Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Tioughnioga River at Cortland

Highest listed crest 14.07 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft125 crests since 1939

The Tioughnioga River at Cortland crested at major flood stage 12 times among the 125 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1939 to 2026. The highest, 14.07 ft on April 3, 2005, was major flooding, 6.07 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
14.07 ft
April 3, 2005; 14,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 12.5 ft
Crests at major
12
7th of 160 gauges in New York
Most recent flood crest
April 1, 2026
10.44 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Cortland County
Near Cortland (1.0 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Tioughnioga River at Cortland
Action stage7.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.067May 8, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.046Apr 1, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage12.512Apr 3, 2005Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

125 crests from 1939 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Tioughnioga River at Cortland, 1939 to 2026 810121416ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 12.5 ft Feb 21, 1939: 10.45 ft, moderate flooding; 4,290 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1940: 10.97 ft, moderate flooding; 5,210 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1940: 11.58 ft, moderate flooding; 6,120 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1940: 13.33 ft, major flooding; 9,660 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1941: 12.49 ft, moderate flooding; 7,880 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1942: 10.88 ft, moderate flooding; 5,330 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1942: 11.32 ft, moderate flooding; 5,950 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1942: 13.56 ft, major flooding; 9,920 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1943: 12.73 ft, major flooding; 8,410 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1944: 11.22 ft, moderate flooding; 5,960 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1945: 12.28 ft, moderate flooding; 7,100 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1945: 9.01 ft, minor flooding; 6,660 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1946: 10.62 ft, moderate flooding; 4,760 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1947: 10.97 ft, moderate flooding; 5,200 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1947: 12.16 ft, moderate flooding; 6,900 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1947: 11.11 ft, moderate flooding; 5,380 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1948: 12.73 ft, major flooding; 7,910 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 1949: 9.08 ft, minor flooding; 3,070 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1950: 11.79 ft, moderate flooding; 6,320 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1950: 13.82 ft, major flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1951: 11.97 ft, moderate flooding; 6,600 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1952: 9.33 ft, minor flooding; 3,320 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1953: 9.40 ft, minor flooding; 3,390 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 1954: 9.43 ft, minor flooding; 3,420 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1955: 10.93 ft, moderate flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1955: 12.77 ft, major flooding; 7,670 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1956: 11.16 ft, moderate flooding; 5,420 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1956: 13.54 ft, major flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1957: 11.03 ft, moderate flooding; 5,240 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1958: 11.66 ft, moderate flooding; 6,170 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1959: 11.71 ft, moderate flooding; 6,250 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1959: 12.19 ft, moderate flooding; 7,050 cubic feet per secondFeb 11, 1960: 11.37 ft, moderate flooding; 5,720 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 13.52 ft, major flooding; 9,980 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1961: 13.00 ft, major flooding; 8,770 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1962: 9.66 ft, minor flooding; 3,789 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1963: 10.34 ft, moderate flooding; 5,640 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1964: 12.49 ft, moderate flooding; 13,000 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1968: 8.62 ft, minor flooding; 4,900 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1969: 8.42 ft, minor flooding; 4,660 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1970: 8.61 ft, minor flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1970: 8.95 ft, minor flooding; 5,340 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1971: 9.33 ft, minor flooding; 5,820 