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Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern

Highest listed crest 25.60 ftFlood stage 9.0 ft153 crests since 1889

The Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern crested at major flood stage 11 times among the 153 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1889 to 2025. The highest, 25.60 ft on June 1, 1889, was major flooding, 16.60 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
25.60 ft
June 1, 1889; 88,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
9.0 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
11
11th of 170 gauges in Pennsylvania
Most recent flood crest
July 2, 2025
9.17 ft, minor flooding
Location
Lebanon County
Near Lebanon (9.2 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern
Action stage7.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)9.0118Jul 2, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.024Dec 19, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.011Sep 2, 2021Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

153 crests from 1889 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern, 1889 to 2025 51015202530ft Flood stage 9.0 ftMajor 15.0 ft Jun 1, 1889: 25.60 ft, major flooding; 88,000 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1919: 9.40 ft, minor floodingMar 13, 1920: 11.32 ft, minor floodingMay 5, 1921: 10.11 ft, minor floodingMar 8, 1922: 10.40 ft, minor floodingJan 17, 1924: 12.00 ft, moderate floodingOct 1, 1924: 13.20 ft, moderate floodingFeb 12, 1925: 14.40 ft, moderate floodingNov 13, 1925: 9.40 ft, minor floodingJan 19, 1926: 9.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 26, 1926: 11.10 ft, minor floodingJul 30, 1926: 12.40 ft, moderate floodingNov 26, 1926: 14.60 ft, moderate floodingOct 19, 1927: 9.20 ft, minor floodingFeb 15, 1928: 10.60 ft, minor floodingJun 30, 1928: 11.00 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1929: 10.50 ft, minor floodingOct 3, 1929: 11.20 ft, minor floodingApr 7, 1930: 9.30 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1932: 9.50 ft, minor floodingNov 1, 1932: 9.36 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 1933: 10.42 ft, minor floodingAug 24, 1933: 17.53 ft, major flooding; 25,300 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 1934: 11.54 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 1936: 13.75 ft, moderate floodingApr 6, 1936: 10.47 ft, minor floodingOct 23, 1937: 11.80 ft, minor floodingDec 6, 1938: 10.30 ft, minor floodingMar 15, 1940: 10.42 ft, minor floodingMar 31, 1940: 10.35 ft, minor floodingApr 9, 1940: 9.59 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 1940: 9.22 ft, minor floodingSep 1, 1940: 11.51 ft, minor floodingMay 23, 1942: 12.88 ft, moderate floodingAug 17, 1942: 11.04 ft, minor floodingSep 28, 1942: 9.91 ft, minor floodingDec 30, 1942: 11.07 ft, minor floodingNov 9, 1943: 13.25 ft, moderate floodingJul 19, 1945: 11.35 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 1946: 9.47 ft, minor floodingMay 22, 1947: 11.72 ft, minor floodingJul 8, 1947: 10.57 ft, minor floodingDec 31, 1948: 11.21 ft, minor floodingJan 6, 1949: 10.13 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 1950: 13.34 ft, moderate floodingFeb 7, 1951: 11.16 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 1951: 9.16 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1952: 11.72 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 1952: 10.78 ft, minor floodingSep 1, 1952: 11.39 ft, minor floodingNov 22, 1952: 11.79 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 1953: 9.76 ft, minor floodingAug 19, 1955: 12.35 ft, moderate floodingApr 6, 1957: 10.30 ft, minor floodingDec 21, 1957: 10.47 ft, minor floodingFeb 28, 1958: 9.40 ft, minor floodingJan 22, 1959: 9.67 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 1959: 9.47 ft, minor floodingSep 20, 1960: 10.71 ft, minor floodingFeb 26, 1961: 11.10 ft, minor floodingJan 26, 1964: 10.27 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 1965: 11.56 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1966: 10.06 ft, minor floodingMay 31, 1968: 9.08 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1970: 11.97 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1971: 12.46 ft, moderate floodingJun 23, 1972: 23.72 