Androscoggin River at Rumford
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 11.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 13.5 ft; moderate flooding begins at 17.0 ft; major flooding begins at 19.0 ft.
| Action stage | 11.0 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 13.5 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 17.0 ft |
| Major flooding | 19.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 24.0 ft on Mar 20, 1936 (historic crest)
- 23.2 ft on Apr 1, 1987 (historic crest)
- 22.1 ft on Dec 19, 2023 (historic crest)
- 21.2 ft on Apr 15, 1895 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 13.0 ft | Water encroaches on Route 140 between Dixfield and Jay. The river is off the banks in Bethel where agricultural lands, campgrounds, and Davis Skate Park inundated. |
|---|---|
| 13.5 ft | One lane of Route 140 inundated in Jay. Flooding occurs at the ballfield south of Lincoln Avenue in Rumford. |
| 13.7 ft | The ballfield south of Lincoln Avenue or Route 2 in Rumford completely floods. |
| 14.5 ft | Flooding in Bethel occurs along Intervale Road. Low spots flood along the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers in Mexico and Rumford. Route 140 between Jay and Dixfield is flooded in multiple locations. |
| 15.0 ft | Route 26 in Bethel flooded between Cross Street and Intervale Road. Low spots flood along the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers in Mexico and Rumford. |
| 15.5 ft | Water rises to the intersection of Lincoln Avenue (Route 2) and Falmouth Street. |
| 16.0 ft | Water flows across Route 2 at Falmouth Street and into Hosmer Field Athletic Complex, however the flood severity will be dependent on coinciding high flows along the Swift River. |
| 17.0 ft | Moderate Flood Stage. Flooding occurs on Carlton and Dix Streets in Mexico from a combination of the Swift River and backwater from the Androscoggin River. |
| 19.0 ft | Major flooding occurs. Main thruways including Route 140 and Route 2 flooded. In Mexico, flooding occurs on Riverside Avenue, Dix Avenue, Holman Avenue, Osgood Avenue, Carlton Avenue, and Flood Street. In Rumford, flooding occurs on Prospect Avenue, Eaton Hill Road, Front Street, and Sunnyside Terrace. Hundreds of acres of farm fields also flood downstream through Jay. |
| 21.0 ft | The area of Mexico at the confluence of the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers will experience severe flooding as well as downstream in the Ridlonville section. Flooding in Rumford is generally limited to the area along the banks of the Androscoggin River above the upper dam and on the Swift River near the mouth. |
| 22.0 ft | Approaching levels seen during the December 2023 and April 1987 floods. A significant number of dwellings between Mexico and Canton have water depths of 2 or more feet inside the first floor. The flood severity can be elevated due to coinciding high flows along the Swift River. |
| 24.0 ft | Approaching levels seen during the March 1936 flood of record. Devastating flooding occurs from Bethel to Rumford Brownfield, Canton, Mexico, Dixfield, Peru, Andover, Jay, and Livermore Falls. |
| 25.0 ft | Unprecedented and historic level approximately equivalent to a 500 year flood. Devastating flooding occurs from Bethel to Rumford and Peru. |
Forecast office: NWS Gray · River Forecast Center: Northeast River Forecast Center.
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Nearby stations and gauges
- Swift River at Roxbury NWS gauge · 6.7 mi
- Ellis River at South Andover NWS gauge · 9.8 mi
- Little Androscoggin River near South Paris NWS gauge · 17.1 mi
- Sandy River at Farmington NWS gauge · 20.9 mi
- Sandy River near Madrid NWS gauge · 21.3 mi
- Wild River at Gilead NWS gauge · 24.2 mi