Lackawanna River Flow Today
As of October 9, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Lackawanna River is flowing at 123 cfs at Old Forge, PA — 73% of normal for the date and up 21% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 31 to 123 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Lackawanna River map
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Lackawanna River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Old Forge, the Lackawanna River is running 123 cfs — 73% of normal, up 21% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 75% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Old Forge (+21%) and Scranton (+19%); dropping at Forest City (-38%) and Archbald (-29%).
How the Lackawanna River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Forest City1,553 ft 31 cfs79%
- Archbald895 ft 72 cfs72%
- Scranton709 ft 86 cfs77%
- Old Forge597 ft 123 cfs73%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Lackawanna River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (75%).
Lackawanna River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lackawanna River Near Forest City PA
Oct 9, 3:00 AM · USGS 01534300 |
31 cfs | 79% | -38% | 1.90 ft | · | 1,553 ft |
|
Lackawanna River At Archbald PA
Oct 9, 3:00 AM · USGS 01534500 |
72 cfs | 72% | -29% | 2.44 ft | 5.6 ft below | 895 ft |
|
Lackawanna River Below Leggetts Creek At Scranton PA
Oct 9, 3:45 AM · USGS 01534860 |
86 cfs | 77% | +19% | 1.21 ft | 6.3 ft below | 709 ft |
|
Lackawanna River At Old Forge PA
Oct 9, 2:45 AM · USGS 01536000 |
123 cfs | 73% | +21% | 2.35 ft | 8.7 ft below | 597 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Lackawanna River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Lackawanna River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Lackawanna River
The Lackawanna River is a 40-mile-long river in northeastern Pennsylvania that flows through Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. The river has a rich history, serving as the main transportation route for the coal industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Lackawanna River watershed covers 310 square miles and includes several small streams and tributaries. The river is dammed at several points, with the most significant reservoirs being the Stillwater Reservoir and the Chapman Lake Reservoir. These dams provide drinking water to the surrounding communities. In recent years, there have been efforts to restore the river's ecological health and promote recreational activities such as kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching. The river also supports agricultural operations, with several farms located along its banks.
Fishing near the Lackawanna River
About the Lackawanna River
How is the Lackawanna River flowing right now?
As of October 9, 2026, the Lackawanna River is flowing at 123 cfs at Old Forge, PA, about 73% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 31 to 123 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Lackawanna River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Lackawanna River is at 75% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Lackawanna River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Archbald (8.0 ft), Scranton (7.5 ft), Old Forge (11.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.