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Over 200 USGS real-time streamgages used to support NWS river forecasts and warnings are at risk of being discontinued. Click here for more information from the USGS...
Weather Forecast Office Buffalo, NY Northeast River Forecast Center
Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Weekly Chance of
Exceeding Levels		 Chance of Exceeding Levels
During Entire Period
Tonawanda Creek at Rapids Stage (ft)Flow (kcfs)Highest Observation: 1.81 ft at 6:30AM May 19, 2013Highest Observation: 1.81 ft at 7:00AM May 19, 2013Highest Observation: 1.81 ft at 7:30AM May 19, 2013Highest Observation: 1.81 ft at 8:00AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.8 ft at 8:30AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.8 ft at 9:00AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.8 ft at 9:30AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.8 ft at 10:00AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.8 ft at 10:30AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.8 ft at 11:00AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.79 ft at 11:30AM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.79 ft at 12:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.79 ft at 12:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.79 ft at 1:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.79 ft at 1:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.78 ft at 2:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.78 ft at 2:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.78 ft at 3:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.77 ft at 3:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.77 ft at 4:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.77 ft at 4:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.75 ft at 9:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.75 ft at 10:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 10:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 11:00PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 11:30PM May 19, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 12:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 12:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 1:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 1:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 2:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 2:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 3:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 3:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 4:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.74 ft at 4:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 5:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 5:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 6:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 6:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 7:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 7:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 8:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 8:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 9:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 9:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 10:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 10:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 11:00AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 11:30AM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 12:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 12:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 5:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 5:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 6:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 6:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 7:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 7:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 8:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 8:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 9:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 9:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 10:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 10:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 11:00PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 11:30PM May 20, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 12:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 12:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 1:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 1:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 2:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 2:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 3:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 3:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 4:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.7 ft at 4:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 5:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 5:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 6:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 6:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 7:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 7:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 8:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 8:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 9:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 10:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 10:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 11:00AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 11:30AM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 12:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 12:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 1:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.7 ft at 1:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 2:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 2:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 3:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 3:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 4:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 4:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 5:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 6:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 6:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 7:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 7:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 8:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 8:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 9:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.71 ft at 9:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 10:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 10:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 11:00PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 11:30PM May 21, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 12:00AM May 22, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 12:30AM May 22, 2013Observed: 1.72 ft at 1:00AM May 22, 2013Observed: 1.73 ft at 1:30AM May 22, 2013Forecast: 1.7 ft 8:00AM May 22, 2013Forecast: 1.7 ft 2:00PM May 22, 2013Forecast: 1.7 ft 8:00PM May 22, 2013Highest Forecast: 1.8 ft 2:00AM May 23, 2013Highest Forecast: 1.8 ft 8:00AM May 23, 2013Highest Forecast: 1.8 ft 2:00PM May 23, 2013Highest Forecast: 1.8 ft 8:00PM May 23, 2013Highest Forecast: 1.8 ft 2:00AM May 24, 2013Highest Forecast: 1.8 ft 8:00AM May 24, 2013RAPN6(plotting HGIRZ) Graph Created (6:01AM May 22, 2013)ObservedForecast (issued 11:10AM May 21)Latest observed value: 1.73 ft at 1:30 AM EDT 22-May-2013. Flood Stage is 12 ft
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About this graph
Tabular Data
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: Not Available
Metadata
NOTE: Forecasts for the Tonawanda Creek at Rapids are issued routinely year-round.
Return to Area Map
Upstream Gauge - at Batavia Upstream Gauge
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:16
Moderate Flood Stage:14
Flood Stage:12
Action Stage:10

Historical Crests
(1) 16.96 ft on 04/01/1960
(2) 16.38 ft on 02/26/1985
(3) 15.91 ft on 03/07/1979
(4) 15.46 ft on 01/25/1957
(5) 15.33 ft on 01/10/1998
Show More Historical Crests

Low Water Records
(1) 1.00 ft on 08/03/1999
(2) 1.10 ft on 09/03/1995
(3) 1.40 ft on 06/15/1999
(4) 1.50 ft on 07/15/1998
Legend
Gauge Location
Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
16 MAJOR FLOOD...THERE IS WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN MOST OF NORTH CLARENCE AND NORTH AMHERST, ROYALTON, AND NEWSTEAD ALONG WITH MANY ROAD CLOSURES, INCLUDING MILLERSPORT HIGHWAY AND TONAWANDA CREEK ROAD. RANSOM OAKS AREA IN EAST AMHERST IS INUNDATED WITH BACKWATER INTO RANSOM, MUD, BEEMAN AND OTHER SMALL CREEKS. THERE IS SERIOUS FLOODING UPSTREAM INTO THE ALABAMA SWAMPS.
14 MODERATE FLOOD...THERE ARE MANY ROAD CLOSURES FROM NORTH CLARENCE EAST INTO NEWSTEAD AND ROYALTON INCLUDING TONAWANDA CREEK ROAD, AND RAPIDS ROAD. BACKWATER FLOODING BEGINS INTO NORTH AMHERST ON SMALLER CREEKS SUCH AS RANSOM, BLACK, BEEMAN, AND MUD CREEKS. THERE IS ALSO CONSIDERABLE FARMLAND FLOODING.
12 FLOOD STAGE...THERE IS LOWLAND FLOODING OF FARM AREAS AND SOME ROAD CLOSURES SUCH AS FLETCHER, BURDICK, KIRBY AND TONAWANDA CREEK ROAD.
10 ACTION STAGE...NO REAL FLOODING...BUT WATER RISES ONTO SOME LOW LYING ROADS IN ROYALTON AND NEWSTEAD SUCH AS FLETCHER AND BURDICK.
About This Location Collapse

Latitude: 43.093056° N, Longitude: 78.636389° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 12 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)		 Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)		 Elevation information source
NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other 571.190002441406 ft 583.190002441406 ft  

Other Data Sources:
Additional Information Collapse
Observatsions courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Resources Collapse
Hydrologic Resources Additional Resources
Collaborative Agencies Collapse
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
NWS Information
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Buffalo, NY 14225-1405
(716) 565-0204
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