Lehigh River at Bethlehem, PA
River level and flood forecast · Lehigh County
Normal3.3 ftas of Mon 2:30 PM
The river is 12.8 ft below flood stage (16 ft).
Forecast to fall to 2.3 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 2 PM.
Flow: 4,220 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 3:01 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 20 ft |
| Flood stage | 16 ft |
| Action stage | 12 ft |
| Record crest (May 23, 1942) | 25.9 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 25 ftLevees in the Bethleham area are topped. Major flooding begins.
- 16 ftWilson Avenue takes on water.
- 15.5 ftSand Island Recreational Area in Bethlehem is flooded.
- 15 ftThe islands in the Allentown area begin to flood.
- 14 ftFlooding begins upstream in Allentown. Backwater begins to effect the Little Lehigh and Jordan creeks.
Highest crests on record
- 25.9 ft — May 23, 1942
- 24.9 ft — February 28, 1902
- 23.38 ft — August 19, 1955
- 20.02 ft — June 23, 1972
- 19.7 ft — September 18, 2004
Recent crests: 19.53 ft (September 2, 2021) · 11.45 ft (September 9, 2011) · 11.91 ft (August 28, 2011) · 17.17 ft (March 11, 2011) · 17.74 ft (June 28, 2006)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (BETP1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.