Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa water level

Name: Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa 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, Hillsborough River, Florida, United States

Directions

Very high for late October

Water level

26.92ft Down 0.16 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 05:00 AM EDT (28 min ago)

Flow: 443 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa is well above normal at 26.92 ft.

That puts it 1.29 ft above the median of 25.63 ft for late October, based on 56 years of readings. It is 5.08 ft below the flood stage of 32.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 24.48 ft (+2.44 ft).

It has dropped 0.16 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 25.70 ft and 28.55 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 56 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 25.63 ft1.29 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 24.33 ft – 26.89 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (56 years of records)
Same day last year: 24.48 ft+2.44 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 25.70 ft – 28.55 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 23.30 ft – 28.55 ft
Highest on record: 34.66 ftSeptember 14, 2017

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

What happens at each level

35.00 ft: Portions of Morris Bridge road about 3/4 of a mile south of the bridge begin to flood.
32.00 ft: Flooding begins at a trailer park downstream from Morris Bridge and just upstream from the northern end of the Tampa Bypass canal.
26.92 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: < 5 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	34.66 ft	September 14, 2017
2	34.38 ft	September 8, 2004
3	34.27 ft	December 15, 1997
4	34.15 ft	September 9, 1988
5	33.92 ft	December 29, 1997
6	33.31 ft	April 2, 1987
7	32.75 ft	September 6, 1985
8	32.74 ft	October 1, 1979
9	32.47 ft	August 5, 2015
10	32.45 ft	September 30, 2004

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

21 Wed 80° 58° – Wind 9 mph

22 Thu 77° 57° – Wind 8 mph

23 Fri 81° 61° – Wind 15 mph

24 Sat 83° 64° 0.00 in Wind 18 mph

25 Sun 82° 71° – Wind 21 mph

26 Mon 83° 66° 0.02 in Wind 17 mph

27 Tue 84° 65° – Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:34 AM Sunset 06:55 PM Daylight 11 hr, 21 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Other gauges on the Hillsborough River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Hillsborough River above Crystal Spr near ZephyrhillsRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	53.56 ft	Very high	−0.15 ft	10 mi
Hillsborough River below Crystal Spr near ZephyrhillsRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	51.25 ft	High	−0.32 ft	9 mi
Hillsborough River at State Park near ZephyrhillsRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	2.26 ft	High	−0.23 ft	6.0 mi
Hillsborough River at Fowler Av near Temple TerraceRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	22.25 ft	Normal	−0.10 ft	4.4 mi
Hillsborough River near TampaRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	21.70 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	9 mi
Hillsborough River at Rowlett Park Drain near TampaTidal gauge, Hillsborough River	413 cfs	Normal	−62.0 cfs	9 mi
Hillsborough River at I-275 Bridge at Sulphur SpringsRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	0.89 ft	No reference yet	+0.27 ft	10 mi
Hillsborough River at Platt Street at TampaRiver gauge, Hillsborough River	11.61 ft	No reference yet	−0.06 ft	14 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Trout Creek near Sulphur SpringsRiver gauge, Trout Creek	36.78 ft	High	−0.17 ft	4.0 mi
Trout Creek at Wesley ChapelRiver gauge, Trout Creek	44.93 ft	Normal	−0.17 ft	5.9 mi
Cypress Creek near Sulphur SpringsRiver gauge, Cypress Creek	28.73 ft	Very high	−0.03 ft	6.0 mi
Baker Creek at McIntosh Road near AntiochRiver gauge, Baker Creek	3.10 ft	Normal	−0.05 ft	6 mi
Cypress Creek at County Line Road at Wesley ChapelRiver gauge, Cypress Creek	38.62 ft	Normal	−0.20 ft	7 mi
Trout Creek at Chancey Road at Wesley ChapelRiver gauge, Trout Creek	61.40 ft	Normal	−0.09 ft	8 mi
Cypress Creek at SR 54 at Worthington GardensRiver gauge, Cypress Creek	6.60 ft	High	−0.16 ft	8 mi
East Lake Outfall at E. Chelsea St. near TampaRiver gauge, East Lake Outfall	21.91 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	9 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa compare with last year?

It is 2.44 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 24.48 ft.

What is flood stage for the Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa?

The official flood stage is 32.00 ft. The level is currently 5.08 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa in late October?

The median for late October is 25.63 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 24.33 ft and 26.89 ft, based on 56 years of records.

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 Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 05:00 AM EDT, the water level was 26.92 ft. Down 0.16 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa rising or falling?

Down 0.16 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 1.34 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa normal?

Very high for late October. Compared with 56 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02303330 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 28.09861, -82.31139 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NGVD29
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	26.92 ft	2026-10-21 09:00	Provisional
Flow	443 cfs	2026-10-21 09:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Hillsborough River at Morris Branch near Thonotosassa (usgs:02303330). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/florida/hillsborough-river-at-morris-branch-near-thonotosassa

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