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Level of the Lake

Inflow forecast

modeled

NOAA’s National Water Model, short-range run issued Nov 14, 4 PM EST, for the 2 gauged tributary reaches feeding Lake Lanier. The model includes rain that has already fallen plus the near-term rain forecast.

Gauged inflow now

327

cfs · measured

Peak next 17h

329

cfs · ~6 PM EST · modeled

Projected volume

440

acre-feet over 17h · modeled

Net lake effect

−0.01 ft

after 598 cfs out · inferred

Projected flow by tributary reach

971942916 PM2 AM10 AM
Forecast inflow, next 16 hours, all gauged reaches: starts at 329 cfs, peaks at 329 cfs Sat 6 PM (modeled)
HourTotal (cfs)Chattahoochee (cfs)Chestatee (cfs)
Sat 6 PM32923297
Sat 7 PM32823197
Sat 8 PM32623096
Sat 9 PM32422896
Sat 10 PM32222795
Sat 11 PM32022595
Sun 12 AM31722394
Sun 1 AM31522193
Sun 2 AM31322093
Sun 3 AM31021992
Sun 4 AM30821791
Sun 5 AM30721691
Sun 6 AM30421490
Sun 7 AM30321390
Sun 8 AM30121190
Sun 9 AM29920989
Sun 10 AM29720889
ChattahoocheeChestateeTotal (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 (598 cfs, Chattahoochee below Buford Dam, right now), held steady over the forecast period and spread over the lake’s estimated current surface area (before releases it would be +0.01 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.