Kennebec River at Gardiner, ME
River level and flood forecast · Kennebec County
The river is 8.1 ft below flood stage (13 ft).
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 Kennebec River at Gardiner to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 13 ft |
| Action stage | 12 ft |
| Record crest (March 21, 1936) | 26.4 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 26.4 ftLevel comparable to the flood of record in March 1936.
- 24.7 ftFlood comparable to that of April 1987.
- 19.2 ftFlood comparable to December 2023. Floodwaters several feet deep in the first floor of multiple buildings in Gardiner and Randolph.
- 17 ftMajor flooding occurs. Significant damage to businesses along Water Street in Randolph and Maine Avenue to Water Street in Gardiner.
- 15 ftModerate flooding occurs. Floodwaters of 3 feet or more in Gardiner along Maine Avenue and off Water Street. Across the river in Randolph floodwaters encroach on Water Street between Elm Street and Mill Road. Businesses in both Randolph and Gardiner inundated.
- 14.3 ftFlood comparable to that in May 2023.
- 14 ftTravel in and out of Gardiner east of Route 201 impacted as floodwaters close Maine Street and Arcade Street. Waterfront Park and Arcade Street parking lots flooded. Businesses along Water Street in Randolph surrounded by floodwaters near Togus Stream.
- 13.43 ftFlood comparable to that of April 2005.
- 13 ftMinor flooding occurs. Combination of Kennebec River and Cobbosseecontee Stream flooding off Arcade Street and Maine Avenue.
- 9 ftGardiner waterfront park flooded.
Highest crests on record
- 26.4 ft — March 21, 1936
- 24.7 ft — April 2, 1987
- 19.24 ft — December 19, 2023
- 14.25 ft — May 2, 2023
- 13.43 ft — April 29, 2005
Recent crests: 19.24 ft (December 19, 2023) · 14.25 ft (May 2, 2023) · 13.43 ft (April 29, 2005) · 24.7 ft (April 2, 1987) · 26.4 ft (March 21, 1936)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (GIRM1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.