Catawba River Flow Today
As of October 12, 2026 at 3:00 AM, the Catawba River is flowing at 12,900 cfs below Catawba, SC — 617% of normal for the date and up 116% in 24 hours. 3 of 3 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 1,090 to 12,900 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Catawba River map
See the Catawba River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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Catawba River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Catawba, the Catawba River is running 12,900 cfs — 617% of normal, up 116% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 3 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 762% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Rockhill (+162%) and Catawba (+116%); dropping at Pleasant Gardens (-82%).
Highest against normal: Rockhill at 818%. Lowest: Catawba at 617%.
How the Catawba River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Pleasant Gardens1,235 ft 1,090 cfs762%
- Rockhill495 ft 12,100 cfs818%
- Catawba448 ft 12,900 cfs617%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Catawba River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (762%).
Catawba River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Catawba River Near Pleasant Gardens NC
Oct 12, 2:45 AM · USGS 02137727 |
1,090 cfs | 762% | -82% | 3.70 ft | 7.3 ft below | 1,235 ft |
|
Catawba River Near Rockhill SC
Oct 12, 3:00 AM · USGS 02146000 |
12,100 cfs | 818% | +162% | 7.19 ft | 7.8 ft below | 495 ft |
|
Catawba River Below Catawba SC
Oct 12, 3:00 AM · USGS 02147020 |
12,900 cfs | 617% | +116% | 10.96 ft | 12.0 ft below | 448 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Catawba River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James Gauge: Pleasant Gardens |
No live range | 1,090 cfs | 26–417 cfs typical | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Catawba River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Catawba River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a 220-mile long river that flows through western North Carolina and South Carolina. It was historically significant to Native American tribes such as the Catawba and Cherokee. Today, it provides approximately 1.7 million people with drinking water and powers several hydroelectric power plants. The river has several reservoirs and dams, including the Lake James Dam, the Lake Hickory Dam, and the Mountain Island Lake Dam. These provide flood control, water supply, and recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The Catawba River also supports agricultural uses, particularly for irrigation and livestock watering, and is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including fish, birds, and mammals.
Fishing near the Catawba River
About the Catawba River
How is the Catawba River flowing right now?
As of October 12, 2026, the Catawba River is flowing at 12,900 cfs below Catawba, SC, about 617% of normal for the date. Across its 3 USGS gauges, current flows range from 1,090 to 12,900 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Catawba River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Catawba River is at 762% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Catawba River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Pleasant Gardens (11.0 ft), Rockhill (15.0 ft), Catawba (23.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Catawba River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.