Flood warning in Elmore County

The sun might be shining in Elmore County, but it doesn’t stop the effects of rain from the last few days.

The creeks and rivers have spilled from their normal banks as rain water from upstream makes its way to the Gulf. A swollen Coosa River can be seen from downtown Wetumpka and the Bibb Graves Bridge. The extra water forced Montgomery County to close Dozier Road Monday afternoon and until it reopens the toll bridge across the Tallapoosa River into east Montgomery is closed.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning expiring Thursday night.

According to data from the NWS at 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Tallapoosa River at the water plant just east of U.S. Highway 231 is at 30.91 feet, above its flood stage of 25 feet. It was at 9 feet at 11 a.m. Sunday. The NWS is predicting the Tallapoosa River to go down.

The highest water level was 42.13 feet on March 18, 1990. The most recent record crest of 33.59 feet was on March 29,2023.

The Coosa River has covered the parking lot, boat ramp and much of the sidewalk of Gold Star Park in downtown Wetumpka. Currently the City of Wetumpka has areas of the park closed off.

At the bridge, the flood stage is 45 feet. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday it was measured at 35.83 feet. Sunday at the same time it was just under 14 feet.

The highest the Coosa River has ever been was at 57.9 feet on April 8,1938. Photos printed in the Wetumpka Herald showing people wading through downtown in almost knee deep water. 

On April 14, 1979 the Coosa River crested at 55.40 in Wetumpka. More recently it crested at 42.99 in March 2020.

Elmore County EMA director Keith Barnett said there are no real issues predicted with the rivers at these levels. The banks of the rivers will be littered with debris as the water resides.

“If you see water across a road, don’t drive through it,” Barnett said. “Moving water is very deceiving.”