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1972: 8.19 ft, minor flooding; 4,480 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1972: 8.26 ft, minor flooding; 4,560 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1972: 10.47 ft, moderate flooding; 7,730 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 1972: 8.69 ft, minor flooding; 5,030 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1974: 11.11 ft, moderate flooding; 9,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1975: 9.94 ft, minor flooding; 6,750 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1975: 8.88 ft, minor flooding; 5,260 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1976: 8.58 ft, minor flooding; 4,910 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1976: 9.30 ft, minor flooding; 5,660 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 1976: 9.16 ft, minor flooding; 5,440 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1977: 12.12 ft, moderate flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1977: 8.58 ft, minor flooding; 4,590 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1977: 9.53 ft, minor flooding; 6,030 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 1977: 9.66 ft, minor flooding; 6,250 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1978: 9.14 ft, minor flooding; 5,410 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 1979: 8.76 ft, minor flooding; 4,860 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1979: 12.42 ft, moderate flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1980: 10.45 ft, moderate flooding; 7,730 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1981: 9.45 ft, minor flooding; 5,920 cubic feet per secondOct 28, 1981: 12.50 ft, major flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1983: 8.22 ft, minor flooding; 4,170 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 1983: 10.49 ft, moderate flooding; 7,810 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 1984: 11.05 ft, moderate flooding; 8,530 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1984: 9.40 ft, minor flooding; 5,830 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1986: 11.01 ft, moderate flooding; 8,900 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1988: 9.28 ft, minor flooding; 5,640 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 1990: 8.30 ft, minor flooding; 4,270 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1993: 9.86 ft, minor flooding; 6,400 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1993: 12.25 ft, moderate flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1993: 8.90 ft, minor flooding; 5,050 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1994: 10.00 ft, moderate flooding; 6,490 cubic feet per secondJan 20, 1996: 13.02 ft, major flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondNov 9, 1996: 10.13 ft, moderate flooding; 6,670 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 1996: 10.45 ft, moderate floodingJan 8, 1998: 10.34 ft, moderate floodingJan 24, 1999: 9.78 ft, minor floodingFeb 28, 2000: 10.96 ft, moderate flooding; 8,030 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2000: 10.14 ft, moderate flooding; 6,700 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2001: 10.58 ft, moderate flooding; 7,400 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2001: 8.91 ft, minor flooding; 4,930 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2003: 9.33 ft, minor flooding; 5,510 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2003: 8.47 ft, minor flooding; 4,347 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2004: 9.19 ft, minor flooding; 5,310 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 2004: 8.61 ft, minor flooding; 4,530 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 2005: 8.48 ft, minor flooding; 4,359 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2005: 14.07 ft, major flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2006: 10.95 ft, moderate flooding; 7,620 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 2006: 8.31 ft, minor flooding; 7,620 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2007: 9.85 ft, minor flooding; 5,930 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2007: 9.54 ft, minor flooding; 5,810 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2008: 8.54 ft, minor flooding; 4,210 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2008: 8.19 ft, minor flooding; 3,840 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2008: 8.07 ft, minor flooding; 3,720 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2009: 8.95 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2010: 9.01 ft, minor flooding; 4,780 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2010: 11.31 ft, moderate flooding; 8,230 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2011: 10.95 ft, moderate flooding; 7,620 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2011: 8.23 ft, minor flooding; 3,380 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2011: 8.03 ft, minor flooding; 3,680 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2011: 