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SwedenLehigh River at Bethlehem water level
River gauge, Lehigh River, Pennsylvania, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 1,560 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.20 ft by Monday, October 19 at 08:00 PM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 09:33 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Lehigh River at Bethlehem is at 1.98 ft, in the normal range.
It is 14.02 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.12 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.20 ft by Monday, October 19 at 08:00 PM. In the last month it has stayed between 1.98 ft and 2.25 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 25.90 ftMay 23, 1942
- Forecast peak
- 2.20 ftMonday, October 19 at 08:00 PM
Floating and fishing near Lehigh River at Bethlehem
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 16.00 ft, 14.02 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 25.00 ft
- Levees in the Bethleham area are topped. Major flooding begins.
- 16.00 ft
- Wilson Avenue takes on water.
- 15.50 ft
- Sand Island Recreational Area in Bethlehem is flooded.
- 15.00 ft
- The islands in the Allentown area begin to flood.
- 14.00 ft
- Flooding begins upstream in Allentown. Backwater begins to effect the Little Lehigh and Jordan creeks.
- 1.98 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 10 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.90 ft | May 23, 1942 |
| 2 | 24.90 ft | February 28, 1902 |
| 3 | 23.38 ft | August 19, 1955 |
| 4 | 20.02 ft | June 23, 1972 |
| 5 | 19.70 ft | September 18, 2004 |
| 6 | 19.53 ft | September 2, 2021 |
| 7 | 18.70 ft | August 24, 1933 |
| 8 | 18.53 ft | July 10, 1935 |
| 9 | 17.74 ft | June 28, 2006 |
| 10 | 17.17 ft | March 11, 2011 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Lehigh River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh River at StoddartsvilleRiver gauge, Lehigh River | 192 cfs | High | −62.0 cfs | 38 mi |
| Lehigh River at LehightonRiver gauge, Lehigh River | 3.47 ft | Below flood stage | +0.16 ft | 23 mi |
| Lehigh River at WalnutportRiver gauge, Lehigh River | 2.84 ft | Below flood stage | +0.04 ft | 15 mi |
| Lehigh River at GlendonRiver gauge, Lehigh River | 7.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.22 ft | 8 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monocacy Creek at BethlehemRiver gauge, Monocacy Creek | 26.2 cfs | Low | −5.0 cfs | 1.8 mi |
| Little Lehigh Creek at Tenth St. Br. at AllentownRiver gauge, Little Lehigh Creek | 2.47 ft | Below flood stage | +0.06 ft | 5.2 mi |
| Jordan Creek at AllentownRiver gauge, Jordan Creek | 1.88 ft | Below flood stage | −0.20 ft | 5.5 mi |
| Little Lehigh Creek near AllentownRiver gauge, Little Lehigh Creek | 0.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.12 ft | 5.9 mi |
| Cedar Creek at Mouth near AllentownRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | 14.4 cfs | Low | ±0 | 6 mi |
| LE SP15 Schantz Spring near WescosvilleRiver gauge, LE SP15 Schantz Spring | 1.7 cfs | High | −0.6 cfs | 10 mi |
| Delaware River at Riegelsville NJRiver gauge, Delaware River | 3.73 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 10 mi |
| Delaware River at US Route 22 at Phillipsburg NJRiver gauge, Delaware River | 2.21 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 11 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Lehigh River at Bethlehem?
The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 14.02 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Lehigh River at Bethlehem today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 09:30 AM EDT, the water level was 1.98 ft. Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Lehigh River at Bethlehem rising or falling?
Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Lehigh River at Bethlehem normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lehigh River at Bethlehem?
The highest level on record is 25.90 ft on May 23, 1942.
Is Lehigh River at Bethlehem expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.20 ft by Monday, October 19 at 08:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01453000(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.61538, -75.37879(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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 1.98 ft | 2026-10-18 13:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,560 cfs | 2026-10-18 13:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Lehigh River at Bethlehem (usgs:01453000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/pennsylvania/lehigh-river-at-bethlehem
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