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Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon

Highest listed crest 35.40 ftFlood stage 18.0 ft191 crests since 1887

The Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 191 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1887 to 2025. The highest, 35.40 ft on July 6, 1994, was major flooding, 17.40 feet above flood stage. 4 other gauges on the Ocmulgee River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 4 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
35.40 ft
July 6, 1994; 107,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
18.0 ft
Major flooding from 30.0 ft
Crests at major
1
68th of 271 gauges in Georgia
Most recent flood crest
August 24, 2025
18.22 ft, minor flooding
Location
Bibb County
Near Macon (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, Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon
Action stage16.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)18.0179Aug 24, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage26.011Sep 29, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage30.01Jul 6, 1994Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

191 crests from 1887 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon, 1887 to 2025 152025303540ft Flood stage 18.0 ftMajor 30.0 ft Aug 1, 1887: 24.00 ft, minor flooding; 55,000 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1895: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 21,000 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 1896: 20.00 ft, minor flooding; 53,300 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1897: 18.00 ft, minor flooding; 33,800 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1898: 18.20 ft, minor flooding; 35,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1900: 21.70 ft, minor flooding; 37,700 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1901: 18.80 ft, minor flooding; 22,400 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1902: 22.80 ft, minor flooding; 45,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 1903: 20.70 ft, minor flooding; 31,600 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1906: 19.90 ft, minor flooding; 27,300 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1906: 18.20 ft, minor flooding; 20,300 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1908: 20.40 ft, minor flooding; 29,900 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1909: 20.60 ft, minor flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1910: 20.20 ft, minor flooding; 28,800 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1912: 22.70 ft, minor flooding; 44,800 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1913: 23.50 ft, minor flooding; 51,000 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1916: 23.10 ft, minor flooding; 47,800 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1917: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 25,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1919: 20.60 ft, minor flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 1919: 25.30 ft, minor flooding; 66,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 11, 1921: 21.60 ft, minor flooding; 37,000 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1922: 23.20 ft, minor flooding; 48,600 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1923: 20.10 ft, minor flooding; 28,300 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1924: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 21,000 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1925: 26.00 ft, moderate flooding; 72,500 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 1928: 23.00 ft, minor flooding; 47,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 1929: 26.10 ft, moderate flooding; 73,400 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1929: 25.10 ft, minor flooding; 64,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1932: 18.10 ft, minor flooding; 19,600 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 1934: 18.90 ft, minor flooding; 24,300 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 1935: 18.90 ft, minor flooding; 24,300 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1936: 25.20 ft, minor flooding; 63,700 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1937: 21.00 ft, minor flooding; 33,300 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1938: 20.60 ft, minor flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1939: 21.10 ft, minor flooding; 33,900 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1942: 26.10 ft, moderate flooding; 73,400 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1943: 22.70 ft, minor flooding; 44,800 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1944: 23.40 ft, minor flooding; 50,200 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1945: 22.10 ft, minor flooding; 40,400 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1946: 24.30 ft, minor flooding; 57,600 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1947: 21.60 ft, minor flooding; 32,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 11, 1948: 20.10 ft, minor flooding; 24,000 cubic feet per secondNov 29, 1948: 28.00 ft, moderate flooding; 83,500 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1952: 23.90 ft, minor flooding; 46,800 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1953: 22.70 ft, minor flooding; 38,400 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1956: 19.00 ft, minor flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 1956: 20.20 ft, minor flooding; 24,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 8, 1958: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 21,600 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1959: 20.90 ft, minor flooding; 27,500 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 21,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1961: 24.10 ft, minor flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1962: 20.00 ft, minor flooding; 23,700 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1963: 22.72 ft, minor flooding; 38,500 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1964: 24.70 ft, minor flooding; 52,600 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 1964: 23.70 ft, minor flooding; 45,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1966: 23.00 ft, minor flooding; 40,800 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 1967: 18.60 ft, minor flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1968: 20.50 ft, minor flooding; 23,200 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1969: 22.20 ft, minor flooding; 33,100 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1969: 22.18 ft, minor flooding; 33,100 