Sipsey Fork at Grayson
Alabama · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 02450250 — SIPSEY FORK NEAR GRAYSON AL · NWS forecast point GRAA1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 53 CFS, this gauge is running 440% of normal for late July — above the 12 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 59 years of record (1967–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Grayson
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge GRAA1, issued by WFO BMX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Minor flood 24.0 ft · 6,500 CFS
- 24.0 ft The lower parking lot at gauge site begins to flood. Damage to vehicles is likely as water continues to rise.
- 38.0 ft Water levels reach the walk bridge and car bridge crossing the river.
- 45.0 ft Water levels are near to the stairs of the upper parking lot. 44.27 is the flood of record.
-
Action 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft At 16 feet water reaches bankfull and begins minor overflow along sections of the river.
- Right now 3.20 ft
12 months of flow at Grayson
Daily values from USGS gauge 02450250. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Grayson
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 44.27 ft | 20,300 CFS | Mar 16, 1973 |
| 41.81 ft | 17,500 CFS | Dec 25, 2015 |
| 38.29 ft | 14,200 CFS | Dec 18, 1967 |
| 36.78 ft | 13,500 CFS | Jan 23, 1999 |
| 36.20 ft | 13,000 CFS | Oct 17, 1975 |
| 33.66 ft | 11,300 CFS | Dec 23, 1990 |
| 33.66 ft | 11,100 CFS | May 19, 1983 |
| 33.54 ft | 11,000 CFS | Mar 4, 1977 |
| 33.48 ft | 11,000 CFS | Dec 30, 1969 |
| 33.37 ft | 10,900 CFS | May 3, 1984 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Sipsey Fork at Grayson
This gauge measures Sipsey Fork at Grayson, Alabama — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Alabama's only year-round trout tailwater.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 12 CFS for late July, from 59 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Sipsey Fork at Grayson — common questions
What is the current flow on Sipsey Fork at Grayson?
As of the last reading on this page, Sipsey Fork at Grayson was running 53 CFS at a gage height of 3.20 ft, or 440% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02450250, 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 12 CFS, calculated from 59 years of record (1967–2026). 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.
Is Sipsey Fork at Grayson wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 12 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 02450250. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge GRAA1. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.