Rivers in Massachusetts

Shawsheen River at Andover

Essex County, MassachusettsNWS ANDM3USGS 01100627Norton office

Below flood stage
23.62ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 11:45 AM EDT

Flood stage
29.00 ft
Forecast crest
23.60 ftTue, Sep 22, 2:00 PM EDT
Record crest
37.45 ft2006

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood35.00 ft
Moderate flood32.00 ft
Minor flood29.00 ft
Action28.00 ft
  1. 38.00 ftFlood impacts are expected to be comparable to, or worse than, the May 2006 Floods. Impacts in North Andover will increase along Glenwood, Fernwood and Elmwood Streets, and both Mass Ave and Route 114 experience significant flooding at the Lawrence-North Andover Town line. Floodwaters impact large sections of Andover in the greater vicinity of North Main Street. Numerous residences, businesses and roadways are impacted.
  2. 36.00 ftIn Andover, a stretch of North Main Street is impassable. Floodwaters inundate numerous residences and businesses in the greater vicinity of North Main. Impacted areas include but are not limited to Washington Park Condominiums, the Balmoral, Shawsheen Plaza, Powdermill Square, Ballardvale Falls, Gradall Lane and River Street. Flooding impacts Mass Ave underpass and businesses on Route 114 at the Lawrence/North Andover town line. In North Andover lower Glenwood, Elmwood and Fernwood Streets are impacted.
  3. 35.00 ftIn North Andover floodwaters inundate lowest lying homes along Glenwood, Elmwood and Fernwood Streets. Floodwaters impact lowest lying businesses and parking lots along Route 114 and Mass Ave on the Lawrence-North Andover town line. In Andover, flood impacts spread to multiple locations along and off of North Main Street, including homes and businesses. Flood impact areas include but are not limited to Washington Park Condominiums, Shawsheen Plaza, Powdermill Square, Ballardvale Falls, and River Street.
  4. 34.00 ftIn North Andover, floodwaters approach or inundate lowest lying homes along Glenwood, Elmwood and Fernwood Streets. Floodwaters impact lowest lying businesses and parking lots on Route 114 closest to the Shawsheen River on the Lawrence North Andover Town line. In Andover, floodwaters inundate some low lying structures along North Main Street. Within Andover, floodwaters approach lowest lying structures at Washington Park Condominiums, Shawsheen Plaza, Powdermill Square, Ballardvale Falls, and River Street.
  5. 32.00 ftFloodwaters impact lowest lying businesses and parking lots along Route 114 closest to the Shawsheen River on the Lawrence and North Andover town line. Floodwaters may reach the lowest lying homes along Glenwood Street in North Andover. In Andover, the very lowest lying homes and external structures along North Main Street are impacted. Floodwaters may affect River Street near Laconia Drive.
  6. 31.00 ftFloodwaters inundate the lowest lying parking lots along Route 114 adjacent to the Shawsheen River. This includes drainage fronting the North Andover Mall along Route 114. Floodwaters encroach on Route 114 hotel building in Lawrence, adjacent to the river. Floodwaters encroach on lowest lying properties along Glenwood Street in North Andover.
  7. 30.00 ftFloodwaters inundate very lowest lying business parking lots off Route 114 in Lawrence and North Andover that are adjacent to the Shawsheen River.
  8. 29.00 ftFloodwaters encroach on very lowest lying business parking lots off of Route 114 in Lawrence and North Andover that are adjacent to the Shawsheen River.

Crest history

19 crests on NOAA’s list since 2006.

#DateStage
1May 15, 200637.45 ft
2May 15, 200637.45 ft
3March 16, 201036.16 ft
4April 18, 200734.15 ft
5April 1, 201033.98 ft
6January 12, 202430.84 ft
7December 20, 202330.80 ft
8April 1, 201430.56 ft
9December 11, 201429.90 ft
10March 8, 201129.68 ft
11December 14, 200829.59 ft
12March 16, 202329.37 ft
13September 4, 202129.21 ft
14September 21, 202329.09 ft
15March 10, 200829.09 ft
16April 6, 202428.83 ft
17March 30, 202428.50 ft
18March 25, 202428.20 ft
19December 17, 202025.85 ft

Most recent crests

  • April 6, 2024: 28.83 ft
  • March 30, 2024: 28.50 ft
  • March 25, 2024: 28.20 ft
  • January 12, 2024: 30.84 ft
  • December 20, 2023: 30.80 ft
  • September 21, 2023: 29.09 ft
  • March 16, 2023: 29.37 ft
  • September 4, 2021: 29.21 ft
  • December 17, 2020: 25.85 ft
  • December 11, 2014: 29.90 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. The Merrimack River can produce substantial backwater flooding into the lower Shawsheen River in Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover.&nbsp; Please utilize the info from our <a href="http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=box&amp;gage=lawm3"> Lawrence location</a> in conjunction the Andover location for flood forecasts and warnings. 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.