Merrimack River at Lowell
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Downstream gauge unavailableWarning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/07/2025 6:30 AM EDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 06/06/2025 8:57 PM EDTRecord: 68.4 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 58 ft Moderate Flooding 54 ft Minor Flooding 52 ft Action 50 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 65 - This is a serious flood event. All persons along the Merrimack River should follow the evacuation recommendations from your local emergency managemant officials. If asked to evacuate, do so immediately. All flood protection measures must be rushed to completion in flood prone areas.
- 62 - This is a serious flood event. All persons along the Merrimack River should follow the evacuation recommendations from your local emergency managemant officials. If asked to evacuate, do so immediately. All flood protection measures must be rushed to completion in flood prone areas.
- 60 - This is a serious flood event. All persons along the Merrimack River from the Massachusetts border through Methuen should follow the evacuation recommendations from your local emergency managemant officials. If asked to evacuate, do so immediately. All flood protection measures must be rushed to completion in flood prone areas.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 42.6459, -71.2984 |
| RFC | NERFC |
| State | MA |
| WFO | BOX |
| County | Middlesex |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| US Geological Survey | USGS--Water Resources of the United States |
| USGS | 01100000 |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 52.30 ft | on 05-11-2025 |
| 2. | 53.16 ft | on 12-20-2023 |
| 3. | 54.64 ft | on 04-01-2010 |
| 4. | 53.63 ft | on 03-16-2010 |
| 5. | 58.09 ft | on 04-17-2007 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 52.30 ft | on 05-11-2025 |
| 2. | 53.16 ft | on 12-20-2023 |
| 3. | 54.64 ft | on 04-01-2010 |
| 4. | 53.63 ft | on 03-16-2010 |
| 5. | 58.09 ft | on 04-17-2007 |
| 6. | 58.84 ft | on 05-15-2006 |
| 7. | 52.77 ft | on 04-04-2005 |
| 8. | 52.80 ft | on 04-03-2004 |
| 9. | 50.38 ft | on 03-31-2003 |
| 10. | 50.95 ft | on 04-15-2001 |
| 11. | 52.74 ft | on 06-18-1998 |
| 12. | 53.10 ft | on 10-23-1996 |
| 13. | 53.05 ft | on 04-18-1996 |
| 14. | 49.40 ft | on 11-17-1995 |
| 15. | 52.31 ft | on 04-01-1993 |
| 16. | 50.26 ft | on 03-19-1990 |
| 17. | 57.16 ft | on 04-07-1987 |
| 18. | 51.11 ft | on 01-29-1986 |
| 19. | 53.71 ft | on 06-01-1984 |
| 20. | 52.67 ft | on 03-21-1983 |
| 21. | 50.02 ft | on 04-20-1982 |
| 22. | 51.91 ft | on 02-27-1981 |
| 23. | 50.80 ft | on 04-12-1980 |
| 24. | 51.22 ft | on 03-09-1979 |
| 25. | 52.26 ft | on 01-28-1978 |
| 26. | 53.41 ft | on 03-15-1977 |
| 27. | 51.27 ft | on 04-03-1976 |
| 28. | 51.75 ft | on 12-23-1973 |
| 29. | 51.47 ft | on 04-04-1973 |
| 30. | 50.08 ft | on 04-21-1972 |
| 31. | 50.87 ft | on 02-12-1970 |
| 32. | 51.14 ft | on 04-24-1969 |
| 33. | 51.15 ft | on 03-23-1968 |
| 34. | 50.35 ft | on 04-04-1967 |
| 35. | 52.30 ft | on 04-02-1962 |
| 36. | 56.00 ft | on 04-06-1960 |
| 37. | 51.62 ft | on 04-05-1959 |
| 38. | 51.70 ft | on 05-11-1954 |
| 39. | 52.93 ft | on 03-28-1953 |
| 40. | 52.59 ft | on 04-07-1952 |
| 41. | 52.63 ft | on 04-05-1951 |
| 42. | 52.28 ft | on 03-23-1948 |
| 43. | 50.14 ft | on 03-22-1945 |
| 44. | 51.77 ft | on 06-26-1944 |
| 45. | 52.93 ft | on 04-14-1940 |
| 46. | 51.56 ft | on 04-21-1939 |
| 47. | 60.57 ft | on 09-23-1938 |
| 48. | 50.70 ft | on 05-16-1937 |
