Fire Weather Watch
2026-04-16T21:00:00-06:00

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 214, 216, 241, 245, 246, 247 and 249. * TIMING...From Thursday morning through Thursday evening. * WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.

Schuylkill River

Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Total streamflow across the Schuylkill River was last observed at 4,964 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 9,846 acre-ft of water today; about 30% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 16,788 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2014-05-01 when daily discharge volume was observed at 203,020 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Schuylkill River At Norristown reporting a streamflow rate of 1,300 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Schuylkill River, with a gauge stage of 8.15 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Schuylkill River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 472 ft, the Schuylkill River At Landingville.

The Schuylkill River is a 135-mile-long river that runs through eastern Pennsylvania.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-04-14
Discharge Volume 9,846 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 4,964.0 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -62.0 cfs (-1.23%)
Percent of Normal 29.57%
Maximum 203,020.0 cfs
2014-05-01
Seasonal Avg 16,788 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Schuylkill River At Landingville
USGS 01468500
212 cfs 3.41 ft 8.77
Schuylkill River At Berne
USGS 01470500
439 cfs 5.33 ft 3.3
Schuylkill River At Reading
USGS 01471510
895 cfs 3.59 ft 1.23
Schuylkill River At Pottstown
USGS 01472000
1030 cfs 2.17 ft -1.82
Schuylkill River At Norristown
USGS 01473500
1300 cfs 8.15 ft -2.26
Schuylkill River At Philadelphia
USGS 01474500
1070 cfs 6.07 ft -5.31
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Schuylkill River ( SKOOL-kil, locally SKOO-kəl) is an important river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania, which was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal. Several of its tributaries drain major parts of the center-southern and easternmost Coal Regions in the state.Originating from waters in the Anthracite Coal Region, millions of tons of coal enabling the iron and steel based industries of America's largest city of the day used the waterway to supply some of the growing American energy needs. It flows for 135 miles (217 km) to Philadelphia, where it joins the Delaware River as one of its largest tributaries.
In 1682 William Penn chose the left bank of the confluence upon which he founded the planned city of Philadelphia on lands purchased from the native Delaware nation. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River, and its whole length was once part of the Delaware people's southern territories.
The river's watershed of about 2,000 sq mi (5,180 km2) lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania, the upper portions in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachian Mountains where the folding of the mountain ridges metamorphically modified bituminous into widespread anthracite deposits located north of the Blue Mountain barrier ridge.
The source of its eastern branch is in lands now heavily mined situated one ridgeline south of Tuscarora Lake along a drainage divide from the Little Schuylkill about a mile east of the village of Tuscarora and about a mile west of Tamaqua, at Tuscarora Springs in Schuylkill County.Tuscarora Lake is one source of the Little Schuylkill River tributary.
The West Branch starts near Minersville and joins the eastern branch at the town of Schuylkill Haven. It then combines with the Little Schuylkill River downstream in the town of Port Clinton. The Tulpehocken Creek joins it at the western edge of Reading. Wissahickon Creek joins it in northwest Philadelphia. Other major tributaries include: Maiden Creek, Manatawny Creek, French Creek, and Perkiomen Creek.
The Schuylkill joins the Delaware at the site of the former Philadelphia Navy Yard, now the Philadelphia Naval Business Center, just northeast of Philadelphia International Airport.