Saluda River at Chappells, SC
River level and flood forecast · Newberry County
Normal7.4 ftas of Mon 2:15 PM
The river is 6.6 ft below flood stage (14 ft).
Forecast to fall to 3.0 ft by Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.
Flow: 3,230 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 | 26 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 20 ft |
| Flood stage | 14 ft |
| Action stage | 13 ft |
| Record crest (August 26, 1908) | 36.7 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 26 ftFlood water threatens SC Highway 34 one mile southwest of Chappells and SC Highway 39 a quarter mile south of Chappells.
- 21 ftExtensive flooding occurs. Farmland and river bottomland around and downstream from Chappells become flooded. Much of the Saluda River Campground downstream from Chappells become flooded.
- 18 ftThe Saluda River Campground including the Campground Store downstream from Chappells becomes flooded. Campers should move to higher ground.
- 16 ftExtensive farmland and river bottomland around and downstream from Chappells become flooded.
- 14 ftLowlands around and downstream from Chappells become flooded. Cattle grazing river bottomland should be moved to higher ground.
Highest crests on record
- 36.7 ft — August 26, 1908
- 32.7 ft — October 2, 1929
- 32.2 ft — September 28, 1929
- 31.1 ft — August 17, 1928
- 29.7 ft — August 14, 1940
Recent crests: 18.02 ft (August 5, 2025) · 18.82 ft (May 14, 2025) · 15.13 ft (February 15, 2025) · 26.94 ft (September 28, 2024) · 14.44 ft (March 11, 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 (CHAS1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.