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Saluda River at Chappells water level

River gauge, Saluda River, South Carolina, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.15ft Up 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
513 cfs
0 13 25 38 Highest onrecord 36.70 ft Minor floodstage 14.00 ft

History

51015ftOct 12Oct 14Oct 17Oct 19Oct 22Minor flood stage51015ftOct 12Oct 17Oct 22Minor flood stage
51015ftSep 19Sep 27Oct 5Oct 14Oct 22Minor flood stage51015ftSep 19Oct 5Oct 22Minor flood stage
51015ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage51015ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
51015ftJanMarMayJulSepNov202651015ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.10 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 08:00 AM. Issued Saturday, October 17 at 11:06 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The Saluda River at Chappells is at 2.15 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.57 ft, based on 41 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.42 ft below typical. It is 11.85 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.17 ft, a difference of −0.02 ft.

It has risen 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.10 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 08:00 AM. There is still 11.85 ft of room before flood stage. In the last month it has stayed between 1.63 ft and 8.67 ft.

Compared with 41 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
2.57 ft0.42 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.65 ft – 5.55 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (41 years of records)
Same day last year
2.17 ft−0.02 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.63 ft – 8.67 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.44 ft – 15.42 ft
Highest on record
36.70 ftAugust 26, 1908
Forecast peak
2.10 ftSunday, October 18 at 08:00 AM

Floating and fishing near Saluda River at Chappells

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 14.00 ft, 11.85 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

26.00 ft
Flood water threatens SC Highway 34 one mile southwest of Chappells and SC Highway 39 a quarter mile south of Chappells.
21.00 ft
Extensive flooding occurs. Farmland and river bottomland around and downstream from Chappells become flooded. Much of the Saluda River Campground downstream from Chappells become flooded.
18.00 ft
The Saluda River Campground including the Campground Store downstream from Chappells becomes flooded. Campers should move to higher ground.
16.00 ft
Extensive farmland and river bottomland around and downstream from Chappells become flooded.
14.00 ft
Lowlands around and downstream from Chappells become flooded. Cattle grazing river bottomland should be moved to higher ground.
2.15 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: < 5 %.

RankLevelDate
136.70 ftAugust 26, 1908
232.70 ftOctober 2, 1929
332.20 ftSeptember 28, 1929
431.10 ftAugust 17, 1928
529.70 ftAugust 14, 1940
627.22 ftAugust 28, 1995
726.94 ftSeptember 28, 2024
826.49 ftOctober 5, 2015
926.23 ftDecember 31, 2015
1025.00 ftMarch 16, 1912

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:36 AM Sunset 06:51 PM Daylight 11 hr, 15 min First quarter 50%

Map

Other gauges on the Saluda River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Saluda River at Hunts Bridge Road near DacusvilleRiver gauge, Saluda River 3.52 ft No reference yet −0.15 ft 65 mi
Saluda River near GreenvilleRiver gauge, Saluda River 2.81 ft Normal ±0 58 mi
Saluda River above I-85 near Golden GroveRiver gauge, Saluda River 268 cfs Normal −2.0 cfs 54 mi
Saluda River below PelzerRiver gauge, Saluda River 7.24 ft No reference yet +0.15 ft 46 mi
Saluda River near WilliamstonRiver gauge, Saluda River 3.40 ft Below flood stage −0.33 ft 45 mi
Saluda River near Ware ShoalsRiver gauge, Saluda River 2.70 ft Normal −0.10 ft 25 mi
Saluda River below Lake Murray Dam near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Saluda River 5.73 ft High −0.01 ft 38 mi
Saluda River near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Saluda River 3.29 ft Normal ±0 46 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Lake Greenwood near ChappellsLake, Lake Greenwood 438.41 ft Normal −0.04 ft 2.3 mi
Lake Greenwood Tailrace near ChappellsRiver gauge, Lake Greenwood Tailrace 6.48 ft Low −0.04 ft 2.6 mi
Little River near SilverstreetRiver gauge, Little River 2.71 ft High −0.11 ft 6 mi
Wilson Creek at Ninety SixRiver gauge, Wilson Creek 2.81 ft Normal −0.06 ft 11 mi
Big Creek at Big Creek Road near SaludaRiver gauge, Big Creek 63.94 ft Normal −0.03 ft 11 mi
Little Saluda River near SaludaRiver gauge, Little Saluda River 3.91 ft Normal +0.05 ft 13 mi
Bush River near ProsperityRiver gauge, Bush River 2.32 ft Very high −0.13 ft 15 mi
Reedy River near WaterlooRiver gauge, Reedy River 3.18 ft Low +0.02 ft 22 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Saluda River at Chappells higher than last year?

No, it is 0.02 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.17 ft.

What is flood stage for the Saluda River at Chappells?

The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 11.85 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Saluda River at Chappells in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.57 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.65 ft and 5.55 ft, based on 41 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 Saluda River at Chappells today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 08:15 AM EDT, the water level was 2.15 ft. Up 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Saluda River at Chappells rising or falling?

Up 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 6.52 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Saluda River at Chappells normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 41 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:02167000 (Agency page)
Coordinates
34.17458, -81.86400 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
NAVD88
Update interval
every 15 minutes
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 2.15 ft 2026-10-18 12:15 Provisional
Flow 513 cfs 2026-10-18 12:15 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Saluda River at Chappells (usgs:02167000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/saluda-river-at-chappells

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