North Nashua River at Fitchburg, MA
River level and flood forecast · Worcester County
The river is 3.6 ft below flood stage (6.5 ft).
Forecast to fall to 2.6 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 8 AM.
Flow: 87 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Higher than normal for October 13.
Usual for October 13: 21 to 78 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 54 years).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 11:14 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts North Nashua River at Fitchburg to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 10 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 8 ft |
| Flood stage | 6.5 ft |
| Action stage | 5 ft |
| Record crest (April 5, 1987) | 9.25 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 10 ftSignificant flooding occurs along portions of the North Nashua River from Fitchburg downstream through Lancaster. In Fitchburg, flood waters reach low lying railroad bridges, and impacts occur at businesses near the junction of River and Depot Streets. Flood waters may cause erosion of the Westminster Street embankment in spots between Wachusett and Temple Streets. Overtopping of the dike along Commercial Road in Leominster may occur.
- 9 ftFlooding occurs in low lying areas along the river. Businesses near the junction of River and Depot streets in Fitchburg are impacted. Flood waters also approach low railroad bridges in Downtown Fitchburg.
- 8 ftFlooding of low lying areas along the river can be expected from Fitchburg downstream into Lancaster. Flooding affects businesses near the junction of River and Depot Streets in Fitchburg.
- 7 ftFlooding of low lying areas along the river can be expected. Flooding encroaches on businesses near the junction of River and Depot streets in Fitchburg.
Highest crests on record
- 9.25 ft — April 5, 1987
- 8.59 ft — April 16, 2007
- 8.02 ft — March 7, 2011
- 7.99 ft — March 15, 2010
- 7.92 ft — October 30, 2017
Recent crests: 6.91 ft (December 18, 2023) · 6.54 ft (December 23, 2022) · 6.69 ft (February 4, 2022) · 6.87 ft (January 25, 2019) · 7.18 ft (September 18, 2018)
Highest flow on record
3,930 cubic feet per second — April 16, 2007. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1973.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (FBGM3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.