Rivers in Maine
Aroostook River at Washburn
Below flood stage
0.67ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 4:00 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 14.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 0.70 ftTue, Sep 22, 8:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 21.14 ft2015
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 20.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 17.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 14.00 ft |
| Action | 12.50 ft |
- 21.50 ftHistoric flooding. Catastrophic damage to homes and camps between Castle Hill and Presque Isle. Castle Hill Road bridge inundated by floodwaters. Significant road closures and infastructure integrity threatened.
- 20.00 ftWidespread flooding of Gardner Creek Road, South Wade Road, Parsons Road and State Route 164. Numerous homes and camps inundated from Wade and Washburn downstream to Presque Isle. Flooding similar to December 1973.
- 19.50 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Castle Hill Road bridge. Similar flooding to the flood of April 20th, 2019. Gardner Creek Road is impassable in several locations with several homes & camps along the river inundated. Backwater flooding of Clayton Brook floods Parsons Road. Route 164 is closed due to backwater flooding on numerous creeks and streams between Adaline to Crouseville and downstream to Presque Isle.
- 17.00 ftSeveral structures inundated on Gardner Creek Road. Gardner Creek Road is impassable at Gardner Brook due to backwater. Backwater in Salmon Brook will cause minor flooding of Gardner Creek Road in Washburn.
- 15.00 ftMinor flooding on Gardner Creek Road in Washburn and Wade. Numerous river side camps and properties threatened between Castle Hill and Wade. Minor flooding in Crouseville along Route 164 near Rum Rapids. Dangerous swiftwater flows through Washburn. Backwater in Salmon Brook may begin to flood Gardner Creek Road in Washburn.
- 14.00 ftMinor flooding along State Route 164 and Parsons Road mainly impacting agricultural fields. Backwater issues will cause Clayton Brook to threaten Parsons Road. Backwater will also cause streams near Langille Road and State Route 164 to threaten properties. Low lying properties along Gardner Creek Road will begin to flood. Camps along the river banks in Wade and Castle Hill begin to be threatened.
- 12.50 ftRiver approaches bankfull with increasingly dangerous flows.
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
27 crests on NOAA’s list since 1940.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 18, 2015 | 21.14 ft |
| 2 | December 24, 1973 | 20.91 ft |
| 3 | April 20, 2019 | 19.66 ft |
| 4 | April 8, 1990 | 17.80 ft |
| 5 | April 12, 1991 | 17.47 ft |
| 6 | April 7, 2009 | 16.43 ft |
| 7 | April 7, 2009 | 16.43 ft |
| 8 | April 6, 1950 | 15.78 ft |
| 9 | April 22, 1982 | 15.67 ft |
| 10 | April 16, 1994 | 15.27 ft |
| 11 | April 21, 2018 | 14.99 ft |
| 12 | December 21, 1958 | 14.90 ft |
| 13 | April 3, 1976 | 14.74 ft |
| 14 | April 18, 2008 | 14.40 ft |
| 15 | April 9, 2005 | 14.10 ft |
| 16 | April 20, 2003 | 14.00 ft |
| 17 | March 30, 1953 | 13.95 ft |
| 18 | April 19, 1983 | 13.73 ft |
| 19 | April 30, 1973 | 13.68 ft |
| 20 | May 2, 1974 | 13.58 ft |
| 21 | April 15, 1940 | 13.50 ft |
| 22 | April 17, 1984 | 13.46 ft |
| 23 | December 22, 1954 | 13.40 ft |
| 24 | April 30, 1979 | 13.17 ft |
| 25 | April 24, 2007 | 12.74 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 15, 2024: 10.11 ft
- December 20, 2023: 10.03 ft
- April 20, 2019: 19.66 ft
- April 21, 2018: 14.99 ft
- April 18, 2015: 21.14 ft
- April 7, 2009: 16.43 ft
- April 7, 2009: 16.43 ft
- April 18, 2008: 14.40 ft
- April 24, 2007: 12.74 ft
- April 9, 2005: 14.10 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. 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.