ft, major flooding; 66,700 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 1973: 9.85 ft, minor floodingDec 21, 1973: 10.98 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 1975: 9.74 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 1975: 17.24 ft, major flooding; 24,700 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1976: 12.57 ft, moderate floodingOct 10, 1976: 12.89 ft, moderate floodingMar 5, 1977: 10.85 ft, minor floodingMar 23, 1977: 9.16 ft, minor floodingJan 26, 1978: 12.47 ft, moderate floodingMar 27, 1978: 11.38 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 1979: 15.77 ft, major floodingFeb 26, 1979: 11.42 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1979: 9.36 ft, minor floodingSep 6, 1979: 10.18 ft, minor floodingMar 22, 1980: 9.55 ft, minor floodingFeb 11, 1981: 12.60 ft, moderate floodingFeb 4, 1982: 9.28 ft, minor floodingApr 16, 1983: 12.82 ft, moderate floodingDec 14, 1983: 11.19 ft, minor floodingFeb 15, 1984: 9.20 ft, minor floodingMay 30, 1984: 10.66 ft, minor floodingFeb 3, 1985: 11.12 ft, minor floodingSep 14, 1987: 12.03 ft, moderate floodingMay 20, 1988: 11.93 ft, minor floodingMay 5, 1989: 9.94 ft, minor floodingMay 17, 1989: 11.96 ft, minor floodingJan 30, 1990: 9.51 ft, minor floodingDec 4, 1990: 9.27 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1992: 10.15 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1993: 9.35 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 1993: 9.57 ft, minor floodingNov 29, 1993: 14.07 ft, moderate floodingDec 5, 1993: 11.09 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1994: 9.80 ft, minor floodingJan 21, 1995: 10.08 ft, minor floodingJan 20, 1996: 15.70 ft, major flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 1996: 12.49 ft, moderate flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1999: 10.70 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 1999: 9.30 ft, minor floodingMar 22, 2000: 11.20 ft, minor floodingJun 26, 2000: 9.70 ft, minor floodingDec 17, 2000: 11.10 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 2003: 10.39 ft, minor floodingJun 21, 2003: 10.30 ft, minor floodingAug 11, 2003: 9.40 ft, minor floodingSep 19, 2004: 17.36 ft, major flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 2004: 10.09 ft, minor floodingNov 28, 2004: 9.56 ft, minor floodingJan 14, 2005: 10.29 ft, minor floodingMar 29, 2005: 11.02 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 2005: 11.90 ft, minor floodingJun 29, 2006: 18.28 ft, major floodingMar 7, 2011: 10.66 ft, minor flooding; 9,530 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2011: 14.32 ft, moderate flooding; 16,339 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2011: 11.78 ft, minor flooding; 11,359 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 9.26 ft, minor flooding; 7,514 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2011: 24.60 ft, major flooding; 78,900 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2011: 11.11 ft, minor flooding; 10,219 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 2011: 10.22 ft, minor flooding; 8,878 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2012: 9.28 ft, minor flooding; 7,515 cubic feet per secondOct 29, 2015: 9.14 ft, minor flooding; 7,348 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2016: 10.85 ft, minor flooding; 9,440 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2017: 11.15 ft, minor flooding; 9,820 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 2018: 10.99 ft, minor flooding; 9,616 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2018: 9.36 ft, minor flooding; 7,608 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2018: 11.50 ft, minor flooding; 10,270 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 2018: 17.15 ft, major flooding; 21,975 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 2018: 13.43 ft, moderate flooding; 13,332 cubic feet per secondAug 31, 2018: 9.98 ft, minor flooding; 8,363 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 2019: 9.13 ft, minor flooding; 6,624 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2019: 9.08 ft, minor flooding; 6,566 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2019: 10.81 ft, minor flooding; 8,742 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2019: 10.05 