North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern water level

Name: North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern 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, North Rabon Creek, South Carolina, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

5.74ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:45 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 6.3 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern is well above normal at 5.74 ft.

That puts it 1.52 ft above the median of 4.22 ft for mid-October, based on 18 years of readings. It is 9.26 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 5.70 ft (+0.04 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 5.53 ft and 6.78 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 18 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 4.22 ft1.52 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 3.95 ft – 5.67 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (18 years of records)
Same day last year: 5.70 ft+0.04 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 5.53 ft – 6.78 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 5.45 ft – 7.84 ft
Highest on record: 11.02 ftOctober 2, 2015

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

What happens at each level

20.30 ft: APPROX HEIGHT OF ROADBED ON HWY 76 BRIDGE
15.00 ft: WATER WILL APPROACH ONE HOME.
12.00 ft: FARMLAND AND PASTURE WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
5.74 ft: Right now
1.76 ft: 1.76 IN 4 HOURS CAUSED RIVER TO RISE TO 7 FT.

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.02 ft	October 2, 2015
2	10.34 ft	February 5, 2010
3	8.60 ft	March 1, 2009
4	6.99 ft	February 5, 2011
5	6.30 ft	January 21, 2012
6	5.47 ft	August 28, 2008

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

17 Sat 71° 53° – Wind 16 mph

18 Sun 62° 44° – Wind 14 mph

19 Mon 69° 42° – Wind 10 mph

20 Tue 75° 46° – Wind 4 mph

21 Wed 73° 47° – Wind 6 mph

22 Thu 74° 47° – Wind 5 mph

23 Fri 73° 48° – Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:39 AM Sunset 06:49 PM Daylight 11 hr, 10 min Waxing gibbous 72%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
South Rabon Creek near Gray CourtRiver gauge, South Rabon Creek	0.79 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	1.1 mi
Little River at LaurensRiver gauge, Little River	2.17 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	8 mi
Reedy River near WaterlooRiver gauge, Reedy River	3.24 ft	Low	+0.02 ft	9 mi
Saluda River near Ware ShoalsRiver gauge, Saluda River	2.01 ft	Normal	+0.06 ft	10 mi
Enoree River near WoodruffRiver gauge, Enoree River	0.64 ft	Very low	±0	12 mi
Reedy River above Fork ShoalsRiver gauge, Reedy River	4.29 ft	Low	+0.11 ft	13 mi
Durbin Creek above Fountain InnRiver gauge, Durbin Creek	2.21 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	13 mi
Saluda River near WilliamstonRiver gauge, Saluda River	3.69 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	18 mi

Questions and answers

How does North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern compare with last year?

It is 0.04 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.70 ft.

What is flood stage for North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern?

The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 9.26 ft below it.

What is a normal level for North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 4.22 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.95 ft and 5.67 ft, based on 18 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 North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:45 PM EDT, the water level was 5.74 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.25 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 18 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:021652801 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 34.52500, -82.13833 (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	5.74 ft	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional
Flow	6.3 cfs	2026-10-20 22:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: North Rabon Creek near Hickory Tavern (usgs:021652801). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/north-rabon-creek-near-hickory-tavern

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