Rivers in Maine

Kennebec River at Augusta

Kennebec County, MaineNWS ASTM1USGS 01049320Gray office

Below flood stage
2.57ftStage

Observed Mon, Sep 21, 10:42 PM EDT

Flood stage
12.00 ft
Record crest
34.10 ft1987

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood25.00 ft
Moderate flood17.00 ft
Minor flood12.00 ft
Action10.00 ft
  1. 37.70 ftA level more than 3 feet higher than any known flood. Unprecedented flooding with water near the base of Memorial Bridge.
  2. 34.00 ftComparable to the historic flood level reached in April 1987. Properties severely flooded along Front Street. Water rises up to Calumet Bridge.
  3. 32.00 ftFloodwaters reach properties off Willow Street. Properties severely flooded along Front Street and around Bond Brook in downtown Augusta.
  4. 27.00 ftFlood comparable to December of 2023. Transportation and utilities severely affected.
  5. 26.00 ftMount Vernon Avenue flooded if high flows present along Bond Brook.
  6. 25.50 ftFlood waters impact the undercarriage of the Calamut Bridge in Augusta.
  7. 25.00 ftMajor flooding occurs. Northern Avenue flooded. Properties on Bond Street at the intersection with Water Street in Augusta flood from a combination of the Kennebec River and Bond Brook.
  8. 24.00 ftNorthern Avenue flooded. Water impacts the lower steel on the railroad bridge.
  9. 20.00 ftFlood comparable to May of 2023.
  10. 17.00 ftModerate flooding occurs. Impacts expanding into multiple residential and commercial buildings along Front Street in downtown Augusta.
  11. 16.00 ftWater reaches 2 feet deep in parking lots on Front Street.
  12. 14.00 ftWater reaches 2 feet deep in parking lots on Front Street in Augusta.
  13. 12.00 ftMinor flooding occurs. Water floods parking lots along Front Street in Augusta.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding6%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 14, 2026.

Crest history

53 crests on NOAA’s list since 1936.

#DateStage
1April 2, 198734.10 ft
2March 20, 193630.70 ft
3December 19, 202326.92 ft
4May 2, 202320.38 ft
5January 13, 201819.58 ft
6April 4, 200518.83 ft
7April 19, 200718.80 ft
8April 4, 200518.80 ft
9April 12, 199318.50 ft
10April 29, 200518.50 ft
11April 30, 200818.42 ft
12December 19, 200318.39 ft
13April 18, 199318.00 ft
14April 17, 199418.00 ft
15January 29, 199617.70 ft
16April 16, 201417.43 ft
17May 27, 200517.40 ft
18April 14, 202416.76 ft
19April 2, 199816.50 ft
20June 15, 199816.00 ft
21October 16, 200515.90 ft
22January 21, 199615.50 ft
23December 3, 199615.30 ft
24March 29, 200015.30 ft
25July 15, 199615.20 ft

Most recent crests

  • April 14, 2024: 16.76 ft
  • March 8, 2024: 13.51 ft
  • December 19, 2023: 26.92 ft
  • May 2, 2023: 20.38 ft
  • December 24, 2022: 13.29 ft
  • December 2, 2020: 14.10 ft
  • April 21, 2019: 14.16 ft
  • January 13, 2018: 19.58 ft
  • April 12, 2017: 13.46 ft
  • February 17, 2016: 14.35 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.

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.