South Saluda River near Cleveland water level

Name: South Saluda River near Cleveland water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, South Saluda River, South Carolina, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

2.03ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT (40 min ago)

Flow: 7.3 cfs
Water temperature: 57 °F

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at South Saluda River near Cleveland, where the gauge shows 2.03 ft.

That puts it 0.02 ft below the median of 2.05 ft for mid-October, based on 19 years of readings. It is 6.97 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.84 ft (−0.81 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.86 ft – 2.96 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 57 °F.

Compared with 19 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.05 ft0.02 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.84 ft – 2.67 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (19 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.84 ft−0.81 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.86 ft – 2.96 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.85 ft – 3.22 ft
Highest on record: 9.58 ftSeptember 8, 2004

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 9.00 ft.

What happens at each level

16.00 ft: HOMES BETWEEN RIDGE SPRINGS RD AND TABLE ROCK ROAD WILL BE AFFECTED.
9.00 ft: FLOOD STAGE RIDGE SPRINGS ROAD/ SALUDA HILL CHURCH ROAD WILL FLOOD.
7.00 ft: BANKFULL STAGE..
5.00 ft: 5.0 HERE AND ARD 7 FT @SLTS1 WILL TAKE THE SALUDA LAKE UP TO FULL POOL.
2.03 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	9.58 ft	September 8, 2004
2	8.21 ft	August 7, 2013
3	6.25 ft	June 2, 2003
4	5.38 ft	June 13, 2005
5	4.65 ft	January 11, 2014
6	4.12 ft	March 20, 2000
7	3.29 ft	September 27, 2002
8	2.84 ft	November 9, 2000

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:41 AM Sunset 06:51 PM Daylight 11 hr, 9 min Waxing gibbous 69%

Map

Other gauges on the South Saluda River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
South Saluda River near Rocky BottomRiver gauge, South Saluda River	14.7 cfs	Low	−0.6 cfs	3.1 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Table Rock Reservoir Tailrace near ClevelandRiver gauge, Table Rock Reservoir Tailrace	2.8 cfs	Low	±0	1.1 mi
Table Rock Reservoir near ClevelandReservoir, Table Rock Reservoir	42.08 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	1.2 mi
Slicking Creek near Rocky BottomRiver gauge, Slicking Creek	6.0 cfs	Normal	−0.5 cfs	2.7 mi
Middle Saluda River near ClevelandRiver gauge, Middle Saluda River	1.60 ft	Very low	+0.07 ft	7 mi
North Saluda River above SlaterRiver gauge, North Saluda River	4.49 ft	High	±0	11 mi
Eastatoee Creek on Cleo Chapman Highway near SunsetRiver gauge, Eastatoee Creek on Cleo Chapman Highway	1.91 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	11 mi
French Broad River at RosmanRiver gauge, French Broad River	2.08 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	11 mi
North Saluda Reservoir near TigervilleReservoir, North Saluda Reservoir	17.03 ft	Very low	−0.06 ft	15 mi

Questions and answers

How does the South Saluda River near Cleveland compare with last year?

It is 0.81 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.84 ft.

What is flood stage for the South Saluda River near Cleveland?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 6.97 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the South Saluda River near Cleveland in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.05 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.84 ft and 2.67 ft, based on 19 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 South Saluda River near Cleveland today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT, the water level was 2.03 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is South Saluda River near Cleveland rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of South Saluda River near Cleveland normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 19 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:02162290 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 35.06348, -82.65051 (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

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	2.03 ft	2026-10-20 15:45	Provisional
Flow	7.3 cfs	2026-10-20 15:45	Provisional
Water temperature	57 °F	2026-10-20 15:45	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Saluda River near Cleveland (usgs:02162290). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/south-saluda-river-near-cleveland

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