Kayak Love

Pennsylvania · river

Lackawanna River near Forest City

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Lackawanna River near Forest City
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Stillwater Lake from Skyline Drive, Union Dale, PA, April 2025.jpg by Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

6 mph

gusting to 16 mph

Air temp

70°F

7% chance of rain

River flow

15.1 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Friday · 100

  • Today

    94

  • Tue

    93

  • Wed

    93

  • Thu

    93

  • Fri

    100

    Best

  • Sat

    95

  • Sun

    69

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
10p514
11p615
12a614
1a614
2a614
3a511
4a410
5a410
6a410
7a513
8a711
9a610

Is this flow normal for August 18?

Today's 15.1 cfs is 26% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 12 cfs, across 66 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind6 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0
  • GustsGusting to 16 mph — 11 mph over sustained-1

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Pennsylvania