.00 ft, Mar 31, 18860
Riverside Drive near Hiawassee this gaugeGA10.011.22 ft, May 30, 20180
Streak Hill Road near HiawasseeGA9.012.38 ft, May 30, 20180

Other gauges in Towns County

Flood gauges in Towns County
Streak Hill Road near Hiawassee9.012.38 ft, May 30, 20180

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HWEG1, 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.