COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina midlands are under a flood watch as a new week brings concerns of flooding following Hurricane Helene.

On Monday morning, the Congaree River was observed at a height of 30.5 feet. The river is predicted to pass 31 feet later in the afternoon. The elevated river levels are being attributed to runoff water from the upstate and mountains of North Carolina.

City officials in the state capital are already expressing their concerns. "It's filling up tremendously," Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said. "We have a lot of people in flood-prone areas."

The last time the Congaree River saw levels this high was the fall of 2015. That event led to historic flooding in the area. Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said that Dominion Energy could release more water in the Saluda River which could ease the stress on Lake Murray.