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SwedenCongaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden water level
River gauge, Congaree River, South Carolina, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 4,000 cfs
History
20252026
The forecast expects the river to rise to 5.60 ft by Sunday, October 25 at 08:00 AM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 10:56 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The gauge at Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden reads 4.23 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.50 ft above the median of 3.73 ft for mid-October, based on 35 years of readings. It is 10.77 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 5.04 ft (−0.81 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.58 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 5.60 ft by Sunday, October 25 at 08:00 AM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.13 ft and 16.18 ft.
Compared with 35 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 3.73 ft0.50 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.47 ft – 7.99 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (35 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5.04 ft−0.81 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.13 ft – 16.18 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.87 ft – 16.18 ft
- Highest on record
- 19.83 ftOctober 5, 2015
- Forecast peak
- 5.60 ftSunday, October 25 at 08:00 AM
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 15.00 ft, still 10.77 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
- Extensive farmland from Sandy Run to St. Matthews becomes flooded. Farm equipment and cattle should be moved to higher ground. Extensive flooding also occurs in the Congaree National Park.
- 20.00 ft
- Farmland from Sandy Run to St. Matthews becomes flooded. Flooding increases in the Congaree National Park. At 19 feet the river covers most of the elevated boardwalk in the Congaree National Park.
- 18.00 ft
- Several homes in the Sandy Run subdivision along the river become flooded. At 18 feet the river covers the Weston Lake overlook in the Congaree National Park. Between 18 and 18.5 feet the river begins to cover sections of the elevated boardwalk.
- 17.00 ft
- The access road to the Sandy Run subdivision becomes flooded. The lower boardwalk in the Congaree National Park becomes flooded by Cedar Creek.
- 15.00 ft
- Flooding begins in the Congaree National Park. This will begin to produce flooding of portions of the lower boardwalk.
- 4.23 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 58 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.83 ft | October 5, 2015 |
| 2 | 19.82 ft | October 1, 2024 |
| 3 | 19.54 ft | February 10, 2020 |
| 4 | 18.65 ft | March 23, 2003 |
| 5 | 18.51 ft | January 13, 2024 |
| 6 | 18.28 ft | January 1, 2016 |
| 7 | 18.27 ft | August 31, 1995 |
| 8 | 18.20 ft | February 6, 1998 |
| 9 | 18.16 ft | May 9, 2013 |
| 10 | 18.16 ft | September 11, 2004 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Congaree River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congaree River at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Congaree River | 3.47 ft | Normal | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Congaree River at U.s. Highway 601 near Fort MotteRiver gauge, Congaree River | 76.95 ft | No reference yet | −1.09 ft | 13 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek at Congaree Np near GadsdenRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | 2.92 ft | Normal | −0.38 ft | 2.3 mi |
| Gills Creek at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Gills Creek | 0.92 ft | Very low | −0.05 ft | 14 mi |
| Rocky Branch at Whaley St at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Rocky Branch | 1.10 ft | Normal | ±0 | 15 mi |
| Pen Branch at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Pen Branch | 0.63 ft | Normal | ±0 | 15 mi |
| Rocky Branch at Pickens St at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Rocky Branch | 2.68 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 16 mi |
| Congaree Creek at South CongareeRiver gauge, Congaree Creek | 2.67 ft | Very low | −0.51 ft | 17 mi |
| Smith Branch at North Main St at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Smith Branch | 0.40 ft | Very low | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Saluda River near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Saluda River | 3.26 ft | High | ±0 | 19 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden compare with last year?
It is 0.81 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.04 ft.
What is flood stage for the Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden?
The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 10.77 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 3.73 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.47 ft and 7.99 ft, based on 35 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT, the water level was 4.23 ft. Down 0.58 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden rising or falling?
Down 0.58 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 11.95 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 35 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:02169625(Agency page)- Coordinates
33.81071, -80.86703(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NGVD29
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 4.23 ft | 2026-10-20 16:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 4,000 cfs | 2026-10-20 16:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Congaree River at Congaree Np near Gadsden (usgs:02169625). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/congaree-river-at-congaree-np-near-gadsden
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer