Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe
Pennsylvania · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 01449000 — Lehigh River at Lehighton, PA · NWS forecast point LHTP1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Up — bigger, pushier water than average
At 707 CFS, this gauge is running 127% of normal for late July — above the 557 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 43 years of record (1983–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Jim Thorpe
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge LHTP1, issued by WFO PHI. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Evacuations occur on River Street.
-
Moderate flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft River Street begins to flood. Trails in Lehigh Gorge State Park are flooded.
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Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Flooding begins in Jim Thorpe.
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Action 9.0 ft · 13,230 CFS
- 9.0 ft Open adjacent land in Lehigh Gorge State Park floods.
- Right now 3.12 ft
NWS forecast: 3.80 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 PM UTC.
12 months of flow at Jim Thorpe
Daily values from USGS gauge 01449000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Jim Thorpe
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 20.80 ft | — | Feb 28, 1902 |
| 20.70 ft | — | May 23, 1942 |
| 20.30 ft | — | Aug 19, 1955 |
| 18.22 ft | 25,500 CFS | Sep 27, 1985 |
| 15.90 ft | — | Jul 10, 1935 |
| 14.11 ft | 27,087 CFS | Sep 2, 2021 |
| 13.51 ft | 25,500 CFS | Jun 28, 2006 |
| 13.10 ft | — | Mar 18, 1936 |
| 12.95 ft | 24,100 CFS | Mar 11, 2011 |
| 12.90 ft | 24,000 CFS | Jun 27, 2006 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe
This gauge measures Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Lehigh Gorge; dam-release rafting plus tubing.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 557 CFS for late July, from 43 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe — common questions
What is the current flow on Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe?
As of the last reading on this page, Lehigh River at Jim Thorpe was running 707 CFS at a gage height of 3.12 ft, or 127% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01449000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 557 CFS, calculated from 43 years of record (1983–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 01449000, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge LHTP1.