South CarolinaReservoir, 33,596 acres
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648.33ft
Down 0.65 ft this week
Sailing
CheckingReading the forecast
Kayak and SUP
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Power boating
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Fishing
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Outlook. Monday: NE wind 1 to 6 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 71°F. Tuesday: ENE wind 2 to 5 kt, gusts to 8 kt, high near 73°F.
7-day wind forecastLoads when you scroll here
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Last hour of NOAA MRMS radar, 1 km resolution. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenMapTiles, OpenFreeMap.
648.33ft NAVD88
-0.65 ft in 7 days7.42 ft below the October normal
Reading from Oct 26, 2026. Shaded band: range of October averages on record; dashed line is the typical level.
Lake Hartwell was at 648.33 ft on October 26, falling 0.65 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 655.75 ft, so the lake is 7.42 ft below its usual mark.
Background reading: Lake Hartwell on Wikipedia
Lake Hartwell covers about 33,596 acres in South Carolina and is classed as a reservoir. Its dam was completed in 1955, and the lake is operated by United States Army Corps of Engineers.
We read the level from USGS gauge 02187010, listed as Hartwell Lake near Anderson, SC. Wind and weather come from the National Weather Service grid cell over the lake, so the numbers describe open water rather than the nearest airport.
On a lake this size the wind has miles of open water to work with, so a 15 kt breeze can stack up a steep chop in the main basin while sheltered coves stay flat. Reservoir levels move with releases and inflow, so ramps and beaches can change week to week. The water level page tracks that day by day.
The go or no-go calls above are a starting point, not a guarantee. Read how we score conditions, and always check local rules and posted warnings before you launch.
The National Weather Service forecast for the lake from October 26: Monday: NE wind 1 to 6 kt, gusts to 10 kt, high near 71°F. The panel at the top of this page refreshes the current wind, gusts and direction when you open it and turns them into a call for sailing, paddling, power boating and fishing.
Lake Hartwell was at 648.33 ft on October 26, falling 0.65 ft over the past week. That is below normal for October: the typical October level is 655.75 ft, so the lake is 7.42 ft below its usual mark.
Lake Hartwell covers about 33,596 acres (52 square miles) of surface water.
Lake Hartwell is operated by United States Army Corps of Engineers. Boating rules, closures and ramp hours come from the operator and the state wildlife agency.
The dam that forms Lake Hartwell was completed in 1955.
If Hartwell is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their conditions.