Congaree River at Congaree National Park, SC
River level and flood forecast · Richland County
The river is 0.9 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Forecast to rise into minor flooding Mon 8 PM and crest at 16.7 ft Tue 8 AM, then fall back below flood stage Thu 2 AM.
Flow: 18,500 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 9:50 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 20 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 14 ft |
| Record crest (October 5, 2015) | 19.83 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 ftExtensive farmland from Sandy Run to St. Matthews becomes flooded. Farm equipment and cattle should be moved to higher ground. Extensive flooding also occurs in the Congaree National Park.
- 20 ftFarmland from Sandy Run to St. Matthews becomes flooded. Flooding increases in the Congaree National Park. At 19 feet the river covers most of the elevated boardwalk in the Congaree National Park.
- 18 ftSeveral homes in the Sandy Run subdivision along the river become flooded. At 18 feet the river covers the Weston Lake overlook in the Congaree National Park. Between 18 and 18.5 feet the river begins to cover sections of the elevated boardwalk.
- 17 ftThe access road to the Sandy Run subdivision becomes flooded. The lower boardwalk in the Congaree National Park becomes flooded by Cedar Creek.
- 15 ftFlooding begins in the Congaree National Park. This will begin to produce flooding of portions of the lower boardwalk.
Highest crests on record
- 19.83 ft — October 5, 2015
- 19.82 ft — October 1, 2024
- 19.54 ft — February 10, 2020
- 18.65 ft — March 23, 2003
- 18.51 ft — January 13, 2024
Recent crests: 17.16 ft (August 14, 2025) · 16.51 ft (August 7, 2025) · 17.05 ft (May 14, 2025) · 17.12 ft (February 15, 2025) · 16.45 ft (December 14, 2024)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (GADS1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.