| 49. | 68.40 ft | on 03-20-1936 |
| 50. | 52.40 ft | on 01-11-1935 |
| 51. | 54.02 ft | on 04-14-1934 |
| 52. | 56.00 ft | on 04-20-1933 |
| 53. | 52.60 ft | on 04-14-1932 |
| 54. | 50.00 ft | on 06-11-1931 |
| 55. | 50.20 ft | on 05-05-1929 |
| 56. | 56.50 ft | on 11-05-1927 |
| 57. | 50.60 ft | on 04-27-1926 |
| 58. | 53.30 ft | on 03-31-1925 |
| 59. | 53.40 ft | on 04-08-1924 |
| 60. | 60.60 ft | on 04-23-1852 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 68.40 ft | on 03-20-1936 |
| 2. | 60.60 ft | on 04-23-1852 |
| 3. | 60.57 ft | on 09-23-1938 |
| 4. | 58.84 ft | on 05-15-2006 |
| 5. | 58.09 ft | on 04-17-2007 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 68.40 ft | on 03-20-1936 |
| 2. | 60.60 ft | on 04-23-1852 |
| 3. | 60.57 ft | on 09-23-1938 |
| 4. | 58.84 ft | on 05-15-2006 |
| 5. | 58.09 ft | on 04-17-2007 |
| 6. | 57.16 ft | on 04-07-1987 |
| 7. | 56.50 ft | on 11-05-1927 |
| 8. | 56.00 ft | on 04-20-1933 |
| 9. | 56.00 ft | on 04-06-1960 |
| 10. | 54.64 ft | on 04-01-2010 |
| 11. | 54.02 ft | on 04-14-1934 |
| 12. | 53.71 ft | on 06-01-1984 |
| 13. | 53.63 ft | on 03-16-2010 |
| 14. | 53.41 ft | on 03-15-1977 |
| 15. | 53.40 ft | on 04-08-1924 |
| 16. | 53.30 ft | on 03-31-1925 |
| 17. | 53.16 ft | on 12-20-2023 |
| 18. | 53.10 ft | on 10-23-1996 |
| 19. | 53.05 ft | on 04-18-1996 |
| 20. | 52.93 ft | on 04-14-1940 |
| 21. | 52.93 ft | on 03-28-1953 |
| 22. | 52.80 ft | on 04-03-2004 |
| 23. | 52.77 ft | on 04-04-2005 |
| 24. | 52.74 ft | on 06-18-1998 |
| 25. | 52.67 ft | on 03-21-1983 |
| 26. | 52.63 ft | on 04-05-1951 |
| 27. | 52.60 ft | on 04-14-1932 |
| 28. | 52.59 ft | on 04-07-1952 |
| 29. | 52.40 ft | on 01-11-1935 |
| 30. | 52.31 ft | on 04-01-1993 |
| 31. | 52.30 ft | on 04-02-1962 |
| 32. | 52.30 ft | on 05-11-2025 |
| 33. | 52.28 ft | on 03-23-1948 |
| 34. | 52.26 ft | on 01-28-1978 |
| 35. | 51.91 ft | on 02-27-1981 |
| 36. | 51.77 ft | on 06-26-1944 |
| 37. | 51.75 ft | on 12-23-1973 |
| 38. | 51.70 ft | on 05-11-1954 |
| 39. | 51.62 ft | on 04-05-1959 |
| 40. | 51.56 ft | on 04-21-1939 |
| 41. | 51.47 ft | on 04-04-1973 |
| 42. | 51.27 ft | on 04-03-1976 |
| 43. | 51.22 ft | on 03-09-1979 |
| 44. | 51.15 ft | on 03-23-1968 |
| 45. | 51.14 ft | on 04-24-1969 |
| 46. | 51.11 ft | on 01-29-1986 |
| 47. | 50.95 ft | on 04-15-2001 |
| 48. | 50.87 ft | on 02-12-1970 |
| 49. | 50.80 ft | on 04-12-1980 |
| 50. | 50.70 ft | on 05-16-1937 |
| 51. | 50.60 ft | on 04-27-1926 |
| 52. | 50.38 ft | on 03-31-2003 |
| 53. | 50.35 ft | on 04-04-1967 |
| 54. | 50.26 ft | on 03-19-1990 |
| 55. | 50.20 ft | on 05-05-1929 |
| 56. | 50.14 ft | on 03-22-1945 |
| 57. | 50.08 ft | on 04-21-1972 |
| 58. | 50.02 ft | on 04-20-1982 |
| 59. | 50.00 ft | on 06-11-1931 |
| 60. | 49.40 ft | on 11-17-1995 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 62.37 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 58.37 ft |
| minor Flooding | 56.37 ft |
| action | 54.37 ft |
| Latest Value | 49.60 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 4.37 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Unique Local Info
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Potential River Levels Used to Estimate the Chance of Flooding and the Range of Possible River Levels |
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| 10 Day (HEFS) | 10 Day (NAEFS) | 10 Day (GEFS) |
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Note: Use the official hydrograph at the top of this web page for river levels within the next 72 hours.
Click individual graphics to enlarge.
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.