River stage
Athens, Hocking River
- River level
- 4.04 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.24 ft
- Recent high
- 20.32 ft
- Recent low
- 2.97 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS ATHO1
- 30-day change
- -1.82 ft
- Average
- 5.76 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 26.70 ft
In brief
The Hocking River at Athens, OH read 4.04 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 13.96 ft below action stage. That is 1.82 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge ATHO1
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.70 ft | 1907-03-14 |
| 2 | 24.65 ft | 1968-05-25 |
| 3 | 24.18 ft | 1964-03-11 |
| 4 | 24.00 ft | 1913-01-01 |
| 5 | 24.00 ft | 1884-01-01 |
| 6 | 23.68 ft | 2005-01-07 |
| 7 | 23.20 ft | 1990-05-30 |
| 8 | 23.10 ft | 1963-03-06 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
Low sections of Harmony Road begin to flood. In Nelsonville, the baseball fields along Watkins Street flood.
- 20.00 ft
Low areas, campground, and private camps along the river between Athens and Coolville begin to flood. Much of the city of Athens is protected up to 26 feet by levees. In Nelsonville, the baseball field adjacent to Lake Hope Drive floods.
- 21.00 ft
South Canaan Road and Township Road 605 in the vicinity of US Route 50 flood. Glen Ebon Road begins to flood. Hockhocking Adena Bikeway near West State Street begins to flood. In Chauncey, areas along Ohio Routes 13 and 682 flood.
- 21.50 ft
Four homes along 1100 block of Harmony Road flood at 21 to 22 feet. Athens Community Center parking lot and tennis courts flood.
- 22.00 ft
Sections of East State Street along with adjacent business parking lots flood. Ohio Route 33 south of Nelsonville begins to flood.
- 22.50 ft
Numerous homes and roads along the river, approximately 1 mile upstream from Ohio River, flood. In Coolville, Frost Road and Ohio Route 144 flood.
- 23.00 ft
Numerous homes and roads along the mouth of the river flood. In Athens, several businesses and homes along West Union Street near the river flood.
- 24.00 ft
In Nelsonville, four homes adjacent to the river and across railroad below Farrow Street flood.
- 25.00 ft
In Coolville, Frost Road bridge floods.
- 26.00 ft
Areas in downtown Athens begin to flood. Water surrounds the hospital.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hocking River flooding at Athens?
No. The Hocking River at Athens is at 4.04 ft, 13.96 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Athens?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 18 ft, minor flooding 20 ft, moderate flooding 22 ft and major flooding 28 ft.
What is the highest the Hocking River has been at Athens?
The highest crest on record is 26.7 ft, on 1907-03-14.
Is the Hocking River high or low right now at Athens?
At 4.04 ft it is higher than 46% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge ATHO1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03159500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.