Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle
Pennsylvania · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03081500 — Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, PA · NWS forecast point OPLP1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
In its normal runnable range
At 934 CFS, this gauge is running 97% of normal for late July — close to the 966 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 17 years of record (2003–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Ohiopyle
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge OPLP1, issued by WFO PBZ. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 25.0 ft
- 25.0 ft Water reaches railraod tracks along right downsteam bank upstream of Route 381 bridge.
- 30.0 ft Water reaches Youghiogheny River Bike Trail.
- 39.0 ft Flooding begins in the parking lot at the top of Rafter Put-In Trail.
-
Moderate flood 22.0 ft
- 22.0 ft Route 381 flooded in Ohiopyle.
-
Minor flood 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Flooding begins at the waste water treatment plant.
-
Action 10.0 ft · 13,400 CFS
- 10.0 ft The Lower Yough below Ohiopyle is closed to all guided and unguided rafting.
- 14.0 ft Water approaches walkway in Ohiopyle State Park upstream of falls.
- 16.5 ft Water reaches steel girders under Route 381 bridge near left downstream bank.
- Right now 1.87 ft
NWS forecast: 2.10 ft by Aug 1, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Ohiopyle
Daily values from USGS gauge 03081500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Ohiopyle
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 14.75 ft | 30,460 CFS | Mar 14, 2010 |
| 13.86 ft | 26,509 CFS | Feb 16, 2018 |
| 13.43 ft | 24,778 CFS | Mar 4, 2015 |
| 13.30 ft | 82,100 CFS | Mar 18, 1936 |
| 13.00 ft | 81,000 CFS | Mar 29, 1924 |
| 11.36 ft | 17,519 CFS | May 19, 2011 |
| 11.26 ft | 17,191 CFS | Feb 8, 2019 |
| 11.11 ft | 16,738 CFS | Mar 15, 2015 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle
This gauge measures Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Lower Yough; busiest commercial whitewater run in the East.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 966 CFS for late July, from 17 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.
Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle — common questions
What is the current flow on Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle?
As of the last reading on this page, Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle was running 934 CFS at a gage height of 1.87 ft, or 97% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03081500, 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 966 CFS, calculated from 17 years of record (2003–2026). 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 03081500, 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 OPLP1.