Rivers in South Carolina

Congaree River at Carolina Eastman

Calhoun County, South CarolinaNWS CEAS1West Columbia office

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood126.00 ft
Moderate flood119.00 ft
Minor flood115.00 ft
Action114.00 ft
  1. 131.00 ftThe floor elevation of some major buildings on the Carolina Eastman Facility are flooded. Extensive farmland and lowland flooding occurs south of Columbia to Lake Marion.
  2. 127.00 ftPortions of the Carolina Eastman facility have to be evacuated.
  3. 126.00 ftExtensive farmland and lowland flooding will occur south of Columbia to Lake Marion. Water reaches the top of some dikes at the Carolina Eastman Facility.
  4. 124.00 ftExtensive flooding occurs at the Carolina Eastman Facility with some access roads flooded. Extensive farmland flooding occurs in the area.
  5. 119.00 ftExtensive flooding occurs in the Congaree National Park. Some area farmland is flooded. Minor flooding occurs at the Carolina Eastman Facility.
  6. 115.00 ftFlooding occurs in low lying areas of the Carolina Eastman Facility and at the Congaree National Park.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding32%
Moderate flooding24%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.

Crest history

155 crests on NOAA’s list since 1971.

#DateStage
1October 12, 1976126.95 ft
2September 30, 2024126.90 ft
3February 27, 1979126.90 ft
4October 5, 2015126.90 ft
5February 9, 2020126.40 ft
6March 16, 1975126.00 ft
7April 3, 1973125.40 ft
8January 12, 2024125.20 ft
9January 1, 2016124.90 ft
10September 11, 2004124.60 ft
11May 9, 2013124.50 ft
12February 6, 1998124.40 ft
13January 28, 1978124.20 ft
14May 25, 2003124.00 ft
15December 18, 1972124.00 ft
16March 4, 2007124.00 ft
17February 8, 2010123.80 ft
18March 5, 1971123.70 ft
19January 27, 2010123.70 ft
20January 7, 1982123.70 ft
21December 8, 1983123.20 ft
22April 13, 2003123.20 ft
23December 27, 2009123.20 ft
24April 30, 2023123.10 ft
25February 16, 1984123.00 ft

Most recent crests

  • August 13, 2025: 120.03 ft
  • August 7, 2025: 118.40 ft
  • May 14, 2025: 119.50 ft
  • February 15, 2025: 119.60 ft
  • December 13, 2024: 117.70 ft
  • September 30, 2024: 126.90 ft
  • August 10, 2024: 119.30 ft
  • April 4, 2024: 114.10 ft
  • March 3, 2024: 119.00 ft
  • February 14, 2024: 115.70 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Southeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.