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River report

Congaree River Flow Today

As of November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Congaree River is flowing at 3,250 cfs at Columbia, SC — 90% of normal for the date. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
1 1 reporting · upstream → down
Congaree River At Columbia: 90% of normal
Typical gauge
90% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Biggest flow now
3,250cfs Columbia
Updated
Nov 1, 2:00 AM
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River briefing · Nov 1, 2026

Congaree 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 Columbia, the Congaree River is running 3,250 cfs — 90% of normal. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are near normal (the typical gauge is at 90% of normal).

Headwaters to mouth

How the Congaree 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

  1. Columbia149 ft 3,250 cfs90%

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 Congaree River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (90%).

Typical gauge 90%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal0Near normal1Above normal0Much above normal0

Congaree River flow report

1 gauge
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Congaree River At Columbia SC
Nov 1, 2:00 AM · USGS 02169500
3,250 cfs 90% +1% 3.37 ft 15.6 ft below 149 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.

History

Congaree River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).

About this river

Congaree River

The Congaree River is a 50-mile-long river in South Carolina that flows through Columbia and empties into Lake Marion. The river has a rich history, having been used for transportation by Native American tribes and later by European settlers for trade. It is also known for its role in the Civil War, as Union troops used the river to transport supplies. The Congaree River is fed by several tributaries, including the Broad and Saluda Rivers. The Saluda River is dammed to create Lake Murray, a popular recreational spot for boating and fishing. The Columbia Canal, which was built in the 1800s, also uses water from the Congaree River to power hydroelectric generators. Today, the river is used for recreational activities such as kayaking and fishing, as well as for agricultural irrigation.

FAQ

About the Congaree River

How is the Congaree River flowing right now?

As of November 1, 2026, the Congaree River is flowing at 3,250 cfs at Columbia, SC, about 90% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Congaree River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Congaree River is at 90% 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 Congaree River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Columbia (19.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

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.

More river levels

Rivers in South Carolina