River stage
Catawba River
- River level
- Normal
- Status
- Below flood stage
Latest readings 2026-10-13 | NWS · USGS
- Gauges reporting
- 14 of 14
- Above flood stage
- 0
- Above action stage
- 0
- Overall
- Below flood stage
- Publisher
- NWS · USGS
In brief
On Oct 13, 2026, 14 of 14 gauges on the Catawba River reported, and none was above flood stage.
Source: National Weather Service and USGS gauges
Catawba River levels, gauge by gauge
The Catawba River is measured at 14 gauges across North Carolina, South Carolina. Flood stages are set per gauge, so the same river is "high" at one town and normal at the next.
| Location | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater Dam | 100.30 ft | below flood stage |
| Cowans Ford Dam | 99.44 ft | below flood stage |
| Lookout Shoals Dam | 100.97 ft | below flood stage |
| Mountain Island Dam | 96.57 ft | below flood stage |
| N Main St (US 221 Business) 2 NW Marion | 13.39 ft | below flood stage |
| Oxford Dam | 98.42 ft | below flood stage |
| Pleasant Gardens | 2.61 ft | normal, rising |
| Rhodhiss Dam | 100.16 ft | below flood stage |
| Rock Hill | 7.24 ft | normal, rising |
| Catawba | 10.46 ft | normal, rising |
| Cedar Creek-Rocky Creek Dam | 98.26 ft | below flood stage |
| Fishing Creek Dam | 97.10 ft | below flood stage |
| Great Falls-Dearborn Dam | 99.41 ft | below flood stage |
| Lake Wylie | 97.59 ft | normal, steady |
Recent levels on the Catawba River
The gauge with the fullest recent record on this river is Pleasant Gardens, NC, with 122 days of readings.
Other rivers nearby
- Fishing Creek (SC) 1 gauge
- Sugar Creek (NC) 2 gauges
- Wildcat Creek (SC) 1 gauge
- Broad River (NC, SC) 4 gauges
- Yadkin River 8 gauges
- Elk Creek (NC) 1 gauge
- Mill Creek (NC) 1 gauge
- Green River (NC) 1 gauge
Frequently asked questions
Is the Catawba River flooding right now?
No. Every one of the 14 reporting gauges on the Catawba River is below flood stage as of 2026-10-13.
How high is the Catawba River?
The river is measured at several points and each reads a different height. Pleasant Gardens is at 2.61 ft; Rock Hill is at 7.24 ft; Catawba is at 10.46 ft; Lake Wylie is at 97.59 ft.
Where is the Catawba River measured?
The National Weather Service and USGS operate 14 gauges on the Catawba River across North Carolina, South Carolina.
What does flood stage mean?
Flood stage is the height at which a river begins to cause problems at that specific location. It is set per gauge, so the same river can be above flood stage in one town and normal a few miles downstream. Action stage is the lower level at which forecasters start watching closely.
River stages and flood categories from the NOAA National Weather Service; daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.