Onondaga Lake at Liverpool water level

Name: Onondaga Lake at Liverpool water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

Lake, Onondaga Lake, New York, United States

Directions

Very low for mid-October

Surface elevation

362.39ft Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 12:30 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

History

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

At 362.39 ft, Onondaga Lake at Liverpool is far below normal for mid-October.

That puts it 0.87 ft below the median of 363.26 ft for mid-October, based on 7 years of readings. It is 3.61 ft below the flood stage of 366.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 363.31 ft (−0.92 ft).

The level is falling, down 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. With the water still dropping, the shoreline keeps moving out. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 362.38 ft and 363.20 ft.

Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.

Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 363.26 ft0.87 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 362.85 ft – 363.91 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year: 363.31 ft−0.92 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 362.38 ft – 363.20 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 362.27 ft – 366.22 ft
Highest on record: 366.01 ftMay 10, 2025

Swimming and boating at Onondaga Lake at Liverpool

Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.

If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.

What happens at each level

370.00 ft: Major flooding begins.
368.00 ft: Moderate flooding begins.
366.00 ft: Minor flood stage. Trails at Onondaga Lake Park are flooded. Marina usage is also impacted. Areas downstream of the lake, in the vicinity of Hayes Road, may be affected by flood waters.
365.00 ft: Action stage. Water begins to spill onto lawns in Onondaga Lake Park.
362.39 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 63° 37° – Wind 9 mph

21 Wed 58° 30° – Wind 4 mph

22 Thu 61° 42° – Wind 9 mph

23 Fri 57° 41° – Wind 6 mph

24 Sat 61° 40° – Wind 7 mph

25 Sun 65° 43° – Wind 10 mph

26 Mon 68° 52° – Wind 11 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:25 AM Sunset 06:16 PM Daylight 10 hr, 51 min First quarter 65%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Onondaga Creek at Spencer Street, SyracuseRiver gauge, Onondaga Creek	54.1 cfs	Low	±0	3.9 mi
Oneida River near EuclidRiver gauge, Oneida River	250 cfs	Very low	−1.0 cfs	7 mi
Oswego River near PhoenixRiver gauge, Oswego River	1,050 cfs	Low	−240.0 cfs	9 mi
Onondaga Creek at Dorwin Avenue, SyracuseRiver gauge, Onondaga Creek	1.50 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	9 mi
Seneca River near BaldwinsvilleRiver gauge, Seneca River	930 cfs	Normal	+176 cfs	9 mi
Seneca River, Mouth of State Ditch, near JordanRiver gauge, Seneca River, Mouth of State Ditch	1.08 ft	Low	±0	12 mi
Onondaga Creek at Flood Ctrl Dam at Onondaga NationReservoir, Onondaga Creek	459.53 ft	Very low	−0.03 ft	12 mi
Skaneateles Creek near Skaneateles JunctionRiver gauge, Skaneateles Creek	19.8 cfs	Normal	±0	14 mi

Questions and answers

How does Onondaga Lake at Liverpool compare with last year?

It is 0.92 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 363.31 ft.

What is a normal level for Onondaga Lake at Liverpool in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 363.26 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 362.85 ft and 363.91 ft, based on 7 years of records.

Is Onondaga Lake at Liverpool really 362.39 ft deep?

No. 362.39 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.

What is the water level of Onondaga Lake at Liverpool today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 12:30 AM EDT, the surface elevation was 362.39 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Onondaga Lake at Liverpool rising or falling?

Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.49 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Onondaga Lake at Liverpool normal?

Very low for mid-October. Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Onondaga Lake at Liverpool?

The highest level on record is 366.01 ft on May 10, 2025.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:04240495 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.10083, -76.21142 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Surface elevation	362.39 ft	2026-10-20 04:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Onondaga Lake at Liverpool (usgs:04240495). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-york/onondaga-lake-at-liverpool

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer