Historic Flooding - March 1, 1902

A Glimpse at the Past

The most severe flood of the tidal Schuylkill River on record crested on March 1, 1902. It was an extreme example of a freshet, a type of flooding caused by a heavy rainstorm that melts snow upriver.

A typical high tide mark, or crest, on the Schuylkill is 6 to 6.5 feet. Flooding occurs when storms, strong winds, and/or other weather conditions cause the crest to rise to least 11 feet. At 14.8 feet, this record-breaking crest flooded the railroad tracks and buildings along the river.

The photos here show flood waters in and around the B&O Train Station that was located at 24th and Chestnut Streets.

Record floods on the tidal Schuylkill:

• 10/4/1869      17 ft (this crest data is considered unreliable)
• 3/1/1902        14.8 ft
• 8/24/1933      14.7 ft
• 7/9/1935        14.1 ft
• 5/24/1942      12.4 ft
• 8/9/1942        13.1 ft
• 6/23/1972      14.7 ft
• 6/2/1946        14.6 ft
• 11/25/1950    14.3 ft
• 11/22/1952    12.4 ft
• 8/19/1955      14.3 ft
• 9/13/1971      13.3 ft
• 1/28/1976      12.1 ft
• 1/26/1978      12.3 ft
• 1/25/1979      13.0 ft
• 7/7/1984        12.3 ft
• 12/5/1993      12.4 ft
• 1/19/1996      13.4 ft
• 9/17/1999      14.1 ft
• 10/9/2005      12.1 ft
• 6/28/2006      12.5 ft
• 10/1/2010      13.1 ft
• 8/28/2011      13.6 ft
• 9/8/2011        12.5 ft
• 5/1/2014        13.9 ft

Sources: 

• https://www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2011/10/schuykill-river-floods-march-1902/
• https://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Detail.aspx?assetId=5688
• https://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Detail.aspx?assetId=5690
• https://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Detail.aspx?assetId=5686
• https://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Detail.aspx?assetId=5687
• https://www.weather.gov/media/marfc/FloodClimo/SEPA/Philadelphia.pdf
• Report of the Water Supply Commission of PA
• https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions.html?id=8545120&legacy=1