Rivers in Pennsylvania
French Creek at Meadville
Below flood stage
2.98ftStage
Observed Thu, Sep 24, 5:15 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 14.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 3.00 ftThu, Sep 24, 8:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 17.60 ft1959
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 17.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 16.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 14.00 ft |
| Action | 11.00 ft |
- 22.00 ftFlood waters will begin to affect the Seco Warwick Company.
- 18.00 ftFEMA 0.2 percent flood level. Major property losses in Meadville.
- 17.50 ftExtensive flooding will occur throughout western and southern Meadville. Water may begin impacting shopping areas along U.S. Routes 6, 19, and 322. Arch Street flooded.
- 17.00 ftMajor flooding occurs in the City of Meadville. Many roads on the south and west side of town near U.S. 322 and Park Avenue are flooded. The entire Fifth Ward area between French Creek and Dunham Road is flooded. Many industries downstream of Meadville along French Creek are severely impacted. Floodwaters will likely close the Mead Avenue bridge.
- 16.50 ftWater is several feet deep in Fifth Ward, Asbury East and West Mobile Home Park.
- 16.00 ftFEMA 1 percent flood level. Significant flooding in western Meadville. Lincoln and Columbia Avenues between Rogers Ferry and Race Streets inundated. Mead Avenue and Bicentennial Park are flooded. French Creek Parkway and U.S. 322 are severely impacted on the south side of town.
- 15.00 ftFloodwaters reach Columbia Avenue, Race Street, and Rogers Ferry Road. Residents of Asbury East and West Mobile Home Parks are impacted. Bicentennial Park near Mead Street is flooded. Water may impact traffic at the U.S. 322 bypass near Park Avenue.
- 14.00 ftFlooding begins along Cussewago Creek near Race Street. Floodwater begins to affect residents in west Asbury Manor Moblie Home Park and Ellsworth Park near Cussewago Creek.
- 13.00 ftFlooding begins downstream of Meadville at Wilson Chute as well as Race St. Backwater flooding along Cussewago Creek could affect the Asbury Manor West Mobile Home Park.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.
Crest history
45 crests on NOAA’s list since 1947.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 1, 1959 | 17.60 ft |
| 2 | April 1, 1947 | 17.05 ft |
| 3 | January 12, 2018 | 16.90 ft |
| 4 | September 10, 2004 | 16.35 ft |
| 5 | January 20, 1996 | 15.52 ft |
| 6 | March 16, 2007 | 15.15 ft |
| 7 | December 31, 1990 | 15.10 ft |
| 8 | January 9, 1998 | 15.04 ft |
| 9 | February 7, 2008 | 15.02 ft |
| 10 | January 14, 2017 | 14.87 ft |
| 11 | February 19, 2022 | 14.83 ft |
| 12 | February 13, 2009 | 14.29 ft |
| 13 | March 7, 2011 | 14.17 ft |
| 14 | December 23, 2013 | 14.16 ft |
| 15 | January 14, 2005 | 13.73 ft |
| 16 | January 25, 1992 | 13.72 ft |
| 17 | January 5, 1990 | 13.55 ft |
| 18 | March 14, 2010 | 13.47 ft |
| 19 | January 1, 1993 | 13.30 ft |
| 20 | May 14, 2002 | 13.27 ft |
| 21 | February 17, 1990 | 13.06 ft |
| 22 | February 17, 1993 | 13.06 ft |
| 23 | March 24, 1994 | 13.01 ft |
| 24 | March 25, 1994 | 12.98 ft |
| 25 | January 25, 1999 | 12.79 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 14, 2024: 12.40 ft
- January 21, 2023: 11.43 ft
- February 19, 2022: 14.83 ft
- July 18, 2021: 11.80 ft
- March 29, 2020: 11.30 ft
- February 8, 2019: 12.34 ft
- January 12, 2018: 16.90 ft
- January 14, 2017: 14.87 ft
- December 28, 2016: 11.78 ft
- March 17, 2015: 12.67 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio 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.