Androscoggin River at Rumford, ME

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.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 25 ftUnprecedented and historic level approximately equivalent to a 500 year flood. Devastating flooding occurs from Bethel to Rumford and Peru.
• 24 ftApproaching levels seen during the March 1936 flood of record. Devastating flooding occurs from Bethel to Rumford Brownfield, Canton, Mexico, Dixfield, Peru, Andover, Jay, and Livermore Falls.
• 22 ftApproaching levels seen during the December 2023 and April 1987 floods. A significant number of dwellings between Mexico and Canton have water depths of 2 or more feet inside the first floor. The flood severity can be elevated due to coinciding high flows along the Swift River.
• 21 ftThe area of Mexico at the confluence of the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers will experience severe flooding as well as downstream in the Ridlonville section. Flooding in Rumford is generally limited to the area along the banks of the Androscoggin River above the upper dam and on the Swift River near the mouth.
• 19 ftMajor flooding occurs. Main thruways including Route 140 and Route 2 flooded. In Mexico, flooding occurs on Riverside Avenue, Dix Avenue, Holman Avenue, Osgood Avenue, Carlton Avenue, and Flood Street. In Rumford, flooding occurs on Prospect Avenue, Eaton Hill Road, Front Street, and Sunnyside Terrace. Hundreds of acres of farm fields also flood downstream through Jay.
• 17 ftModerate Flood Stage. Flooding occurs on Carlton and Dix Streets in Mexico from a combination of the Swift River and backwater from the Androscoggin River.
• 16 ftWater flows across Route 2 at Falmouth Street and into Hosmer Field Athletic Complex, however the flood severity will be dependent on coinciding high flows along the Swift River.
• 15.5 ftWater rises to the intersection of Lincoln Avenue (Route 2) and Falmouth Street.
• 15 ftRoute 26 in Bethel flooded between Cross Street and Intervale Road. Low spots flood along the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers in Mexico and Rumford.
• 14.5 ftFlooding in Bethel occurs along Intervale Road. Low spots flood along the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers in Mexico and Rumford. Route 140 between Jay and Dixfield is flooded in multiple locations.
• 13.7 ftThe ballfield south of Lincoln Avenue or Route 2 in Rumford completely floods.
• 13.5 ftOne lane of Route 140 inundated in Jay. Flooding occurs at the ballfield south of Lincoln Avenue in Rumford.
• 13 ftWater encroaches on Route 140 between Dixfield and Jay. The river is off the banks in Bethel where agricultural lands, campgrounds, and Davis Skate Park inundated.

Highest crests on record

1. 24 ft — March 20, 1936
2. 23.22 ft — April 1, 1987
3. 22.12 ft — December 19, 2023
4. 21.2 ft — April 15, 1895
5. 19.18 ft — April 15, 1805

Recent crests: 15.12 ft (April 13, 2024) · 22.12 ft (December 19, 2023) · 15.76 ft (May 2, 2023) · 16 ft (April 21, 2019) · 16.18 ft (October 31, 2017)

Highest flow on record

74,000 cubic feet per second — March 20, 1936. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1893.

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamAndroscoggin River at Gorham, NH
• DownstreamAndroscoggin River at Auburn, ME
• Swift River at Roxbury, ME
• Ellis River at South Andover, ME
• Little Androscoggin River near South Paris, ME
• Sandy River near Madrid, ME
• Wild River at Gilead, ME
• Sandy River (ME) at Mercer, ME
• Androscoggin River at Errol, NH