Rivers in New York

Allegheny River at Olean

Cattaraugus County, New YorkNWS OLNN6USGS 03010820Buffalo office

Below flood stage
2.61ftStage

Observed Sun, Sep 20, 1:30 PM EDT

Flood stage
12.00 ft
Forecast crest
4.40 ftTue, Sep 22, 2:00 AM EDT
Record crest
26.20 ft1972

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood23.00 ft
Moderate flood17.00 ft
Minor flood12.00 ft
Action10.00 ft
  1. 25.00 ftExtreme flood, extensive residential flooding begins, especially upstream from Union Street bridge. Some evacuations necessary. Serious flooding upstream through Portville. Dikes overwhelmed.
  2. 23.00 ftMajor flood, protective dikes begin to be topped. Some roadway flooding in residential areas of city begins, especially upstream. Serious flooding in areas unprotected by dikes including portions of Portville.
  3. 17.00 ftModerate flood, water affects Riverview School of Aviation, 1.5 miles upstream of Union Street bridge. Local flooding occurs in areas unprotected by dikes including portions of Portville upstream.
  4. 12.00 ftFlood stage, flooding possible on Union Street in Allegany and East Riverside Drive 1 to 3 miles upstream of Olean. Some farm lands along the river are also impacted.
  5. 10.00 ftAction stage, high flows. No flooding.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding25%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.

Crest history

22 crests on NOAA’s list since 1942.

#DateStage
1June 23, 197226.20 ft
2July 19, 194223.30 ft
3March 8, 195619.50 ft
4May 29, 194619.30 ft
5January 20, 199618.60 ft
6March 23, 194818.50 ft
7November 27, 195018.10 ft
8January 22, 195918.00 ft
9June 22, 198917.84 ft
10April 7, 194717.80 ft
11December 3, 201017.74 ft
12April 2, 199317.00 ft
13February 19, 197616.40 ft
14March 16, 200715.60 ft
15January 10, 199815.50 ft
16February 22, 198115.40 ft
17January 13, 201714.17 ft
18January 14, 201813.91 ft
19March 22, 200313.60 ft
20February 19, 202213.33 ft
21March 11, 200912.34 ft
22April 14, 202412.17 ft

Most recent crests

  • April 14, 2024: 12.17 ft
  • February 19, 2022: 13.33 ft
  • January 14, 2018: 13.91 ft
  • January 13, 2017: 14.17 ft
  • December 3, 2010: 17.74 ft
  • March 11, 2009: 12.34 ft
  • March 16, 2007: 15.60 ft
  • March 22, 2003: 13.60 ft
  • January 10, 1998: 15.50 ft
  • January 20, 1996: 18.60 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. Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.

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.