Owasco Lake near Auburn water level
Lake, Owasco Lake, New York, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Surface elevation
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
Nothing unusual at Owasco Lake near Auburn right now: the lake level of 711.64 ft is in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 711.70 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the lake level is 0.06 ft below typical. It is 3.36 ft below the flood stage of 715.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 710.76 ft, a difference of +0.88 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours.
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
- 711.70 ft0.06 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 710.74 ft – 711.97 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 710.76 ft+0.88 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 711.62 ft – 712.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 709.04 ft – 712.76 ft
- Highest on record
- 716.91 ftMarch 26, 1936
Swimming and boating at Owasco Lake near Auburn
At a normal level, ramps and marinas generally run as usual, and fishing tends to follow the season more than the water level.
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
- 716.90 ft
- Major flooding. Represents floods of record reached in 1936, 1940, and 1972.
- 716.00 ft
- Moderate flooding begins. City of Auburn pumping station floor elevation reached.
- 715.00 ft
- Lake level flood stage. Minor flooding begins along the west side of lake in Fleming and along the southeast corner in Indian Cove. Poplar Cove Road is threatened.
- 711.64 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owasco Outlet at Genesee St., AuburnRiver gauge, Owasco Outlet | 0.86 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 2.3 mi |
| Skaneateles Creek near Skaneateles JunctionRiver gauge, Skaneateles Creek | 19.3 cfs | Normal | −0.5 cfs | 8 mi |
| Seneca River at Free Bridge CornersRiver gauge, Seneca River | 427 cfs | Normal | +49.0 cfs | 11 mi |
| Seneca River near Seneca FallsRiver gauge, Seneca River | 267 cfs | Normal | −156.0 cfs | 11 mi |
| Seneca River (Erie Canal) near Port ByronRiver gauge, Seneca River (Erie Canal) | 763 cfs | Low | +61.0 cfs | 13 mi |
| Seneca R (Barge Canal) at Cross Lake near JordanRiver gauge, Seneca R (Barge Canal) | 7.87 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 14 mi |
| Owasco Inlet below Aurora Street at MoraviaRiver gauge, Owasco Inlet | 3.80 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 14 mi |
| Seneca River, Mouth of State Ditch, near JordanRiver gauge, Seneca River, Mouth of State Ditch | 1.07 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 15 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Owasco Lake near Auburn higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.88 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 710.76 ft.
What is a normal level for Owasco Lake near Auburn in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 711.70 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 710.74 ft and 711.97 ft, based on 7 years of records.
Is Owasco Lake near Auburn really 711.64 ft deep?
No. 711.64 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 Owasco Lake near Auburn today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 05:00 AM EDT, the surface elevation was 711.64 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Owasco Lake near Auburn rising or falling?
Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Owasco Lake near Auburn normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Owasco Lake near Auburn?
The highest level on record is 716.91 ft on March 26, 1936.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:04235396(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.90364, -76.53964(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 | 711.64 ft | 2026-10-20 09:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Owasco Lake near Auburn (usgs:04235396). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-york/owasco-lake-near-auburn
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