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SwedenSwatara Creek at Harper Tavern water level
River gauge, Swatara Creek, Pennsylvania, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 312 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 1.10 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:21 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern, where the gauge shows 1.00 ft.
It is 8.00 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.13 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 1.10 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. The 30-day range is 1.00 ft – 1.83 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 25.60 ftJune 1, 1889
- Forecast peak
- 1.10 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 9.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
- Widespread flooding occurs with many roads, homes and businesses affected.
- 16.00 ft
- Most homes adjacent to the creek are affected to some degree. Numerous evacuations are necessary.
- 14.00 ft
- A number of homes along the creek are affected. Some evacuations are necessary.
- 12.00 ft
- A number of secondary roads are closed, resulting in some evacuations. A few homes are flooded.
- 10.00 ft
- High water isolates several houses.
- 9.00 ft
- Several driveways and other minor roadways are affected. Water begins to enter some basements.
- 1.00 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: 46 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.60 ft | June 1, 1889 |
| 2 | 24.60 ft | September 8, 2011 |
| 3 | 23.72 ft | June 23, 1972 |
| 4 | 18.28 ft | June 29, 2006 |
| 5 | 18.01 ft | September 2, 2021 |
| 6 | 17.53 ft | August 24, 1933 |
| 7 | 17.36 ft | September 19, 2004 |
| 8 | 17.24 ft | September 27, 1975 |
| 9 | 17.15 ft | July 25, 2018 |
| 10 | 15.77 ft | January 25, 1979 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Swatara Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swatara Creek near Pine GroveRiver gauge, Swatara Creek | 108 cfs | Normal | −8.0 cfs | 13 mi |
| Swatara Creek near InwoodRiver gauge, Swatara Creek | 145 cfs | Normal | −14.0 cfs | 5.8 mi |
| Swatara Creek near PalmyraRiver gauge, Swatara Creek | 3.97 ft | No reference yet | −0.15 ft | 6.2 mi |
| Swatara Creek near HersheyRiver gauge, Swatara Creek | 2.01 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 9 mi |
| Swatara Creek at MiddletownRiver gauge, Swatara Creek | 2.57 ft | Below flood stage | −0.19 ft | 17 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quittapahilla Creek near BellegroveRiver gauge, Quittapahilla Creek | 102 cfs | Normal | −3.0 cfs | 4.2 mi |
| Conewago Creek near BellaireRiver gauge, Conewago Creek | 8.5 cfs | Normal | −0.3 cfs | 14 mi |
| Paxton Creek near GlenwoodRiver gauge, Paxton Creek | 8.9 cfs | Normal | −1.9 cfs | 16 mi |
| Conewago Creek near FalmouthRiver gauge, Conewago Creek | 17.8 cfs | Normal | −1.5 cfs | 18 mi |
| Susquehanna River at HarrisburgRiver gauge, Susquehanna River | 3.93 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 19 mi |
| Fishing Creek at GoldsboroRiver gauge, Fishing Creek | 13.1 cfs | High | +0.7 cfs | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern?
The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 8.00 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 Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 03:15 AM EDT, the water level was 1.00 ft. Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern rising or falling?
Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern?
The highest level on record is 25.60 ft on June 1, 1889.
Is Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 1.10 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01573000(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.40251, -76.57715(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 | 1.00 ft | 2026-10-20 07:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 312 cfs | 2026-10-20 07:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern (usgs:01573000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/pennsylvania/swatara-creek-at-harper-tavern
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