2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... Strong northwest winds will spread across the northeast plains after sunrise today, with gusts 45 to 65 mph creating critical fire weather conditions despite somewhat marginal humidity values near 20%. Early Friday, westerly downslope winds will bring strong gusts to the Front Range mountains and foothills, with potential for these to spread into wind-favored portions of the adjacent lower elevations. Peak gusts of 70-90 mph are increasing in likelihood for the windiest locations (considerably lower for areas along and east of I-25). With a warmer and drier air mass in place, humidity values in the teens look to extend into much of the foothills, and certainly across the lower elevations. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend into the evening hours prior to the arrival of a front. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 215, 216, 241, 243, 245, 246 and 247. * TIMING...From Friday morning through late Friday evening. * WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 80 mph in and near the foothills. West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph for areas roughly along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15%. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Saluda River
was last observed at
4,143
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
8,218
acre-ft of water today; about 40%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
10,319 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2015-10-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at
89,540 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Saluda River At Chappells
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,410 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Saluda River, with a gauge stage of
4.14 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Saluda River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 830 ft, the
Saluda River Near Greenville.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 8,218 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
4,143.0 cfs
+736.0 cfs (+21.6%) |
| Percent of Normal | 40.15% |
| Maximum |
89,540.0 cfs
2015-10-05 |
| Seasonal Avg | 10,319 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saluda River Near Greenville
USGS 02162500 |
251 cfs | 2.82 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Saluda River Near Williamston
USGS 02163001 |
358 cfs | 3.86 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Saluda River Near Ware Shoals
USGS 02163500 |
432 cfs | 3.03 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Saluda River At Chappells
USGS 02167000 |
1410 cfs | 4.14 ft | 120.31 | |||||
|
Saluda River Near Columbia
USGS 02169000 |
907 cfs | 2.49 ft | -1.41 | |||||
|
Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia
USGS 02168504 |
785 cfs | 3.98 ft | -2.61 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi (320 km) long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree River, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.