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Over 200 USGS real-time streamgages used to support NWS river forecasts and warnings are at risk of being discontinued. Click here for more information from the USGS...


NOTE: Gauge readings may be delayed or temporarily unavailable due to satellite communication issues.
Weather Forecast Office Greenville-Spartanburg, SC Southeast River Forecast Center
Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Weekly Chance of
Exceeding Levels		 Chance of Exceeding Levels
During Entire Period
South Fork Catawba River at Lowell Stage (ft)Flow (kcfs)Observed: 3.25 ft at 12:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.25 ft at 12:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.25 ft at 12:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.26 ft at 1:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.26 ft at 1:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.27 ft at 1:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.27 ft at 1:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.28 ft at 2:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.29 ft at 2:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.29 ft at 2:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.3 ft at 2:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.31 ft at 3:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.32 ft at 3:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.34 ft at 3:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.36 ft at 3:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.39 ft at 4:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.42 ft at 4:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.44 ft at 4:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.47 ft at 4:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.49 ft at 5:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.51 ft at 5:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.52 ft at 5:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.54 ft at 5:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.55 ft at 6:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.55 ft at 6:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.56 ft at 6:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.56 ft at 6:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 7:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 7:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 7:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 7:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 8:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.58 ft at 8:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.58 ft at 8:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.59 ft at 8:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.6 ft at 9:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.6 ft at 9:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.58 ft at 9:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.61 ft at 9:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.64 ft at 10:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.66 ft at 10:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 10:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 10:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 11:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 11:15PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 11:30PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 11:45PM May 23, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 12:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 12:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 12:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 12:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 1:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 1:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 1:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 1:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.69 ft at 2:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.69 ft at 2:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.7 ft at 2:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.71 ft at 2:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.71 ft at 3:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.71 ft at 3:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.72 ft at 3:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.73 ft at 3:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.73 ft at 4:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.73 ft at 4:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 5:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 6:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 6:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 6:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 6:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 7:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 7:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 7:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 7:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 8:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 8:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 8:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 8:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 9:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 9:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 9:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 9:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 10:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 10:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 10:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.76 ft at 10:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.77 ft at 11:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 11:15AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 11:30AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 11:45AM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.78 ft at 12:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 12:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 12:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 12:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 1:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 1:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 1:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 1:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 2:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 2:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 2:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 2:45PM May 24, 2013Highest Observation: 3.83 ft at 3:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 3:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 3:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 3:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 4:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 4:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 4:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 4:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 5:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 5:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 5:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 5:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 6:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 6:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.82 ft at 6:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 6:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 7:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 7:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 7:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 7:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.81 ft at 8:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 8:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 8:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 8:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 9:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 9:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.8 ft at 9:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.79 ft at 9:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.78 ft at 10:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.78 ft at 10:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.78 ft at 10:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.78 ft at 10:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.77 ft at 11:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.76 ft at 11:15PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.76 ft at 11:30PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 11:45PM May 24, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 12:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.75 ft at 12:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 12:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 12:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.74 ft at 1:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.73 ft at 1:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.73 ft at 1:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.72 ft at 1:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.71 ft at 2:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.71 ft at 2:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.71 ft at 2:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.7 ft at 2:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.7 ft at 3:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.69 ft at 3:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.69 ft at 3:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.68 ft at 3:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 4:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 4:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.67 ft at 4:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.66 ft at 4:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.65 ft at 5:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.65 ft at 5:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.64 ft at 5:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.64 ft at 5:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.63 ft at 6:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.63 ft at 6:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.62 ft at 6:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.61 ft at 6:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.61 ft at 7:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.61 ft at 7:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.6 ft at 7:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.59 ft at 7:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.59 ft at 8:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.59 ft at 8:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.58 ft at 8:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 8:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 9:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 9:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 9:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 9:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.57 ft at 10:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.56 ft at 10:15AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.55 ft at 10:30AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.56 ft at 10:45AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.55 ft at 11:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 3.55 ft at 11:15AM May 25, 2013Highest Forecast: 3.5 ft 2:00PM May 25, 2013Forecast: 3.4 ft 8:00PM May 25, 2013Forecast: 3.3 ft 2:00AM May 26, 2013Forecast: 3.2 ft 8:00AM May 26, 2013Forecast: 3.2 ft 2:00PM May 26, 2013Forecast: 3.1 ft 8:00PM May 26, 2013Forecast: 3.1 ft 2:00AM May 27, 2013Forecast: 3.1 ft 8:00AM May 27, 2013Forecast: 3.1 ft 2:00PM May 27, 2013Forecast: 3.1 ft 8:00PM May 27, 2013Forecast: 3 ft 2:00AM May 28, 2013Forecast: 3 ft 8:00AM May 28, 2013Forecast: 3 ft 2:00PM May 28, 2013Forecast: 3 ft 8:00PM May 28, 2013Forecast: 3 ft 2:00AM May 29, 2013Forecast: 3 ft 8:00AM May 29, 2013USGS--Water Resources of the United StatesLOWN7(plotting HGIRG) Graph Created (12:14PM May 25, 2013)ObservedForecast (issued 9:18AM May 25)Latest observed value: 3.55 ft at 11:15 AM EDT 25-May-2013. Flood Stage is 10 ft
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About this graph
Tabular Data
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: NAVD88
Metadata
NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

