Rivers in Massachusetts
Housatonic River at Great Barrington
Below flood stage
1.83ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 28, 2:30 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 9.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 2.60 ftTue, Sep 29, 2:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 12.08 ft1949
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 12.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 10.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 9.00 ft |
| Action | 7.00 ft |
- 12.00 ftMajor flood stage. Water floods Main Street in Great Barrington.
- 10.00 ftModerate flood stage. Water floods River Street and reaches Searles Middle School.
- 9.00 ftFlood stage. Water reaches the fair grounds.
- 7.00 ftLow lying fields between Great Barrington and Ashley Falls are flooded with one to two feet of water.
- 5.00 ftWater starts to flood fields between Great Barrington and Ashley Falls.
- 4.00 ftThe river level is normal for spring.
- 3.00 ftThe river level is normal for fall, winter and summer.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.
Crest history
20 crests on NOAA’s list since 1927.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 1, 1949 | 12.08 ft |
| 2 | September 22, 1938 | 11.72 ft |
| 3 | May 31, 1984 | 10.96 ft |
| 4 | March 19, 1936 | 10.60 ft |
| 5 | October 9, 2005 | 10.34 ft |
| 6 | September 9, 2011 | 10.18 ft |
| 7 | November 5, 1927 | 10.00 ft |
| 8 | July 13, 1996 | 9.84 ft |
| 9 | January 20, 1996 | 9.68 ft |
| 10 | August 19, 1955 | 9.65 ft |
| 11 | August 29, 2011 | 9.62 ft |
| 12 | March 8, 2011 | 9.01 ft |
| 13 | March 31, 1960 | 7.83 ft |
| 14 | April 4, 1960 | 7.65 ft |
| 15 | April 17, 1956 | 7.65 ft |
| 16 | January 27, 1996 | 6.90 ft |
| 17 | November 12, 1995 | 5.88 ft |
| 18 | March 9, 1995 | 5.87 ft |
| 19 | April 14, 1994 | 4.71 ft |
| 20 | October 22, 1995 | 4.57 ft |
Most recent crests
- September 9, 2011: 10.18 ft
- August 29, 2011: 9.62 ft
- March 8, 2011: 9.01 ft
- October 9, 2005: 10.34 ft
- July 13, 1996: 9.84 ft
- January 27, 1996: 6.90 ft
- January 20, 1996: 9.68 ft
- November 12, 1995: 5.88 ft
- October 22, 1995: 4.57 ft
- March 9, 1995: 5.87 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Northeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.