Congaree River at Columbia
River flow & level · USGS gauge 02169500 · South Carolina · drains 7,850 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 4:00 PM · streamflow
The Congaree River at Columbia is running 3,440 cfs, 87% of the median flow for October 26 (3,940 cfs, 87 years). Gage height is 3.45 ft, 15.6 ft below flood stage (19.0 ft). Flow is up 7% 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 (10.0 ft) is 6.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (19.0 ft) is 15.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (24.0 ft) is 20.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 26.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (19.0 ft) is 15.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (24.0 ft) is 20.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 26.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (19.0 ft) is 15.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (24.0 ft) is 20.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (30.0 ft) is 26.6 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Congaree River at Columbia fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETFlow 87% of normal, flow steady, light NE wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:40 AM–8:40 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 73°F / low 42°FSunny
- WindLight NE4–7 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 13
- Flow87% of normalFlow steady (+7% in 24 h)
Official South Carolina fishing info: South Carolina DNR — Fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
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
- Moonset7:40 AM–8:40 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:14 PM–7:14 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:04 AM–2:04 AM · 12:31 PM–2:31 PM Minor 7:40 AM–8:40 AM · 6:14 PM–7:14 PM Light wind 4–7 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 1–5 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 4–8 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:04 AM–5:04 AM · 3:36 PM–5:36 PM Minor 11:16 AM–12:16 PM · 8:57 PM–9:57 PM Light wind 5–7 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 2–6 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 1–7 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:08 AM–7:08 AM · 5:35 PM–7:35 PM Minor 12:50 PM–1:50 PM · 11:28 PM–12:28 AM Light wind 4–6 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)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
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. 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 33.99, -81.05 (moon times from astronomical equations, Congaree River at Columbia local time).
Weather & wind at Congaree River at Columbia
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon73° / 42°SunnyWind NE 6 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday77° / 48°SunnyWind NE 1 to 5 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday76° / 57°Mostly SunnyWind NE 3 to 8 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 33.993, -81.050 (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 COLS1- Action stage10 ft+6.5 ft from now
- Minor stage19 ft+15.6 ft from now
- Moderate stage24 ft+20.6 ft from now
- Major stage30 ft+26.6 ft from now
- Record crest39.8 ft1908
October 26 in history
87 years of flow records- Today3,440 cfs
- Same date last year3,940 cfs2025
- Median3,940 cfs
- Normal range3,010 cfs – 6,570 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 194044,600 cfs1991
- Lowest since 19401,070 cfs1959
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 3,391 | +5% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 3,240 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 3,440 | -17% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 4,150 | +11% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 3,730 | +5% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 3,560 | +2% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 3,500 | +0% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 3,500 | -23% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 4,570 | -11% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 5,140 | +12% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Broad River near Columbia4 mi · River1,050 cfs50% of normal
- Lake Murray11 mi · Lake · Columbia354.96 ft−5.04 ft vs full pool
- Broad River at Alston23 mi · River1,340 cfs64% of normal
- Broad River near Jenkinsville24 mi · River221.11 ftstage 221.11 ft
- Parr Shoals Reservoir25 mi · Lake · Parr260.89 ft−0.39 ft vs normal
- Monticello Reservoir26 mi · Lake · Jenkinsville423.87 ft24h −0.29 ft
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 02169500 — Congaree River At Columbia, Sc
- Location
- 33.9932, -81.0498 · South Carolina
- Drainage area
- 7,850 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1940–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 4:00 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge COLS1 — 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.