Rivers in Vermont
Winooski River at Montpelier
Below flood stage
3.07ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 28, 11:45 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 15.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 3.30 ftTue, Sep 29, 2:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 27.10 ft1927
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 17.50 ft |
| Moderate flood | 16.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 15.00 ft |
| Action | 11.00 ft |
- 27.00 ftThe Montpelier business district will be covered by water 8 to 10 feet deep. Widespread flooding of the Winooski valley will occur.
- 22.00 ftDowntown Montpelier will be inundated, and local roads will be covered by water. Route 2 and railroad tracks along the river will be covered with water. There will be widespread field flooding throughout the Winooski River valley. This stage is equivalent to the FEMA 1 Percent Annual Chance Flood.
- 17.50 ftWater covers the streets in downtown Montpelier. Local roads along the Winooski from Montpelier to Waterbury will be covered in water, and there will be widespread field flooding.
- 16.00 ftRoute 2 will flood at Bailey Avenue bridge, and the entrance to the Montpelier High School. Parking lots behind state office buildings next to the river will flood between Taylor Street and Bailey Avenue, and the approach to Taylor Street bridge will be inundated. Low lying fields and farmland will be inundated.
- 15.00 ftFlooding will begin on State Street at the Bailey Avenue bridge. Flooding may occur along Route 302 between Montpelier and Barre. Downstream from Montpelier to Waterbury, low lying local roads and farmland will flood. Water will approach the State of Vermont office complex in Waterbury.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, October to December
| 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 October 20, 2025.
Crest history
89 crests on NOAA’s list since 1912.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 3, 1927 | 27.10 ft |
| 2 | July 11, 2023 | 21.29 ft |
| 3 | August 29, 2011 | 19.05 ft |
| 4 | May 27, 2011 | 17.59 ft |
| 5 | June 30, 1973 | 17.55 ft |
| 6 | April 7, 1912 | 17.31 ft |
| 7 | February 25, 1915 | 16.60 ft |
| 8 | March 18, 1936 | 16.57 ft |
| 9 | December 18, 2023 | 16.15 ft |
| 10 | March 11, 1992 | 15.70 ft |
| 11 | April 1, 1976 | 14.97 ft |
| 12 | January 10, 1935 | 14.89 ft |
| 13 | April 12, 1922 | 14.77 ft |
| 14 | January 19, 1996 | 14.64 ft |
| 15 | March 28, 1919 | 14.63 ft |
| 16 | March 27, 1913 | 14.60 ft |
| 17 | July 11, 2024 | 14.45 ft |
| 18 | August 5, 1989 | 14.40 ft |
| 19 | April 18, 1933 | 14.24 ft |
| 20 | February 12, 1981 | 14.16 ft |
| 21 | June 1, 1952 | 14.16 ft |
| 22 | May 4, 1972 | 14.14 ft |
| 23 | September 22, 1938 | 14.11 ft |
| 24 | March 9, 1946 | 14.10 ft |
| 25 | April 12, 1934 | 13.93 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 11, 2024: 14.45 ft
- December 18, 2023: 16.15 ft
- July 11, 2023: 21.29 ft
- August 29, 2011: 19.05 ft
- May 27, 2011: 17.59 ft
- March 30, 2003: 8.66 ft
- April 14, 2002: 10.37 ft
- May 10, 2000: 10.54 ft
- February 28, 2000: 13.17 ft
- September 17, 1999: 9.30 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamNorth Branch Winooski River at Wrightsville
- DownstreamWinooski River at Waterbury
- North Branch Winooski River at Montpelier Langdon St.Bridge
- North Branch Winooski River at Wrightsville Detention Reservoir
- Dog River at Northfield Falls
- Mad River at Moretown
- Little River (Vermont) at Waterbury
- Little River (Vermont) at Waterbury Reservoir
What this means
Forecasts by the Northeast River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Please <a href='https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/3635507f632f43c08128a6eefc594219'>click here</a> to display WATV1 and MONV1 Static Partner FIM. 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.