Swatara Creek near Hershey, PA
River level and flood forecast · Dauphin County
Normal4.6 ftas of Mon 2:45 PM
The river is 2.4 ft below flood stage (7 ft).
Forecast to fall to 2.3 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 2 PM.
Flow: 3,740 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 2:51 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 14 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 7 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (September 8, 2011) | 26.8 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 27 ftFEMA 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Level (500-year flood).
- 26.8 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 ftFEMA 1% Annual Chance Flood Level (100-year flood).
- 18 ftFlood waters begin to reach the Route 39 Bridge (Hershey Road) northwest of Hershey. FEMA 2% Annual Chance Flood Level (50-year flood).
- 16 ftNumerous homes adjacent to the creek are affected by high water.
- 14 ftNumerous homes adjacent to the creek are affected by high water.
- 12 ftHigh water affects several homes upstream of the Route 39 bridge. FEMA 10% Annual Chance Flood Level (10-year flood).
- 10 ftA few homes adjacent to the creek upstream of the Route 39 bridge flood.
- 8 ftThe right, or north bank overflows. Several roads are affected.
- 7 ftThe right, or north bank begins to overflow. Several roadways upstream of the gage are affected by high water.
Highest crests on record
- 26.8 ft — September 8, 2011
- 17.08 ft — July 26, 2018
- 16.12 ft — June 29, 2006
- 15.36 ft — September 27, 1975
- 14.43 ft — January 25, 1979
Recent crests: 7.36 ft (April 4, 2024) · 7.82 ft (January 11, 2024) · 7.98 ft (December 19, 2023) · 14.01 ft (September 3, 2021) · 8.94 ft (December 26, 2020)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (HERP1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.