Broad River at Alston
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02161000 · South Carolina · drains 4,790 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:45 PM · streamflow
The Broad River at Alston is running 1,340 cfs, 64% of the median flow for October 26 (2,090 cfs, 46 years). Gage height is 3.47 ft, 16.5 ft below flood stage (20.0 ft). Flow is down 5% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (11.5 ft) is 8.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (20.0 ft) is 16.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (25.0 ft) is 21.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 26.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Moderate (25.0 ft) is 21.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 26.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Moderate (25.0 ft) is 21.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 26.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Broad River at Alston fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETWater 70°F, flow 64% of normal, flow steady, light NNE wind — excellent fall fishing day (8/10), best window 7:42 AM–8:42 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp70°Fmeasured Oct 26, 4:00 PM · Broad River Near Jenkinsville, Sc, 1 mi away
- Air temphigh 72°F / low 40°FSunny
- WindLight NNE2–5 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 10
- Flow64% of normalFlow steady (-5% in 24 h)
Official South Carolina fishing info: South Carolina DNR — Fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is an excellent fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
8/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:40 AM · Sunset 6:37 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:05 AM–2:05 AM
- Moon underfoot12:32 PM–2:32 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:42 AM–8:42 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:15 PM–7:15 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 8/10Excellent | Major 12:05 AM–2:05 AM · 12:32 PM–2:32 PM Minor 7:42 AM–8:42 AM · 6:15 PM–7:15 PM Light wind 2–5 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:01 AM–3:01 AM · 1:30 PM–3:30 PM Minor 8:56 AM–9:56 AM · 7:00 PM–8:00 PM Calm wind 1–4 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 2:01 AM–4:01 AM · 2:33 PM–4:33 PM Minor 10:09 AM–11:09 AM · 7:54 PM–8:54 PM Light wind 4–7 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:05 AM–5:05 AM · 3:38 PM–5:38 PM Minor 11:18 AM–12:18 PM · 8:57 PM–9:57 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:10 AM–6:10 AM · 4:41 PM–6:41 PM Minor 12:19 PM–1:19 PM · 10:07 PM–11:07 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:12 AM–7:12 AM · 5:41 PM–7:41 PM Minor 1:10 PM–2:10 PM · 11:18 PM–12:18 AM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:10 AM–7:10 AM · 5:37 PM–7:37 PM Minor 12:51 PM–1:51 PM · 11:29 PM–12:29 AM Light wind 4–5 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 3 |
| Today | 8, rounded | 8/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured by USGS at Broad River Near Jenkinsville, Sc, 1 mi away. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 34.24, -81.32 (moon times from astronomical equations, Broad River at Alston local time).
Weather & wind at Broad River at Alston
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon72° / 40°SunnyWind NE 5 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday75° / 45°SunnyWind NE 3 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday73° / 54°Mostly SunnyWind NE 3 to 7 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 34.243, -81.320 (grid CAE), issued Oct 26, 2:21 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge ALTS1- Action stage11.5 ft+8.0 ft from now
- Minor stage20 ft+16.5 ft from now
- Moderate stage25 ft+21.5 ft from now
- Major stage30 ft+26.5 ft from now
- Record crest29.48 ft2024
October 26 in history
46 years of flow records- Today1,340 cfs
- Same date last year1,210 cfs2025
- Median2,090 cfs
- Normal range1,350 cfs – 2,810 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 198134,300 cfs1991
- Lowest since 1981791 cfs2008
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 1,468 | -3% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 1,510 | -3% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 1,550 | -36% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 2,410 | +1% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 2,390 | +45% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 1,650 | +2% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 1,620 | +1% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 1,600 | -49% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 3,130 | -22% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 4,030 | +45% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Broad River near Jenkinsville1 mi · River221.11 ftstage 221.11 ft
- Parr Shoals Reservoir1 mi · Lake · Parr260.89 ft−0.39 ft vs normal
- Monticello Reservoir4 mi · Lake · Jenkinsville423.87 ft24h −0.29 ft
- Lake Murray14 mi · Lake · Columbia354.96 ft−5.04 ft vs full pool
- Broad River near Columbia19 mi · River1,050 cfs50% of normal
- Congaree River at Columbia23 mi · River3,440 cfs87% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02161000 — Broad River At Alston, Sc
- Location
- 34.2432, -81.3195 · South Carolina
- Drainage area
- 4,790 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1981–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:45 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge ALTS1 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.