Susquehanna River at Towanda water level

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

River gauge, Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

0.87ft Up 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 07:45 PM EDT (54 min ago)

Flow: 3,170 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 0.80 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 11:00 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The Susquehanna River at Towanda is at 0.87 ft, in the normal range.

It is 15.13 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft.

It has risen 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 0.80 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM. There is still 15.13 ft of room before flood stage. In the last month it has stayed between 0.73 ft and 0.88 ft.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 33.43 ftJune 24, 1972
Forecast peak: 0.90 ftSunday, October 18 at 08:00 PM

Floating and fishing near Susquehanna River at Towanda

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 16.00 ft, 15.13 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

33.43 ft: This is the crest level of Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Severe flooding occurred between River Street and Main Street in Towanda. Several stores, commercial buildings, Borough Hall, the police station and the airport were severely damaged. The James Street bridge collapsed.
30.52 ft: This is the crest level of the 2011 Tropical Storm Lee flood. Flood waters extended into parking lots and residences in the business district along Merrill Parkway. Flooding was along the foundations of the police station and Borough Hall.
30.00 ft: Flood waters cover The Street level in front of the Towanda Borough Hall and the police station.
28.50 ft: Much of the Merrill Parkway floods. Homes and businesses between Main Street and the Parkway are threatened by flood waters.
25.10 ft: Flood waters spill onto Merrill Parkway. The homes in the Flats area of Towanda are inundated. Homes nearest the river from Sheshequin to north Towanda have several feet of water on the first floor.
24.80 ft: This is the flood crest of the January 1996 rain and snow melt flood. Water reaches the railroad tracks on the bank of the river across from Towanda.
22.30 ft: Flood waters reach the first floor level of cottages in Tarrytown.
21.00 ft: Flooding threatens the waste water treatment plant in Towanda.
19.00 ft: Airport Road in Towanda Township is threatened by flooding.
18.00 ft: Flooding of agricultural lands upstream and downstream of towanda increases. Significant basement flooding begins in the Flats area near the airport.
16.00 ft: Minor field flooding begins from overflow of both banks up and downstream of Towanda.
0.87 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	33.43 ft	June 24, 1972
2	30.52 ft	September 8, 2011
3	27.47 ft	September 27, 1975
4	25.08 ft	May 29, 1946
5	25.03 ft	March 19, 1936
6	25.00 ft	March 17, 1865
7	24.84 ft	January 20, 1996
8	24.50 ft	March 2, 1902
9	24.04 ft	March 6, 1979
10	23.84 ft	April 1, 1940

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:23 AM Sunset 06:20 PM Daylight 10 hr, 57 min First quarter 54%

Map

Other gauges on the Susquehanna River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Susquehanna River at BainbridgeRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	2.17 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	61 mi
Susquehanna River at WindsorRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	3.75 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	47 mi
Susquehanna River at ConklinRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	3.32 ft	Below flood stage	+0.05 ft	38 mi
Susquehanna River at BinghamtonRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	2.76 ft	Normal	+0.05 ft	35 mi
Susquehanna River at VestalRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	3.84 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	30 mi
Susquehanna River at OwegoRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	14.22 ft	Below flood stage	+0.03 ft	25 mi
Susquehanna River near WaverlyRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	2.08 ft	Below flood stage	+0.09 ft	15 mi
Susquehanna River at MeshoppenRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	8.35 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	23 mi
Susquehanna River at Wilkes-BarreRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	1.60 ft	Below flood stage	−0.10 ft	46 mi
Susquehanna River at BloomsburgRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	2.12 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	53 mi
Susquehanna River at DanvilleRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	3.62 ft	Below flood stage	−0.11 ft	57 mi
Susquehanna River above Dam at SunburyRiver gauge, Susquehanna River	3.11 ft	Normal	−0.16 ft	66 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Towanda Creek near MonroetonRiver gauge, Towanda Creek	6.61 ft	Below flood stage	−0.12 ft	4.6 mi
Towanda Creek near FranklindaleRiver gauge, Towanda Creek	29.4 cfs	Normal	−6.6 cfs	9 mi
Sugar Creek at West BurlingtonRiver gauge, Sugar Creek	12.5 cfs	Normal	−3.7 cfs	12 mi
Wappasening Creek near Windham CenterRiver gauge, Wappasening Creek	5.63 ft	Below flood stage	−0.12 ft	15 mi
Chemung River at ChemungRiver gauge, Chemung River	2.94 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	19 mi
NB Sugar Creek Tributary near Columbia Cross RoadsRiver gauge, NB Sugar Creek Tributary	1.4 cfs	Normal	−0.1 cfs	21 mi
Choconut Creek near ChoconutRiver gauge, Choconut Creek	4.11 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	26 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Susquehanna River at Towanda?

The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 15.13 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 Susquehanna River at Towanda today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 07:45 PM EDT, the water level was 0.87 ft. Up 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Susquehanna River at Towanda rising or falling?

Up 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Susquehanna River at Towanda normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Susquehanna River at Towanda?

The highest level on record is 33.43 ft on June 24, 1972.

Is Susquehanna River at Towanda expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 0.80 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 02:00 AM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:01531500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.76535, -76.44077 (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	0.87 ft	2026-10-18 23:45	Provisional
Flow	3,170 cfs	2026-10-18 23:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Susquehanna River at Towanda (usgs:01531500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/pennsylvania/susquehanna-river-at-towanda

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