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1970: 25.50 ft, minor flooding; 41,900 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1971: 29.50 ft, moderate flooding; 58,600 cubic feet per secondJan 13, 1972: 23.60 ft, minor flooding; 34,000 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1973: 21.40 ft, minor flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1974: 23.00 ft, minor flooding; 31,500 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1975: 25.60 ft, minor flooding; 42,600 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1976: 25.50 ft, minor flooding; 42,000 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1976: 22.50 ft, minor flooding; 29,600 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1976: 21.10 ft, minor flooding; 23,700 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1977: 21.40 ft, minor flooding; 26,300 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1978: 24.30 ft, minor flooding; 37,000 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1978: 24.30 ft, minor flooding; 37,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1979: 23.40 ft, minor flooding; 33,300 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1979: 18.70 ft, minor flooding; 14,900 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1979: 22.90 ft, minor flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1980: 23.00 ft, minor flooding; 30,300 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1980: 23.00 ft, minor flooding; 30,300 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1980: 22.17 ft, minor flooding; 28,100 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1980: 20.20 ft, minor flooding; 19,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 11, 1981: 22.47 ft, minor flooding; 29,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 1982: 21.25 ft, minor flooding; 24,300 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1983: 24.00 ft, minor flooding; 34,900 cubic feet per secondDec 5, 1983: 19.30 ft, minor flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondAug 2, 1984: 22.73 ft, minor flooding; 28,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 1985: 21.51 ft, minor flooding; 24,400 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1987: 20.29 ft, minor flooding; 19,800 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1989: 18.60 ft, minor flooding; 14,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1990: 21.50 ft, minor flooding; 24,200 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1990: 29.90 ft, moderate flooding; 64,700 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1991: 18.76 ft, minor flooding; 15,200 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1991: 18.10 ft, minor flooding; 13,700 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 1992: 20.45 ft, minor flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondNov 27, 1992: 26.67 ft, moderate flooding; 46,300 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 1992: 21.00 ft, minor flooding; 22,500 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1993: 20.90 ft, minor flooding; 22,000 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 1994: 35.40 ft, major flooding; 107,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 1995: 22.70 ft, minor flooding; 29,000 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1995: 19.30 ft, minor flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 1995: 22.74 ft, minor flooding; 28,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1996: 21.40 ft, minor flooding; 23,800 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1996: 22.40 ft, minor flooding; 27,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1997: 19.46 ft, minor flooding; 17,200 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1997: 23.00 ft, minor flooding; 30,300 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1997: 19.60 ft, minor flooding; 17,600 cubic feet per secondOct 28, 1997: 20.64 ft, minor floodingDec 26, 1997: 23.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 1998: 23.32 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1998: 27.88 ft, moderate flooding; 65,600 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1998: 18.65 ft, minor floodingMar 16, 2001: 20.80 ft, minor flooding; 21,700 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 2003: 21.40 ft, minor floodingMar 22, 2003: 20.70 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 2003: 21.80 ft, minor floodingMay 24, 2003: 20.90 ft, minor floodingJun 20, 2003: 18.97 ft, minor floodingJul 3, 2003: 22.40 ft, minor flooding; 27,700 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 2004: 19.88 ft, minor floodingMar 29, 2005: 20.66 ft, minor flooding; 21,329 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2005: 20.57 ft, minor flooding; 21,004 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2009: 23.62 ft, minor flooding; 32,386 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 2009: 22.47 ft, minor flooding; 27,887 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 2009: 20.41 ft, minor flooding; 20,354 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 2009: 24.26 ft, minor flooding; 35,064 cubic feet per secondDec 4, 2009: 22.50 ft, minor flooding; 27,999 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2009: 21.04 ft, minor flooding; 22,635 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 2010: 21.59 ft, minor flooding; 24,712 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2010: 21.90 ft, minor flooding; 25,803 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 2010: 20.11 ft, minor flooding; 19,322 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2010: 19.82 ft, minor flooding; 18,358 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2013: 20.81 ft, minor flooding; 21,808 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2013: 20.57 ft, minor flooding; 20,950 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2013: 18.36 ft, minor flooding; 14,305 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2013: 21.79 ft, minor flooding; 25,374 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 2013: 18.05 ft, minor flooding; 13,587 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 2013: 22.36 ft, minor flooding; 27,477 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 2013: 20.49 ft, minor flooding; 20,617 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2014: 18.18 ft, minor flooding; 13,998 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2014: 19.20 ft, minor flooding; 16,589 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 2015: 21.07 ft, minor flooding; 22,768 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 2015: 20.69 ft, minor flooding; 21,364 cubic feet per secondNov 11, 2015: 20.32 ft, minor