Major Flood
30 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
Loading...
Streamflow
Loading...
Last Reading
Loading...
FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
24 ft
Minor Flood
19 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
30 ft
The Enclave Apartments along the Broad River and I-20 become flooded.
28 ft
Flooding begins in low lying areas of the Riverland Park subdivision in Cayce.
24 ft
Flooding also occurs in the Cayce Quarry.
21 ft
Extensive swampland and large areas of farmland and pasture land downstream from Columbia are flooded.
19 ft
Extensive swampland and large areas of farmland and pasture land downstream from Columbia become flooded.
16 ft
Old State Road, SC 66, below Cayce becomes flooded.
14 ft
Roads in low lying areas and swampland downstream from Columbia become flooded. Most of the Cayce and West Columbia river walk is flooded.
13 ft
Flooding occurs in flood prone areas near and downstream from Columbia. Flooding also occurs over much of the Cayce and West Columbia river walk.
10 ft
Flooding occurs in flood prone areas near and downstream from Columbia. Flooding also occurs on parts of the Cayce and West Columbia river walk.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
Loading chart data...
Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 1908 | 39.8 ft | 364,000 cfs |
| Jul 16, 1916 | 35.5 ft | — |
| Aug 17, 1928 | 33.5 ft | 311,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
COLS1
River
Congaree River
County
Lexington, SC
Coordinates
33.9931°N, 81.0500°W
Get Flood Alerts for Congaree River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Congaree River at Columbia?
The Congaree River at Columbia gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02169500) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Congaree River at Columbia?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Congaree River at Columbia is 19 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 24 feet, and major flooding at 30 feet.
How do I get alerts when Congaree River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Congaree River at Columbia to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Congaree River at Columbia gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lexington County, South Carolina at coordinates 33.9931°N, 81.0500°W. USGS site number: 02169500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Congaree River
On This River
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- 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.