River stage
Effingham, Lynches River
- River level
- 2.55 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.98 ft
- Recent high
- 4.03 ft
- Recent low
- 1.22 ft
Last reported 2026-10-14 | NWS EFFS1
- 30-day change
- +1.28 ft
- Average
- 1.95 ft
- Readings
- 120
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 21.21 ft
In brief
The Lynches River at Effingham, SC read 2.55 ft on Oct 14, 2026, 8.45 ft below action stage. That is 1.28 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge EFFS1
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.21 ft | 1945-09-22 |
| 2 | 20.00 ft | 1908-08-30 |
| 3 | 19.70 ft | 2015-10-06 |
| 4 | 19.40 ft | 1929-10-07 |
| 5 | 19.40 ft | 1928-09-24 |
| 6 | 19.40 ft | 1928-09-20 |
| 7 | 19.00 ft | 1928-09-11 |
| 8 | 18.87 ft | 1990-10-18 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 14.00 ft
Flooding will affect low lying areas along the river.
- 15.00 ft
Flood waters will affect roads near Effingham and New Hope. North Old Georgetown, Roundtree and Bengause Roads will flood in low lying areas near the river.
- 15.50 ft
Flood waters will affect portions of North Old Georgetown, Roundtree and Bengause Roads near Effingham and New Hope. The roads will be impassable in places.
- 16.00 ft
Flood waters will affect several homes along the river and isolate those residents without boats.
- 16.50 ft
Water will enter some homes along Roundtree Road. Several homes will be isolated along North Old Georgetown, Roundtree, and Bengause Roads near Effingham and New Hope.
- 17.50 ft
Extensive flooding will occur along the river. In addition, flood waters will affect some residential areas up stream near the Sumter County line.
- 18.00 ft
Extensive flooding will occur.
- 21.00 ft
Near record flooding will occur.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lynches River flooding at Effingham?
No. The Lynches River at Effingham is at 2.55 ft, 8.45 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Effingham?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 11 ft, minor flooding 14 ft, moderate flooding 16 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the Lynches River has been at Effingham?
The highest crest on record is 21.21 ft, on 1945-09-22.
Is the Lynches River high or low right now at Effingham?
At 2.55 ft it is higher than 87% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge EFFS1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 02132000). Last reading 2026-10-14. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.