Lumber River near Nichols
South Carolina — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Horry County, South Carolina on the Lumber River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 02134900, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
26 ft
Moderate Flood
25 ft
Minor Flood
20 ft
Action Stage
18 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
28 ft
Extensive flooding along the river. Nearly all of Nichols will be flooded. Road access to Nichols will be limited to US Rte 76 coming in from the east. Flooding on Mullins ST extends from near AWT RD to Fork Retch CT. River RD and Drowning Creek DR have several feet of water on them. In Fork Retch, nearly all of Fork Retch CT is flooded and the water is several feet deep along much of the road. Water levels will be worse than those seen after Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018.
27 ft
Extensive flooding along the river. Nearly all of Nichols will be flooded. Road access to Nichols will be limited to US Rte 76 coming in from the east. Flooding on Mullins ST extends from near AWT RD to Fork Retch CT. River RD and Drowning Creek DR have several feet of water on them. In Fork Retch,nearly all of Fork Retch CT is flooded and the water is several feet deep along much of the road. Water levels will be similar to those seen after Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018.
26 ft
Extensive flooding along the river. All parts of Nichols will be flooded and many areas will be isolated. Nearly every road is flooded and some may be impassable,but parts of town will remain dry. Road access to Nichols may be limited to US Rte 76 coming in from the east. Flooding on Mullins ST extends from near AWT RD to Fork Retch CT. River RD and Drowning Creek DR have several feet of water on them. In Fork Retch,nearly all of Fork Retch CT is flooded with water several feet deep along much of the road.
25 ft
Flooding reaches Pee Dee Street, S Nichols Street, South Main Street, Kemper Road, Canal ST and Tupelo Street. Flooding begins along North Nichols Street and worsens along Maple Street and in areas along and east of Mullins ST. Part of the railroad in town may be flooded. All of River Road and Drowning Creek Drive may only be accessible by boat. In Fork Retch, the community may only be accessible by boat due to deep water on Wildlife Action RD and Fork Retch CT near RD Island CT.
24 ft
Flooding begins along Pee Dee Street, South Nichols Street, North Nichols Street, South Main Street, Kemper Road, Tupelo Street, and along Mullins Street near Awt Road. Flooding worsens along Maple Street and Awt Road. River Road and Drowning Creek Drive may only be accessible by boat.
23 ft
Flooding worsens on River Road,Drowning Creek Drive,Averette RD,and AWT RD. Pee Dee Island RD and Page RD flood. Flooding begins along Waccamaw Street,Maple Street,N Main ST,and other low areas east of Mullins ST. Canal ST and Kemper RD may flood. As the water rises toward 24 FT,W Pee Dee ST,S Main ST,and S Nichols ST may flood. River Road and Drowning Creek DR on the Horry County side may only be accessible only by boat. In Fork Retch,Fork Retch CT will flood near Rhode Island CT and south of Tidewater CT.
22 ft
River Road and Drowning Creek Road are almost completely flooded and residences in the area may be cutoff by flooding. Flooding may begin along Averette RD and AWT RD in Nichols. Flooding worsens in Fork Retch and Wildlife Action RD may flood near Fork Retch CT. As the water rises toward 23 feet, Pee Dee Island RD and Page RD may flood in Nichols.
21 ft
Flooding worsens along River Road and begins along Drowning Creek Dr. The Fork Retch community downstream of Nichols will experience minor flooding.
20 ft
Minor flooding along River Road east of Nichols on the Horry County side of the river. Structures in the lowlands accessible by unpaved roads nearer the river will likely be isolated. Downstream of Nichols, low areas in Fork Retch may flood.
19 ft
Flooding of lowlands along the river and nearby tributaries begins.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2018 | 27.36 ft | 41,100 cfs |
| Sep 20, 2018 | 27.36 ft | 41,100 cfs |
| Oct 10, 2016 | 27.02 ft | — |
| Oct 10, 2016 | 27.02 ft | — |
| Aug 10, 2024 | 24.08 ft | 24,100 cfs |
About This Gauge
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Lumber River near Nichols?
The Lumber River near Nichols gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02134900) 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 Lumber River near Nichols?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Lumber River near Nichols is 20 feet. Action stage begins at 18 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 25 feet, and major flooding at 26 feet.
How do I get alerts when Lumber River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Lumber River near Nichols to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Lumber River near Nichols gauge located?
The gauge is located in Horry County, South Carolina at coordinates 34.2258°N, 79.1344°W. USGS site number: 02134900. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, 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.