Rivers in New York
Tonawanda Creek at Rapids
Below flood stage
1.43ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 5:00 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 12.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 1.40 ftTue, Sep 22, 8:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 16.96 ft1960
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 16.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 14.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 12.00 ft |
| Action | 10.00 ft |
- 16.00 ftMajor flood, considerable residential flooding in most of North Clarence, North Amherst, Royalton, and Newstead. Widespread road closures. Ransom Oaks area in East Amherst is inundated with backwater into Ransom, Mud, Beeman, and other small creeks. Residential flooding and widespread road closures along the creek from North Amherst to the Alabama Swamps. Widespread farmland flooding.
- 14.00 ftModerate flood, some residential flooding with widespread road closures in North Clarence, east into Newstead and Royalton. Water begins to back up into smaller creeks such as Ransom, Black, Beeman, Gott, and Mud Creeks. Flooding in some low lying areas along Tonawanda Creek Road, Rapids Road, and Wolcott Road, with widespread farmland flooding.
- 12.00 ftFlood stage, lowland flooding of farm areas along Tonawanda Creek between Rapids and the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Flooding may impact Fletcher, Burdick, Kelkenberg, and Tonawanda Creek Roads.
- 10.00 ftAction stage, some impact to low lying roads along Royalton and Newstead border, possibly impacting Fletcher, Kelkenberg, and Burdick Roads.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 8% |
| Moderate flooding | 6% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 14, 2026.
Crest history
30 crests on NOAA’s list since 1956.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 1, 1960 | 16.96 ft |
| 2 | February 26, 1985 | 16.38 ft |
| 3 | March 7, 1979 | 15.91 ft |
| 4 | January 25, 1957 | 15.46 ft |
| 5 | January 10, 1998 | 15.33 ft |
| 6 | March 20, 1963 | 15.32 ft |
| 7 | March 10, 1956 | 15.20 ft |
| 8 | December 24, 2013 | 15.13 ft |
| 9 | January 22, 1986 | 15.00 ft |
| 10 | March 17, 1982 | 14.78 ft |
| 11 | December 30, 2008 | 14.73 ft |
| 12 | April 2, 1993 | 14.61 ft |
| 13 | February 16, 1984 | 14.54 ft |
| 14 | February 15, 2009 | 14.38 ft |
| 15 | March 17, 2007 | 14.17 ft |
| 16 | February 21, 1981 | 14.10 ft |
| 17 | February 21, 2022 | 13.93 ft |
| 18 | January 22, 1996 | 13.86 ft |
| 19 | April 5, 2005 | 13.79 ft |
| 20 | March 20, 2003 | 13.74 ft |
| 21 | April 4, 1959 | 13.70 ft |
| 22 | January 2, 1991 | 13.67 ft |
| 23 | April 3, 2026 | 13.63 ft |
| 24 | March 11, 2009 | 13.60 ft |
| 25 | February 12, 1965 | 13.18 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 3, 2026: 13.63 ft
- January 29, 2024: 12.89 ft
- February 26, 2022: 12.32 ft
- February 21, 2022: 13.93 ft
- January 8, 2019: 12.89 ft
- December 24, 2013: 15.13 ft
- March 11, 2009: 13.60 ft
- February 15, 2009: 14.38 ft
- December 30, 2008: 14.73 ft
- March 17, 2007: 14.17 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Northeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Impact statements listed below may not be representative during times of ice jam flooding. 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.