Shawsheen River at Andover
Flood levels
Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 28.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 29.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 32.0 ft; major flooding begins at 35.0 ft.
| Action stage | 28.0 ft |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 29.0 ft |
| Moderate flooding | 32.0 ft |
| Major flooding | 35.0 ft |
Highest recorded crests
- 37.5 ft on May 15, 2006 (historic crest)
- 36.2 ft on Mar 16, 2010 (historic crest)
- 34.1 ft on Apr 18, 2007 (historic crest)
- 34.0 ft on Apr 1, 2010 (historic crest)
What the water does
National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.
| 29.0 ft | Floodwaters encroach on very lowest lying business parking lots off of Route 114 in Lawrence and North Andover that are adjacent to the Shawsheen River. |
|---|---|
| 30.0 ft | Floodwaters inundate very lowest lying business parking lots off Route 114 in Lawrence and North Andover that are adjacent to the Shawsheen River. |
| 31.0 ft | Floodwaters inundate the lowest lying parking lots along Route 114 adjacent to the Shawsheen River. This includes drainage fronting the North Andover Mall along Route 114. Floodwaters encroach on Route 114 hotel building in Lawrence, adjacent to the river. Floodwaters encroach on lowest lying properties along Glenwood Street in North Andover. |
| 32.0 ft | Floodwaters impact lowest lying businesses and parking lots along Route 114 closest to the Shawsheen River on the Lawrence and North Andover town line. Floodwaters may reach the lowest lying homes along Glenwood Street in North Andover. In Andover, the very lowest lying homes and external structures along North Main Street are impacted. Floodwaters may affect River Street near Laconia Drive. |
| 34.0 ft | In North Andover, floodwaters approach or inundate lowest lying homes along Glenwood, Elmwood and Fernwood Streets. Floodwaters impact lowest lying businesses and parking lots on Route 114 closest to the Shawsheen River on the Lawrence North Andover Town line. In Andover, floodwaters inundate some low lying structures along North Main Street. Within Andover, floodwaters approach lowest lying structures at Washington Park Condominiums, Shawsheen Plaza, Powdermill Square, Ballardvale Falls, and River Street. |
| 35.0 ft | In North Andover floodwaters inundate lowest lying homes along Glenwood, Elmwood and Fernwood Streets. Floodwaters impact lowest lying businesses and parking lots along Route 114 and Mass Ave on the Lawrence-North Andover town line. In Andover, flood impacts spread to multiple locations along and off of North Main Street, including homes and businesses. Flood impact areas include but are not limited to Washington Park Condominiums, Shawsheen Plaza, Powdermill Square, Ballardvale Falls, and River Street. |
| 36.0 ft | In Andover, a stretch of North Main Street is impassable. Floodwaters inundate numerous residences and businesses in the greater vicinity of North Main. Impacted areas include but are not limited to Washington Park Condominiums, the Balmoral, Shawsheen Plaza, Powdermill Square, Ballardvale Falls, Gradall Lane and River Street. Flooding impacts Mass Ave underpass and businesses on Route 114 at the Lawrence/North Andover town line. In North Andover lower Glenwood, Elmwood and Fernwood Streets are impacted. |
| 38.0 ft | Flood impacts are expected to be comparable to, or worse than, the May 2006 Floods. Impacts in North Andover will increase along Glenwood, Fernwood and Elmwood Streets, and both Mass Ave and Route 114 experience significant flooding at the Lawrence-North Andover Town line. Floodwaters impact large sections of Andover in the greater vicinity of North Main Street. Numerous residences, businesses and roadways are impacted. |
Forecast office: NWS Norton · River Forecast Center: Northeast River Forecast Center.
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Nearby stations and gauges
- Merrimack River at Lawrence NWS gauge · 2.3 mi
- Spicket River near Methuen NWS gauge · 5.8 mi
- Merrimack River at Lowell NWS gauge · 7.8 mi
- Shawsheen River at Wilmington NWS gauge · 7.9 mi
- Concord River at Lowell NWS gauge · 8.1 mi
- Riverside NOAA tide station · 8.7 mi