Inflow forecast

modeled

NOAA’s National Water Model, short-range run issued Nov 14, 4 PM EST, for the 3 gauged tributary reaches feeding Allatoona Lake. The model includes rain that has already fallen plus the near-term rain forecast.

Gauged inflow now

290

cfs · measured

Peak next 17h

294

cfs · ~6 PM EST · modeled

Projected volume

408

acre-feet over 17h · modeled

Net lake effect

−0.01 ft

after 359 cfs out · inferred

Projected flow by tributary reach

Forecast inflow, next 16 hours, all gauged reaches: starts at 294 cfs, peaks at 294 cfs Sat 6 PM (modeled)
Hour	Total (cfs)	Etowah (cfs)	Little River (cfs)	Shoal Creek (cfs)
Sat 6 PM	294	249	37	8.1
Sat 7 PM	294	249	37	8.1
Sat 8 PM	294	249	37	8.1
Sat 9 PM	294	249	37	7.8
Sat 10 PM	294	249	37	7.8
Sat 11 PM	293	249	37	7.8
Sun 12 AM	293	248	37	7.8
Sun 1 AM	292	248	37	7.4
Sun 2 AM	291	247	37	7.4
Sun 3 AM	290	247	36	7.4
Sun 4 AM	289	245	36	7.4
Sun 5 AM	288	244	36	7.4
Sun 6 AM	288	244	36	7.4
Sun 7 AM	286	243	36	7.4
Sun 8 AM	285	242	36	7.4
Sun 9 AM	284	241	36	7.4
Sun 10 AM	284	240	36	7.4

EtowahLittle RiverShoal CreekTotal (all gauged reaches)

Dashed lines are forecast. Values are at the gauges; water takes hours to a couple of days to get from there to the lake. National Water Model via NOAA/NWS · public domain.

The “net lake effect” is the forecast inflow volume minus the water leaving the lake now (359 cfs, Etowah at Allatoona Dam, right now), held steady over the forecast period and spread over the lake’s estimated current surface area (before releases it would be +0.04 ft). It ignores travel time, channel losses and any change the dam operators make, so it gives a sense of scale, not a prediction. During floods, watch the main page instead.