Rivers in Maine
Swift River at Roxbury
Below flood stage
1.03ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 2:45 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 8.00 ft
- Record crest
- 14.20 ft2023
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 12.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 9.50 ft |
| Minor flood | 8.00 ft |
| Action | 5.00 ft |
- 14.00 ftFlooding comparable to record levels observed in December 2023. Severe flooding at the confluence with the Androscoggin River in Rumford and Mexico where homes and businesses are impacted. Roadways will remain unsafe during and after the storm.
- 12.50 ftApproaching levels seen during the April 1987 flood. Route 17 likely washed out in multiple areas making travel extremely dangerous.
- 12.00 ftMajor flooding occurs. Water surrounds homes in Byron and Roxbury. Travel in and out of the region is cut off.
- 10.00 ftModerate flooding occurs. Properties near Houghton Road in northern parts of Byron surrounded by flood waters. Further downstream in Rumford and Mexico flooding from the Swift River can occur if the Androscoggin River is also in flood including several parks and river access areas.
- 9.50 ftModerate flooding occurs. Closure of Route 17 likely from flood waters, significantly impacting travel in and out of the area. Numerous locations on Route 17 likely to flood due to a combination of high water on the Swift River and backwater from smaller tributaries along Easter Hill Road in Roxbury and along what is known as the Byron Flats.
- 9.00 ftFlood waters inundate Route 17 a few miles north of Byron Village Road.
- 8.00 ftMinor flooding occurs. River encroaches on Route 17 and some properties along the Swift River in and around Byron. 7 Swift River comes out of banks and inundates lowlands in Roxbury and Byron.
- 7.00 ftRiver at bankfull with minor flooding of agricultural fields possible between Farmington Falls and New Sharon.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 12% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 14, 2026.
Crest history
97 crests on NOAA’s list since 1930.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 18, 2023 | 14.20 ft |
| 2 | October 24, 1959 | 12.87 ft |
| 3 | September 17, 1932 | 12.58 ft |
| 4 | April 1, 1987 | 12.54 ft |
| 5 | June 15, 1942 | 12.42 ft |
| 6 | May 12, 1989 | 11.60 ft |
| 7 | March 19, 1936 | 11.20 ft |
| 8 | March 12, 1936 | 11.02 ft |
| 9 | January 27, 1986 | 10.98 ft |
| 10 | December 18, 2003 | 10.91 ft |
| 11 | January 19, 1996 | 10.84 ft |
| 12 | May 1, 2023 | 10.80 ft |
| 13 | November 26, 1950 | 10.76 ft |
| 14 | April 17, 1993 | 10.64 ft |
| 15 | August 28, 2011 | 10.62 ft |
| 16 | December 21, 1973 | 10.58 ft |
| 17 | September 17, 1999 | 10.54 ft |
| 18 | July 1, 1973 | 10.51 ft |
| 19 | April 21, 1950 | 10.48 ft |
| 20 | November 3, 1966 | 10.46 ft |
| 21 | October 30, 2017 | 10.45 ft |
| 22 | April 28, 1979 | 10.43 ft |
| 23 | October 28, 1995 | 10.37 ft |
| 24 | April 9, 2000 | 10.28 ft |
| 25 | June 16, 1943 | 10.26 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 11, 2024: 9.14 ft
- April 12, 2024: 9.08 ft
- December 18, 2023: 14.20 ft
- June 26, 2023: 8.32 ft
- May 1, 2023: 10.80 ft
- December 24, 2022: 8.20 ft
- October 14, 2022: 9.81 ft
- October 30, 2017: 10.45 ft
- July 2, 2017: 8.82 ft
- January 11, 2016: 7.07 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. Flood stage changes coming December 11, 2024. Please visit <a href='https://www.weather.gov/media/gyx/PNS_2024FloodStageChanges.pdf' >HERE</a> for more information.
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.