Conestoga River at Lancaster
River flow & level · USGS gauge 01576500 · Pennsylvania · drains 324 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:15 PM · streamflow
The Conestoga River at Lancaster is running 242 cfs, 152% of the median flow for October 26 (159 cfs, 97 years). Gage height is 3.59 ft, 7.4 ft below flood stage (11.0 ft). Flow is down 2% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (9.0 ft) is 5.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (11.0 ft) is 7.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (13.0 ft) is 9.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (15.0 ft) is 11.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Conestoga River at Lancaster fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETFlow 152% of normal, flow steady, light WNW wind — good fall fishing day (7/10), best window 7:34 AM–8:34 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 69°F / low 46°FSunny
- WindLight WNW1–8 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 14
- Flow152% of normalFlow steady (-2% in 24 h)
Official Pennsylvania fishing report: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission — Biologist reports
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
7/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:27 AM · Sunset 6:09 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:11 PM–2:11 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:34 AM–8:34 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:40 PM–6:40 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 7/10Good | Major 12:11 PM–2:11 PM Minor 7:34 AM–8:34 AM · 5:40 PM–6:40 PM Light wind 1–8 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:40 AM–2:40 AM · 1:09 PM–3:09 PM Minor 8:52 AM–9:52 AM · 6:20 PM–7:20 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 1:40 AM–3:40 AM · 2:12 PM–4:12 PM Minor 10:09 AM–11:09 AM · 7:12 PM–8:12 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:44 AM–4:44 AM · 3:16 PM–5:16 PM Minor 11:19 AM–12:19 PM · 8:14 PM–9:14 PM Light wind 1–7 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:49 AM–5:49 AM · 4:20 PM–6:20 PM Minor 12:19 PM–1:19 PM · 9:25 PM–10:25 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:51 AM–6:51 AM · 5:20 PM–7:20 PM Minor 1:07 PM–2:07 PM · 10:41 PM–11:41 PM Calm wind 1–4 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:49 AM–6:49 AM · 5:16 PM–7:16 PM Minor 12:45 PM–1:45 PM · 10:55 PM–11:55 PM Light wind 1–6 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 7, rounded | 7/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 40.05, -76.28 (moon times from astronomical equations, Conestoga River at Lancaster local time).
Weather & wind at Conestoga River at Lancaster
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon69° / 46°SunnyWind NW 7 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday65° / 42°SunnyWind N 5 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday67° / 48°Mostly SunnyWind SE 1 to 5 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 40.050, -76.277 (grid CTP), issued Oct 26, 2:21 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge LNCP1- Action stage9 ft+5.4 ft from now
- Minor stage11 ft+7.4 ft from now
- Moderate stage13 ft+9.4 ft from now
- Major stage15 ft+11.4 ft from now
- Record crest27.9 ft1972
October 26 in history
97 years of flow records- Today242 cfs
- Same date last year118 cfs2025
- Median159 cfs
- Normal range100 cfs – 285 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19291,530 cfs1977
- Lowest since 192915.0 cfs1942
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 244 | -2% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 248 | -4% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 257 | -4% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 269 | -5% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 283 | -4% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 296 | -6% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 314 | -5% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 332 | -8% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 360 | -15% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 422 | +5% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Conestoga River at Conestoga9 mi · River399 cfs133% of normal
- Susquehanna River at Marietta13 mi · River12,800 cfs120% of normal
- Struble Lake22 mi · Lake · Honey Brook616.89 ft24h −0.01 ft
- Chambers Lake23 mi · Lake · Wagontown579.76 ft+0.01 ft vs normal
- West Conewago Creek near Manchester23 mi · River109 cfs87% of normal
- Swatara Creek at Middletown26 mi · River2.15 ftstage 2.15 ft
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 01576500 — Conestoga River at Lancaster, PA
- Location
- 40.0501, -76.2772 · Pennsylvania
- Drainage area
- 324 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1929–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:15 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge LNCP1 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.