Saluda River near Ware Shoals water level
River gauge, Saluda River, South Carolina, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 216 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Saluda River near Ware Shoals reads 2.01 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.27 ft below the median of 2.28 ft for mid-October, based on 29 years of readings. It is 39.99 ft below the flood stage of 42.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.28 ft (−0.27 ft).
The water is rising: up 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 39.99 ft of room before flood stage. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.16 ft and 6.00 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.28 ft0.27 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.93 ft – 3.27 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (29 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.28 ft−0.27 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.16 ft – 6.00 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.16 ft – 6.00 ft
- Highest on record
- 22.95 ftAugust 27, 1995
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 42.00 ft, still 39.99 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 48.00 ft
- APPROX HEIGHT OF HWY 25 BRIDGE BASE
- 42.00 ft
- ONE HOME OFF OF HIGHWAY 25 NEAR RIVER WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
- 40.00 ft
- APPROACHES TO HIGHWAY 25 WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
- 2.01 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.95 ft | August 27, 1995 |
| 2 | 22.85 ft | September 14, 1973 |
| 3 | 21.12 ft | March 6, 1963 |
| 4 | 20.63 ft | April 8, 1964 |
| 5 | 20.48 ft | August 13, 1940 |
| 6 | 19.91 ft | April 17, 1998 |
| 7 | 19.20 ft | March 24, 1952 |
| 8 | 19.12 ft | November 29, 1949 |
| 9 | 18.52 ft | December 13, 1961 |
| 10 | 18.45 ft | October 8, 1950 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
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 | 3.43 ft | No reference yet | −0.05 ft | 42 mi |
| Saluda River near GreenvilleRiver gauge, Saluda River | 2.22 ft | Low | −0.59 ft | 34 mi |
| Saluda River above I-85 near Golden GroveRiver gauge, Saluda River | 186 cfs | Low | −82.0 cfs | 30 mi |
| Saluda River below PelzerRiver gauge, Saluda River | 7.26 ft | No reference yet | −0.02 ft | 21 mi |
| Saluda River near WilliamstonRiver gauge, Saluda River | 3.69 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 20 mi |
| Saluda River at ChappellsRiver gauge, Saluda River | 1.67 ft | Low | −0.32 ft | 25 mi |
| Saluda River below Lake Murray Dam near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Saluda River | 5.80 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 63 mi |
| Saluda River near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Saluda River | 3.26 ft | High | ±0 | 70 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reedy River near WaterlooRiver gauge, Reedy River | 3.23 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 4.8 mi |
| South Rabon Creek near Gray CourtRiver gauge, South Rabon Creek | 0.79 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 10 mi |
| North Rabon Creek near Hickory TavernRiver gauge, North Rabon Creek | 5.74 ft | Very high | +0.01 ft | 10 mi |
| Little River at LaurensRiver gauge, Little River | 2.16 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 14 mi |
| Wilson Creek at Ninety SixRiver gauge, Wilson Creek | 2.76 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 17 mi |
| Reedy River above Fork ShoalsRiver gauge, Reedy River | 4.29 ft | Low | +0.11 ft | 19 mi |
| Rocky River near StarrRiver gauge, Rocky River | 2.83 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| Durbin Creek above Fountain InnRiver gauge, Durbin Creek | 2.21 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 23 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Saluda River near Ware Shoals compare with last year?
It is 0.27 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.28 ft.
What is flood stage for the Saluda River near Ware Shoals?
The official flood stage is 42.00 ft. The level is currently 39.99 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Saluda River near Ware Shoals in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.28 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.93 ft and 3.27 ft, based on 29 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 near Ware Shoals today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 05:15 PM EDT, the water level was 2.01 ft. Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Saluda River near Ware Shoals rising or falling?
Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 2.99 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Saluda River near Ware Shoals normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 29 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:02163500(Agency page)- Coordinates
34.39179, -82.22345(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 | 2.01 ft | 2026-10-20 21:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 216 cfs | 2026-10-20 21:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Saluda River near Ware Shoals (usgs:02163500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/saluda-river-near-ware-shoals
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