Locust Fork at Cleveland
Alabama · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 02455000 — LOCUST FORK NEAR CLEVELAND, AL. · NWS forecast point CLEA1
Reading taken Jul 28, 8:15 PM UTC
Very high — big-water conditions well above the seasonal norm
At 254 CFS, this gauge is running 470% of normal for late July — above the 54 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 83 years of record (1937–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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12 months of flow at Cleveland
Daily values from USGS gauge 02455000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
About Locust Fork at Cleveland
This gauge measures Locust Fork at Cleveland, Alabama — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Alabama's classic Class II-III; runnable 1.8-3.5 ft.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 54 CFS for late July, from 83 years of record.
Locust Fork at Cleveland — common questions
What is the current flow on Locust Fork at Cleveland?
As of the last reading on this page, Locust Fork at Cleveland was running 254 CFS at a gage height of 2.17 ft, or 470% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02455000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 54 CFS, calculated from 83 years of record (1937–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 02455000, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge CLEA1.