Mill River at Northampton, MA
River level and flood forecast · Hampshire County
The river is 4.8 ft below flood stage (11 ft).
Flow: 62 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Higher than normal for October 13.
Usual for October 13: 15 to 59 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 88 years).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Mill River at Northampton to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Flood stage | 11 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (August 28, 2011) | 16.42 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 15 ftBackwater flooding into feeder streams results in multiple road closures in the Florence section of Northampton. In addition, Meadow Street in Northampton is flooded. Floodwaters inundate Maines Field, and floodwaters affect lowest lying homes in Leeds Center as well as lowest lying industries above the Pine Street Dam in Florence. Farm roads in the Oxbow floodplain are closed, as well as the Smith College River Walk Path.
- 14 ftFloodwaters inundate Maines Field and result in the closure of Meadow Street. Floodwaters encroach on low lying homes in Leeds Center as well as lowest lying industries along the mill above the Pine Street Dam in Florence. Farm roads in the Oxbow floodplain are inundated as well as portions of the Smith College River Walk Path.
- 13 ftRiver flooding result in the closure of Meadow Street. Floodwaters encroach on lowest lying homes in Leeds Center and lowest lying industries above the Pine Street Dam in Florence. Farm roads in the Oxbow floodplain near the Mill River are inundated and the Smith College River Walk Path is closed.
- 12 ftThe Smith College River Walk Path is flooded. Farm roads in the Oxbow floodplain near the Mill River in Northampton are inundated.
- 11 ftFlooding occurs along the Smith College River Walk Path in Northampton.
Highest crests on record
- 16.42 ft — August 28, 2011
- 15.58 ft — April 16, 2007
- 14.37 ft — December 18, 2023
- 13.72 ft — October 9, 2005
- 13.47 ft — February 25, 2016
Recent crests: 11.29 ft (May 6, 2025) · 12.83 ft (April 12, 2024) · 11.25 ft (March 24, 2024) · 11.31 ft (January 10, 2024) · 14.37 ft (December 18, 2023)
Highest flow on record
7,020 cubic feet per second — August 28, 2011. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1938.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (NMIM3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.