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West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport

Highest listed crest 34.75 ftFlood stage 20.0 ft27 crests since 1865

The West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 27 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1865 to 2018. The highest, 34.75 ft on June 23, 1972, was major flooding, 14.75 feet above flood stage. 5 other gauges on the West Branch Susquehanna River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 4 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
34.75 ft
June 23, 1972; 279,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
20.0 ft
Major flooding from 30.0 ft
Crests at major
4
56th of 170 gauges in Pennsylvania
Most recent flood crest
September 11, 2018
21.08 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Lycoming County
Near Williamsport (2.0 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport
Action stage10.03Aug 19, 1994The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)20.04Apr 28, 2011Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage21.016Sep 11, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage30.04Jun 23, 1972Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

27 crests from 1865 to 2018. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport, 1865 to 2018 1520253035ft Flood stage 20.0 ftMajor 30.0 ft Mar 17, 1865: 27.50 ft, moderate floodingMay 21, 1884: 31.00 ft, major floodingJun 1, 1889: 32.40 ft, major flooding; 252,000 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1936: 23.70 ft, moderate floodingMar 18, 1936: 33.57 ft, major flooding; 264,000 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1940: 22.70 ft, moderate floodingDec 31, 1942: 23.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 1946: 29.60 ft, moderate flooding; 223,000 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1950: 28.10 ft, moderate floodingJun 23, 1959: 23.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 1, 1960: 20.92 ft, minor floodingFeb 26, 1961: 21.68 ft, moderate floodingMar 6, 1964: 20.40 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1964: 27.25 ft, moderate floodingJun 23, 1972: 34.75 ft, major flooding; 279,000 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1975: 24.70 ft, moderate floodingMar 6, 1979: 22.73 ft, moderate floodingFeb 15, 1984: 25.60 ft, moderate floodingApr 6, 1984: 19.04 ft, action stageApr 2, 1993: 20.52 ft, minor floodingNov 28, 1993: 18.91 ft, action stageAug 19, 1994: 19.66 ft, action stageJan 20, 1996: 26.71 ft, moderate flooding; 190,700 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2004: 27.82 ft, moderate floodingDec 2, 2010: 23.25 ft, moderate flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2011: 20.27 ft, minor flooding; 119,700 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2018: 21.08 ft, moderate flooding; 121,216 cubic feet per second Highest, 34.75 ft, Jun 23, 1972 1880190019201940196019802000

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport 1860s: 1 1870s: 0 1880s: 2 1890s: 0 1900s: 0 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 2 1940s: 3 1950s: 2 1960s: 4 4 1970s: 3 1980s: 1 1990s: 2 2000s: 1 2010s: 3 1860s1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s
  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

Highest listed crests, West Branch Susquehanna River at Williamsport
1Jun 23, 197234.75+14.75Major279,000
2Mar 18, 193633.57+13.57Major264,000
3Jun 1, 188932.40+12.40Major252,000
4May 21, 188431.00+11.00Major—
5May 28, 194629.60+9.60Moderate223,000
6Nov 26, 195028.10+8.10Moderate—
7Sep 18, 200427.82+7.82Moderate—
8Mar 17, 186527.50+7.50Moderate—
9Mar 11, 196427.25+7.25Moderate—
10Jan 20, 199626.71+6.71Moderate190,700
11Feb 15, 198425.60+5.60Moderate—
12Sep 26, 197524.70+4.70Moderate—
13Mar 12, 193623.70+3.70Moderate—
14Dec 2, 201023.25+3.25Moderate15,500
15Dec 31, 194223.00+3.00Moderate—
16Jun 23, 195923.00+3.00Moderate—
17Mar 6, 197922.73+2.73Moderate—
18Apr 1, 194022.70+2.70Moderate—
19Feb 26, 196121.68+1.68Moderate—
20Sep 11, 201821.08+1.08Moderate121,216
21Apr 1, 196020.92+0.92Minor—
22Apr 2, 199320.52+0.52Minor—
23Mar 6, 196420.40+0.40Minor—
24Apr 28, 201120.27+0.27Minor119,700
25Aug 19, 199419.66−0.34Action—
26Apr 6, 198419.04−0.96Action—
27Nov 28, 199318.91−1.09Action—

The worst floods along the West Branch Susquehanna River

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

June 23, 1972: 34.75 ft here, major flooding

  • Jersey ShorePA · Jun 23, 1972 · 38.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • MuncyPA · Jun 23, 1972 · 37.45 ft · Major · its highest
  • West MiltonPA · Jun 24, 1972 · 34.55 ft · Major · its highest
  • LewisburgPA · Jun 24, 1972 · 34.23 ft · Major · its highest
  • RenovoPA · Jun 23, 1972 · 26.56 ft · Major

March 18, 1936: 33.57 ft here, major flooding

  • Jersey ShorePA · Mar 19, 1936 · 37.90 ft · Major
  • MuncyPA · Mar 18, 1936 · 35.90 ft · Major
  • West MiltonPA · Mar 18, 1936 · 34.07 ft · Major
  • RenovoPA · Mar 18, 1936 · 29.39 ft · Major · its highest

June 1, 1889: 32.40 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the West Branch Susquehanna River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the West Branch Susquehanna River
AllenwoodPA24.026.07 ft, Sep 11, 20180
Jersey ShorePA26.038.20 ft, Jun 23, 19727
LewisburgPA18.034.23 ft, Jun 24, 19722
Lock HavenPA21.028.13 ft, Sep 18, 20042
RenovoPA16.029.39 ft, Mar 18, 19364
West MiltonPA19.034.55 ft, Jun 24, 197212
Williamsport this gaugePA20.034.75 ft, Jun 23, 19724
MuncyPA20.037.45 ft, Jun 23, 19728

Other gauges in Lycoming County

Flood gauges in Lycoming County
Loyalsockville12.019.78 ft, Sep 8, 20115
Muncy Creek15.023.06 ft, Sep 7, 20110
Cedar Run12.016.00 ft, Jun 23, 19721
Jersey Shore26.038.20 ft, Jun 23, 19727
Muncy20.037.45 ft, Jun 23, 19728

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WILP1, 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.