NOTE: Forecasts for the South Fork Catawba River at Lowell are issued routinely year-round.

Return to Area Map
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:15.5
Moderate Flood Stage:13
Flood Stage:10
Action Stage:9

Historical Crests
(1) 21.33 ft on 08/15/1940
(2) 17.38 ft on 08/11/1970
(3) 16.98 ft on 09/19/1945
(4) 15.88 ft on 03/21/2003
(5) 15.72 ft on 03/02/1987
Show More Historical Crests

Low Water Records
(1) 0.60 ft on 08/22/1988
(2) 0.70 ft on 08/15/2002
(3) 0.80 ft on 07/17/1986
(4) 1.18 ft on 08/17/1953
(5) 1.19 ft on 06/18/2008
Show More Low Water Records
Legend
Gauge Location
Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
21.33 RECORD FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED.
17 MODERATE FLOODING IN THE PHARR YARNS MILL AREA AND IN THE CRAMERTON AREA MAINLY SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS WILL BE OBSERVED.
16.5 THE POWER TO THE TOWN OF MCADENVILLE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AND THE CRAMERTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
15.5 SOME FLOODING IN THE CRAMERTON AREA SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN RAILROAD TRACKS WILL BE OBSERVED. FLOODING AT THIS LEVEL WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED ON MARCH 21, 2003.
13 HOMES ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE IN CRAMERTON FLOODED WITH 2 FEET OF WATER. FLOODING AT THIS LEVEL WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 9, 2005.
12.5 MINOR FLOODING IS EXPECTED. FLOODING AT THIS LEVEL WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 26, 2010.
12 WATER WILL APPROACH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING IN CRAMERTON AND THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE DRUG STORE WILL BE FLOODED. ONE HOME ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD. FLOODING WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE FLOODING THAT OCCURRED ON FEBRAURY 6, 2010.
11.5 FLOODING ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH STREETS IN CRAMERTON WILL OCCUR. THE PUMPING STATION AT PHARR YARNS MILL WILL ALSO BEGIN TO FLOOD.
11 WATER WILL START TO FLOOD PARTS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH STREET IN CRAMERTON. WATER WILL ALL SO APPROACH HOMES BETWEEN THE RIVER AND CATAWBA RUN ROAD, NEAR THE GAGE.
10 THE RIVER WILL OVERFLOW ITS BANKS AND BEGIN TO FLOOD THE RIVERSIDE PARK AND PORTIONS OF GOAT ISLAND PARK. WATER APPROACHS RIVERSIDE DRIVE NEAR 5TH AND 6TH STREETS IN CRAMERTON.
9 THE RIVER WILL START TO FLOOD RIVERSIDE PARK IN CRAMERTON.
2 2.O IN BASIN AVERAGE RAIN WILL CAUSE A 4 FT RISE HERE.
1.5 A BROAD AREA OF 1.5 INCH IN 4 HR IN HEADWATERS ( EASTERN HALF OF LINCOLN COUNTY) WILL CAUSE A 2 FT RISE ON RIVER AT LOWN7...
Photos
(1) looking downstream
(2) looking upstream
About This Location Collapse

Latitude: 35.285278° N, Longitude: 81.101111° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 10 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)		 Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)		 Elevation information source
NAVD88 602.28 ft 612.28 ft Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other Not Available Not Available  

Other Data Sources:
Additional Information Collapse
Expermental Ensemble Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) Hydrographs for this site are now available at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/mmefs/serfc/SREF/html/LOWN7.html
Resources Collapse
Hydrologic Resources Additional Resources
Collaborative Agencies Collapse
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
NWS Information
National Weather Service
Greenville-Spartanburg Weather Forecast Office
1549 GSP Drive
Greer, SC 29651
(864) 848-3859
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