flooding; 20,056 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 2015: 18.14 ft, minor flooding; 13,571 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 2015: 27.77 ft, moderate flooding; 51,918 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 2016: 19.87 ft, minor flooding; 18,494 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2016: 19.02 ft, minor flooding; 15,859 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2016: 19.09 ft, minor flooding; 16,065 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2016: 22.38 ft, minor flooding; 27,466 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 2017: 18.58 ft, minor flooding; 14,736 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 2017: 19.66 ft, minor flooding; 17,809 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2017: 19.38 ft, minor flooding; 16,957 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 2018: 18.36 ft, minor flooding; 14,144 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2018: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 14,244 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 2018: 19.41 ft, minor flooding; 17,046 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 2018: 21.66 ft, minor flooding; 22,579 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 2018: 20.43 ft, minor flooding; 17,540 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 2018: 20.99 ft, minor flooding; 19,722 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2019: 23.68 ft, minor flooding; 31,607 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2019: 20.48 ft, minor flooding; 17,719 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 2019: 24.30 ft, minor flooding; 34,453 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 2019: 18.21 ft, minor flooding; 11,056 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2020: 18.79 ft, minor flooding; 12,168 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 2020: 23.30 ft, minor flooding; 28,452 cubic feet per secondFeb 8, 2020: 25.47 ft, minor flooding; 38,791 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 2020: 18.51 ft, minor flooding; 11,610 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 2020: 25.56 ft, minor flooding; 39,263 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2020: 19.89 ft, minor flooding; 15,056 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2020: 24.22 ft, minor flooding; 30,231 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 2020: 22.28 ft, minor flooding; 22,703 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2020: 23.28 ft, minor flooding; 26,410 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 2020: 18.35 ft, minor flooding; 11,338 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2021: 19.03 ft, minor flooding; 12,810 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 2021: 18.08 ft, minor flooding; 10,852 cubic feet per secondOct 8, 2021: 21.98 ft, minor flooding; 21,630 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2022: 21.06 ft, minor flooding; 18,511 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2022: 21.92 ft, minor flooding; 21,448 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2022: 24.90 ft, minor flooding; 33,208 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 2023: 20.28 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 2023: 19.23 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 2023: 27.78 ft, moderate flooding; 47,910 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 2024: 24.11 ft, minor flooding; 29,766 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 2024: 21.32 ft, minor flooding; 19,393 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 2024: 25.89 ft, minor flooding; 37,870 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2024: 23.92 ft, minor flooding; 28,973 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2024: 19.24 ft, minor flooding; 13,227 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 2024: 27.88 ft, moderate flooding; 48,483 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2024: 21.03 ft, minor flooding; 18,426 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 2025: 22.27 ft, minor flooding; 22,666 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2025: 20.01 ft, minor flooding; 15,284 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2025: 19.71 ft, minor flooding; 14,435 cubic feet per secondAug 7, 2025: 21.07 ft, minor flooding; 18,557 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 2025: 18.22 ft, minor flooding; 11,083 cubic feet per second Highest, 35.40 ft, Jul 6, 1994 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon 1880s: 1 1890s: 4 1900s: 8 1910s: 7 1920s: 8 1930s: 7 1940s: 8 1950s: 6 1960s: 11 1970s: 15 1980s: 12 1990s: 22 2000s: 16 2010s: 35 35 2020s: 31 1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
  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 191 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon
1Jul 6, 199435.40+17.40Major107,000
2Mar 18, 199029.90+11.90Moderate64,700
3Mar 4, 197129.50+11.50Moderate58,600
4Nov 29, 194828.00+10.00Moderate83,500
5Mar 9, 199827.88+9.88Moderate65,600
6Sep 29, 202427.88+9.88Moderate48,483
7Mar 28, 202327.78+9.78Moderate47,910
8Dec 27, 201527.77+9.77Moderate51,918
9Nov 27, 199226.67+8.67Moderate46,300
10Feb 28, 192926.10+8.10Moderate73,400
11Mar 22, 194226.10+8.10Moderate73,400
12Jan 19, 192526.00+8.00Moderate72,500
13Feb 14, 202425.89+7.89Minor37,870
14Apr 4, 197525.60+7.60Minor42,600
15Feb 20, 202025.56+7.56Minor39,263
16Mar 23, 197025.50+7.50Minor41,900
17Mar 18, 197625.50+7.50Minor42,000
18Feb 8, 202025.47+7.47Minor38,791
19Dec 11, 191925.30+7.30Minor66,200
20Apr 9, 193625.20+7.20Minor63,700
21Oct 2, 192925.10+7.10Minor64,400
22Apr 8, 202224.90+6.90Minor33,208
23Apr 8, 196424.70+6.70Minor52,600
24Jan 8, 194624.30+6.30Minor57,600
25Jan 27, 197824.30+6.30Minor37,000
26Mar 27, 197824.30+6.30Minor37,000
27Apr 22, 201924.30+6.30Minor34,453
28Nov 12, 200924.26+6.26Minor35,064
29Mar 7, 202024.22+6.22Minor30,231
30Jan 11, 202424.11+6.11Minor29,766
31Feb 26, 196124.10+6.10Minor48,200
32Aug 1, 188724.00+6.00Minor55,000
33Apr 9, 198324.00+6.00Minor34,900
34Mar 9, 202423.92+5.92Minor28,973
35Mar 5, 195223.90+5.90Minor46,800
36Dec 26, 196423.70+5.70Minor45,300
37Jan 5, 201923.68+5.68Minor31,607
38Mar 29, 200923.62+5.62Minor32,386
39Jan 13, 197223.60+5.60Minor34,000
40Mar 16, 191323.50+5.50Minor51,000
41Mar 20, 194423.40+5.40Minor50,200
42Feb 25, 197923.40+5.40Minor33,300
43Dec 26, 199723.40+5.40Minor—
44Feb 5, 199823.32+5.32Minor—
45Jan 16, 202023.30+5.30Minor28,452
46Sep 18, 202023.28+5.28Minor26,410
47Mar 11, 192223.20+5.20Minor48,600
48Jul 11, 191623.10+5.10Minor47,800
49Aug 16, 192823.00+5.00Minor47,100
50Feb 14, 196623.00+5.00Minor40,800

