Broad River near Columbia
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02162035 · South Carolina · drains 5,230 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:45 PM · streamflow
The Broad River at Columbia is running 1,050 cfs, 50% of the median flow for October 26 (2,080 cfs, 13 years). Gage height is 154.04 ft. Flow is up 166% 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 datumReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Broad River near Columbia fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETWater 66°F, flow 50% of normal, flow rising fast (+166%), light NE wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:41 AM–8:41 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp66°Fmeasured Oct 26, 3:45 PM · this gauge
- Air temphigh 73°F / low 40°FSunny
- WindLight NE4–8 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 13
- Flow50% of normalFlow rising fast (+166% in 24 h) — often muddy, unsettled water
Official South Carolina fishing info: South Carolina DNR — Fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:38 AM · Sunset 6:37 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:04 AM–2:04 AM
- Moon underfoot12:31 PM–2:31 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:41 AM–8:41 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:14 PM–7:14 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:04 AM–2:04 AM · 12:31 PM–2:31 PM Minor 7:41 AM–8:41 AM · 6:14 PM–7:14 PM Light wind 4–8 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:59 AM–2:59 AM · 1:29 PM–3:29 PM Minor 8:54 AM–9:54 AM · 6:59 PM–7:59 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 2:00 AM–4:00 AM · 2:32 PM–4:32 PM Minor 10:07 AM–11:07 AM · 7:54 PM–8:54 PM Light wind 5–8 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:04 AM–5:04 AM · 3:37 PM–5:37 PM Minor 11:17 AM–12:17 PM · 8:57 PM–9:57 PM Light wind 5–8 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:09 AM–6:09 AM · 4:40 PM–6:40 PM Minor 12:17 PM–1:17 PM · 10:06 PM–11:06 PM Light wind 4–6 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:11 AM–7:11 AM · 5:40 PM–7:40 PM Minor 1:08 PM–2:08 PM · 11:18 PM–12:18 AM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:09 AM–7:09 AM · 5:36 PM–7:36 PM Minor 12:50 PM–1:50 PM · 11:28 PM–12:28 AM Light wind 5–7 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)
| 1 |
| Today | 6, rounded | 6/10 |
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 at this gauge. 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 34.05, -81.07 (moon times from astronomical equations, Broad River near Columbia local time).
Weather & wind at Broad River near Columbia
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon73° / 40°SunnyWind NE 6 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday77° / 47°SunnyWind NE 1 to 6 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday76° / 56°Mostly SunnyWind NE 5 to 8 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 34.048, -81.073 (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.
October 26 in history
13 years of flow records- Today1,050 cfs
- Same date last year1,070 cfs2025
- Median2,080 cfs
- Normal range1,350 cfs – 2,920 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 201210,800 cfs2018
- Lowest since 2012860 cfs2012
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 1,437 | +53% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 938 | -27% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 1,280 | -35% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 1,960 | +9% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 1,800 | +18% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 1,520 | +6% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 1,440 | +1% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 1,420 | -33% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 2,130 | -22% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 2,720 | +5% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Congaree River at Columbia4 mi · River3,440 cfs87% of normal
- Lake Murray8 mi · Lake · Columbia354.96 ft−5.04 ft vs full pool
- Broad River at Alston19 mi · River1,340 cfs64% of normal
- Broad River near Jenkinsville21 mi · River221.11 ftstage 221.11 ft
- Parr Shoals Reservoir21 mi · Lake · Parr260.89 ft−0.39 ft vs normal
- Monticello Reservoir23 mi · Lake · Jenkinsville423.87 ft24h −0.29 ft
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02162035 — Broad River Near Columbia, Sc
- Location
- 34.0483, -81.0733 · South Carolina
- Drainage area
- 5,230 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 2012–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:45 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
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.