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lakeglance

PennsylvaniaReservoir, 524 acres, Franklin County

Tionesta Lake water level

Tionesta Lake, Pennsylvania
Photo: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0

Current level

1,088.52ft NAVD88

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Well below normal for October

Past 24 hours
-0.06ft
Past 7 days
-1.01ft
Past 30 days
-0.87ft
vs typical October
-1.78ft

Tionesta Lake was at 1,088.52 ft on October 26, falling 1.01 ft over the past week. That is well below normal for October: the typical October level is 1,090.30 ft, so the lake is 1.78 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

1089.01090.0typicalSep 25Oct 10Oct 25

Shaded band shows the lowest and highest October monthly averages on record. Dashed line is the typical October level.

Typical level through the year

Each bar spans the range of monthly averages on record for that month. The line marks the median. The orange dot is where the lake sits now.

109011001110JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Tionesta Lake daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft NAVD88)Change
Oct 25, 20261,088.58-0.18
Oct 24, 20261,088.76-0.19
Oct 23, 20261,088.95-0.18
Oct 22, 20261,089.13-0.16
Oct 21, 20261,089.29-0.14
Oct 20, 20261,089.43-0.10
Oct 19, 20261,089.530.00
Oct 18, 20261,089.53+0.08
Oct 17, 20261,089.450.00
Oct 16, 20261,089.45-0.11
Oct 15, 20261,089.56-0.11
Oct 14, 20261,089.67-0.08
Oct 13, 20261,089.75-0.07
Oct 12, 20261,089.82-0.08

Reading these numbers

Readings are elevations in feet above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88), the current national reference. Older dam documents often quote NGVD29 instead, which can differ by a few feet. See NGVD29 vs NAVD88.

Reservoir levels are managed. Operators lower them ahead of flood season, hold them for summer recreation, and draw them down for dam work. When the lake falls well below its usual level, shallow points and stumps start showing up in places that are normally safe.

High water brings its own problems: floating debris after storms, flooded docks and courtesy piers, and no-wake rules near flooded campgrounds. A quick look at the trend before you hitch up saves a wasted trip.

The gauge is listed by USGS as Tionesta Creek Reservoir at Tionesta Creek Dam, PA. Wind can pile water up at one end of a big lake for a few hours, so short spikes on a windy day are normal.

Tionesta Lake water level questions

What is the water level at Tionesta Lake today?

Tionesta Lake was at 1,088.52 ft on October 26, falling 1.01 ft over the past week. That is well below normal for October: the typical October level is 1,090.30 ft, so the lake is 1.78 ft below its usual mark.

Is Tionesta Lake high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is well below normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 1,089.62 to 1,093.02 ft, with a typical value of 1,090.30 ft.

Is Tionesta Lake rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-1.01 ft), and it is -0.87 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Tionesta Lake water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 03019500 (Tionesta Creek Reservoir at Tionesta Creek Dam, PA). USGS publishes provisional readings every 15 to 60 minutes; they can be revised later after quality checks.

How often is this page updated?

The page itself is rebuilt every day with the latest daily values, and the current reading refreshes straight from the USGS each time you open it.

Nearby lakes

If Tionesta is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.