ft, minor flooding; 7,744 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2019: 9.14 ft, minor flooding; 6,635 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 2019: 12.43 ft, moderate flooding; 10,804 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2020: 10.23 ft, minor flooding; 7,873 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 2020: 12.68 ft, moderate flooding; 11,496 cubic feet per secondSep 2, 2021: 18.01 ft, major flooding; 24,853 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 2021: 10.23 ft, minor flooding; 7,976 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 2022: 9.96 ft, minor flooding; 7,629 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2022: 9.05 ft, minor flooding; 6,531 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2023: 12.01 ft, moderate flooding; 10,427 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 11.77 ft, minor flooding; 10,079 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2024: 10.46 ft, minor flooding; 8,276 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2025: 10.23 ft, minor flooding; 7,843 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2025: 9.17 ft, minor flooding; 6,388 cubic feet per second Highest, 25.60 ft, Jun 1, 1889 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern 1880s: 1 1890s: 0 1900s: 0 1910s: 1 1920s: 16 1930s: 10 1940s: 16 1950s: 14 1960s: 6 1970s: 17 1980s: 12 1990s: 13 2000s: 13 2010s: 23 23 2020s: 11 1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
  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 153 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern
1Jun 1, 188925.60+16.60Major88,000
2Sep 8, 201124.60+15.60Major78,900
3Jun 23, 197223.72+14.72Major66,700
4Jun 29, 200618.28+9.28Major—
5Sep 2, 202118.01+9.01Major24,853
6Aug 24, 193317.53+8.53Major25,300
7Sep 19, 200417.36+8.36Major25,000
8Sep 27, 197517.24+8.24Major24,700
9Jul 25, 201817.15+8.15Major21,975
10Jan 25, 197915.77+6.77Major—
11Jan 20, 199615.70+6.70Major19,900
12Nov 26, 192614.60+5.60Moderate—
13Feb 12, 192514.40+5.40Moderate—
14Mar 11, 201114.32+5.32Moderate16,339
15Nov 29, 199314.07+5.07Moderate—
16Mar 18, 193613.75+4.75Moderate—
17Aug 14, 201813.43+4.43Moderate13,332
18Dec 5, 195013.34+4.34Moderate—
19Nov 9, 194313.25+4.25Moderate—
20Oct 1, 192413.20+4.20Moderate—
21Oct 10, 197612.89+3.89Moderate—
22May 23, 194212.88+3.88Moderate—
23Apr 16, 198312.82+3.82Moderate—
24Dec 26, 202012.68+3.68Moderate11,496
25Feb 11, 198112.60+3.60Moderate—
26Jan 27, 197612.57+3.57Moderate—
27Jan 28, 199612.49+3.49Moderate12,600
28Jan 26, 197812.47+3.47Moderate—
29Feb 14, 197112.46+3.46Moderate—
30Nov 1, 201912.43+3.43Moderate10,804
31Jul 30, 192612.40+3.40Moderate—
32Aug 19, 195512.35+3.35Moderate—
33Sep 14, 198712.03+3.03Moderate—
34Dec 19, 202312.01+3.01Moderate10,427
35Jan 17, 192412.00+3.00Moderate—
36Apr 3, 197011.97+2.97Minor—
37May 17, 198911.96+2.96Minor—
38May 20, 198811.93+2.93Minor—
39Apr 3, 200511.90+2.90Minor—
40Oct 23, 193711.80+2.80Minor—
41Nov 22, 195211.79+2.79Minor—
42Apr 17, 201111.78+2.78Minor11,359
43Jan 10, 202411.77+2.77Minor10,079
44May 22, 194711.72+2.72Minor—
45Mar 12, 195211.72+2.72Minor—
46Feb 8, 196511.56+2.56Minor—
47Dec 2, 193411.54+2.54Minor—
48Sep 1, 194011.51+2.51Minor—
49Jun 29, 201811.50+2.50Minor10,270
50Feb 26, 197911.42+2.42Minor—

The worst floods along the Swatara Creek

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

September 8, 2011: 24.60 ft here, major flooding

  • HersheyPA · Sep 8, 2011 · 26.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • MiddletownPA · Sep 9, 2011 · 23.29 ft · Major · its highest

June 29, 2006: 18.28 ft here, major flooding

  • HersheyPA · Jun 29, 2006 · 16.12 ft · Major

September 2, 2021: 18.01 ft here, major flooding

  • HersheyPA · Sep 3, 2021 · 14.01 ft · Major
  • MiddletownPA · Sep 3, 2021 · 13.46 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Swatara Creek

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

Flood gauges on the Swatara Creek
Harper Tavern this gaugePA9.025.60 ft, Jun 1, 188911
HersheyPA7.026.80 ft, Sep 8, 20118
MiddletownPA11.023.29 ft, Sep 9, 20111

Lebanon County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Pennsylvania

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HTVP1, 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.