Rivers in Pennsylvania
Swatara Creek near Hershey
Below flood stage
2.47ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 11:45 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 7.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 2.40 ftWed, Sep 23, 2:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 26.80 ft2011
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 14.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 10.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 7.00 ft |
| Action | 6.00 ft |
- 27.00 ftFEMA 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Level (500-year flood).
- 26.80 ftFlood of record from the flooding in September, 2011. Maximum recordable gage height (stage sensor operational limit). Water levels above this stage will not be reported in real time.
- 20.00 ftFEMA 1% Annual Chance Flood Level (100-year flood).
- 18.00 ftFlood waters begin to reach the Route 39 Bridge (Hershey Road) northwest of Hershey. FEMA 2% Annual Chance Flood Level (50-year flood).
- 16.00 ftNumerous homes adjacent to the creek are affected by high water.
- 14.00 ftNumerous homes adjacent to the creek are affected by high water.
- 12.00 ftHigh water affects several homes upstream of the Route 39 bridge. FEMA 10% Annual Chance Flood Level (10-year flood).
- 10.00 ftA few homes adjacent to the creek upstream of the Route 39 bridge flood.
- 8.00 ftThe right, or north bank overflows. Several roads are affected.
- 7.00 ftThe right, or north bank begins to overflow. Several roadways upstream of the gage are affected by high water.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 26% |
| Moderate flooding | 15% |
| Major flooding | 6% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
56 crests on NOAA’s list since 1975.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8, 2011 | 26.80 ft |
| 2 | July 26, 2018 | 17.08 ft |
| 3 | June 29, 2006 | 16.12 ft |
| 4 | September 27, 1975 | 15.36 ft |
| 5 | January 25, 1979 | 14.43 ft |
| 6 | January 20, 1996 | 14.30 ft |
| 7 | September 19, 2004 | 14.27 ft |
| 8 | September 3, 2021 | 14.01 ft |
| 9 | March 12, 2011 | 10.97 ft |
| 10 | November 29, 1993 | 10.33 ft |
| 11 | January 21, 1996 | 10.24 ft |
| 12 | April 16, 1983 | 9.45 ft |
| 13 | January 27, 1976 | 9.44 ft |
| 14 | August 14, 2018 | 9.24 ft |
| 15 | January 27, 1978 | 9.19 ft |
| 16 | October 10, 1976 | 9.18 ft |
| 17 | January 28, 1996 | 9.11 ft |
| 18 | December 26, 2020 | 8.94 ft |
| 19 | February 26, 1979 | 8.94 ft |
| 20 | November 2, 2019 | 8.52 ft |
| 21 | April 17, 2011 | 8.34 ft |
| 22 | May 17, 1989 | 8.31 ft |
| 23 | March 27, 1978 | 8.21 ft |
| 24 | May 22, 1988 | 8.16 ft |
| 25 | April 3, 2005 | 8.01 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 4, 2024: 7.36 ft
- January 11, 2024: 7.82 ft
- December 19, 2023: 7.98 ft
- September 3, 2021: 14.01 ft
- December 26, 2020: 8.94 ft
- May 1, 2020: 7.24 ft
- November 2, 2019: 8.52 ft
- April 16, 2019: 7.14 ft
- August 14, 2018: 9.24 ft
- July 26, 2018: 17.08 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.