Rivers in Maine

Piscataquis River at Medford

Piscataquis County, MaineNWS MFDM1USGS 01034000Caribou office

Below flood stage
1.36ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 29, 9:15 PM EDT

Flood stage
13.00 ft
Record crest
20.80 ft1923

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood18.00 ft
Moderate flood16.00 ft
Minor flood13.00 ft
Action12.00 ft
  1. 18.00 ftRecord flooding similar to 1987. Widespread flooding of North Howland Road, Maxfield Road and River Road between Medford and Howland. Significant impacts to homes and structures between Medford and Howland. Significant backwater flooding of the Pleasant River, additionally small streams and creeks will experience backwater flooding downstream to Howland.
  2. 16.00 ftNorth Howland Road, Maxfield Road, River Road flooded in several locations between Medford to Howland with homes threatened.
  3. 13.00 ftMinor lowland flooding occurs along the Medford Road between Alder Brook to Robin Hollow Drive. Minor flooding along the lowland areas from Trestle Road Bridge downstream to Maxfield townline. Minor flooding along River Road and North Howland Road to I-95 Bridge in Maxfield to Howland.
  4. 12.00 ftRiver approaches bankfull.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, October to December

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 28, 2026.

Crest history

16 crests on NOAA’s list since 1923.

#DateStage
1May 1, 192320.80 ft
2April 1, 198718.65 ft
3November 4, 196615.58 ft
4March 20, 193615.07 ft
5April 29, 197914.17 ft
6December 19, 202313.55 ft
7December 22, 197313.48 ft
8May 1, 200813.31 ft
9May 4, 192913.20 ft
10March 28, 195313.06 ft
11April 14, 194012.76 ft
12November 28, 195012.72 ft
13April 17, 201412.33 ft
14December 14, 201011.96 ft
15December 2, 202011.69 ft
16April 21, 201910.05 ft

Most recent crests

  • December 19, 2023: 13.55 ft
  • December 2, 2020: 11.69 ft
  • April 21, 2019: 10.05 ft
  • April 17, 2014: 12.33 ft
  • December 14, 2010: 11.96 ft
  • May 1, 2008: 13.31 ft
  • April 1, 1987: 18.65 ft
  • April 29, 1979: 14.17 ft
  • December 22, 1973: 13.48 ft
  • November 4, 1966: 15.58 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Northeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. Stage may be affected by ice. Stage may be affected by 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.