Swatara Creek near Hershey, PA
USGS 01573560 · Pennsylvania · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Swatara Creek near Hershey, PA…
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USGS 01573560 · Pennsylvania · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 8:45 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 10:00 PM EDT to Nov 5, 8:45 PM EST; ranging 218 to 272 ft³/s; latest 233 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 180–805 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM EST | 218 | 1.7 | 180–805 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM EST | 218 | 1.7 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM EST | 218 | 1.7 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM EST | 218 | 1.7 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM EST | 218 | 1.7 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM EST | 218 | 1.7 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 175–610 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 175–610 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 171–810 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM EST | 226 | 1.71 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 170–702 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 170–702 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM EST | 233 | 1.72 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM EST | 242 | 1.73 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM EST | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 179–675 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 169–892 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 169–892 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM EDT | 242 | 1.73 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM EDT | 250 | 1.74 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM EDT | 257 | 1.75 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM EDT | 257 | 1.75 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 PM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 PM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 AM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM EDT | 272 | 1.77 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM EDT | 272 | 1.77 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM EDT | 272 | 1.77 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM EDT | 272 | 1.77 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM EDT | 272 | 1.77 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM EDT | 272 | 1.77 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 AM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 AM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 182–780 |
| Oct 29, 11:45 PM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 187–812 |
| Oct 29, 10:45 PM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 187–812 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM EDT | 265 | 1.76 | 187–812 |
Map of USGS gauge 01573560 and the river around it
Where Swatara Creek near Hershey, PA sits, with 5 other gauges on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission uses are 60°F, 70°F and 72°F.
Normal for Nov 5: 180–805 ft³/s (middle half of 51 years of record). Now: 233 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 233 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 51 years of record (1976–2026): 10th 118, 25th 180, median 409, 75th 805, 90th 1,210 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 76.1 ft³/s, highest 2,880 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+6.9% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Pennsylvania adult trout stocking schedule · Pennsylvania fishing regulations.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 1.72 ft stage, 232 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:45 PM EST (NWS gauge HERP1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST. Highest point: 1.9 ft, 374 ft³/s on Nov 6, 1:00 AM EST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 1.8 ft | 296 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 1.9 ft | 374 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 1.7 ft | 218 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 1.7 ft | 218 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 9:55 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.