8.48 ft, minor flooding; 4,150 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 2011: 9.88 ft, minor flooding; 5,970 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 2013: 8.36 ft, minor flooding; 4,020 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2013: 9.83 ft, minor flooding; 5,900 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2014: 8.53 ft, minor flooding; 4,202 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2015: 9.09 ft, minor flooding; 4,890 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2015: 9.38 ft, minor flooding; 5,100 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2015: 8.18 ft, minor flooding; 3,630 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2017: 8.22 ft, minor flooding; 3,874 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2017: 8.20 ft, minor flooding; 3,853 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2017: 8.12 ft, minor flooding; 3,772 cubic feet per secondJul 15, 2017: 8.15 ft, minor flooding; 3,803 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2018: 8.64 ft, minor flooding; 4,323 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 2019: 9.75 ft, minor flooding; 5,783 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 2020: 11.57 ft, moderate flooding; 8,682 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 2021: 10.31 ft, moderate flooding; 6,428 cubic feet per secondOct 27, 2021: 10.84 ft, moderate flooding; 7,444 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2023: 8.52 ft, minor flooding; 4,031 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2023: 9.50 ft, minor flooding; 5,132 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 2024: 8.39 ft, minor flooding; 3,903 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2025: 8.97 ft, minor flooding; 4,492 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2025: 9.12 ft, minor flooding; 4,669 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 2026: 10.44 ft, moderate flooding; 6,429 cubic feet per second Highest, 14.07 ft, Apr 3, 2005 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Tioughnioga River at Cortland 1930s: 1 1940s: 17 1950s: 14 1960s: 8 1970s: 20 20 1980s: 9 1990s: 10 2000s: 18 2010s: 19 2020s: 9 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 125 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Tioughnioga River at Cortland
1Apr 3, 200514.07+6.07Major14,200
2Apr 5, 195013.82+5.82Major10,000
3Dec 31, 194213.56+5.56Major9,920
4Apr 5, 195613.54+5.54Major10,000
5Mar 31, 196013.52+5.52Major9,980
6Apr 9, 194013.33+5.33Major9,660
7Jan 20, 199613.02+5.02Major11,800
8Feb 26, 196113.00+5.00Major8,770
9Mar 12, 195512.77+4.77Major7,670
10Mar 17, 194312.73+4.73Major8,410
11Mar 20, 194812.73+4.73Major7,910
12Oct 28, 198112.50+4.50Major11,200
13Apr 6, 194112.49+4.49Moderate7,880
14Mar 5, 196412.49+4.49Moderate13,000
15Mar 6, 197912.42+4.42Moderate12,800
16Mar 17, 194512.28+4.28Moderate7,100
17Apr 11, 199312.25+4.25Moderate10,400
18Apr 3, 195912.19+4.19Moderate7,050
19Apr 7, 194712.16+4.16Moderate6,900
20Mar 14, 197712.12+4.12Moderate11,800
21Mar 31, 195111.97+3.97Moderate6,600
22Mar 29, 195011.79+3.79Moderate6,320
23Jan 22, 195911.71+3.71Moderate6,250
24Apr 7, 195811.66+3.66Moderate6,170
25Apr 5, 194011.58+3.58Moderate6,120
26Dec 26, 202011.57+3.57Moderate8,682
27Feb 11, 196011.37+3.37Moderate5,720
28Mar 17, 194211.32+3.32Moderate5,950
29Oct 1, 201011.31+3.31Moderate8,230
30Mar 17, 194411.22+3.22Moderate5,960
31Mar 8, 195611.16+3.16Moderate5,420
32Jun 3, 194711.11+3.11Moderate5,380
33Apr 5, 197411.11+3.11Moderate9,100
34Feb 15, 198411.05+3.05Moderate8,530
35Jan 23, 195711.03+3.03Moderate5,240
36Mar 15, 198611.01+3.01Moderate8,900
37Apr 1, 194010.97+2.97Moderate5,210
38Mar 25, 194710.97+2.97Moderate5,200
39Feb 28, 200010.96+2.96Moderate8,030
40Jun 28, 200610.95+2.95Moderate7,620
41Mar 11, 201110.95+2.95Moderate7,620
42Mar 2, 195510.93+2.93Moderate4,940
43Mar 9, 194210.88+2.88Moderate5,330
44Oct 27, 202110.84+2.84Moderate7,444
45Mar 8, 194610.62+2.62Moderate4,760
46Apr 9, 200110.58+2.58Moderate7,400
47Dec 14, 198310.49+2.49Moderate7,810
48Jun 23, 197210.47+2.47Moderate7,730
49Feb 21, 193910.45+2.45Moderate4,290
50Mar 22, 198010.45+2.45Moderate7,730

The worst floods along the Tioughnioga River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Tioughnioga River that crested above flood stage within a week.

April 5, 1950: 13.82 ft here, major flooding

  • ItaskaNY · Apr 5, 1950 · 9.20 ft · Moderate

December 31, 1942: 13.56 ft here, major flooding

  • ItaskaNY · Dec 30, 1942 · 9.98 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Tioughnioga River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Tioughnioga River
Cortland this gaugeNY8.014.07 ft, Apr 3, 200512
LisleNY9.010.02 ft, Sep 8, 20110
ItaskaNY7.016.61 ft, Jul 8, 193517

Other gauges in Cortland County

Flood gauges in Cortland County
Cincinnatus9.012.50 ft, Jul 8, 19351

Cortland County: every hazard · River floods across the country · New York

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CRTN6, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.