The worst floods along the Ocmulgee River

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

July 6, 1994: 35.40 ft here, major flooding

  • US 341 at HawkinsvilleGA · Jul 9, 1994 · 40.91 ft · Major · its highest
  • JacksonGA · Jul 6, 1994 · 26.87 ft · Major · its highest
  • AbbevilleGA · Jul 11, 1994 · 23.10 ft · Major · its highest
  • Jackson LakeGA · Jul 6, 1994 · 534.40 ft · Minor · its highest

March 18, 1990: 29.90 ft here, moderate flooding

March 4, 1971: 29.50 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Ocmulgee River

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

Flood gauges on the Ocmulgee River
5th Street Bridge at Macon this gaugeGA18.035.40 ft, Jul 6, 19941
AbbevilleGA12.023.10 ft, Jul 11, 199410
GA 18 at Dames FerryGA16.019.07 ft, Dec 27, 20150
Jackson LakeGA530.5534.40 ft, Jul 6, 19940
Lumber CityGA15.024.59 ft, Jul 15, 19942
US 341 at HawkinsvilleGA20.040.91 ft, Jul 9, 19941
JacksonGA19.026.87 ft, Jul 6, 19942

Other gauges in Bibb County

Flood gauges in Bibb County
Macon20.039.50 ft, Jul 6, 19941

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MACG1, 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.