Piscataquis River at Medford, ME
River level and flood forecast · Piscataquis County
The river is 11.7 ft below flood stage (13 ft).
Flow: 127 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The lowest for October 13 in 96 years of records.
Usual for October 13: 510 to 1,480 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 96 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 Piscataquis River at Medford to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 18 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 16 ft |
| Flood stage | 13 ft |
| Action stage | 12 ft |
| Record crest (April 1, 1987) | 18.65 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 18 ftRecord flooding similar to 1987. Widespread flooding of North Howland Road, Maxfield Road and River Road between Medford and Howland. Significant impacts to homes and structures between Medford and Howland. Significant backwater flooding of the Pleasant River, additionally small streams and creeks will experience backwater flooding downstream to Howland.
- 16 ftNorth Howland Road, Maxfield Road, River Road flooded in several locations between Medford to Howland with homes threatened.
- 13 ftMinor lowland flooding occurs along the Medford Road between Alder Brook to Robin Hollow Drive. Minor flooding along the lowland areas from Trestle Road Bridge downstream to Maxfield townline. Minor flooding along River Road and North Howland Road to I-95 Bridge in Maxfield to Howland.
- 12 ftRiver approaches bankfull.
Highest crests on record
- 18.65 ft — April 1, 1987
- 15.58 ft — November 4, 1966
- 15.07 ft — March 20, 1936
- 14.17 ft — April 29, 1979
- 13.55 ft — December 19, 2023
Recent crests: 13.55 ft (December 19, 2023) · 11.69 ft (December 2, 2020) · 10.05 ft (April 21, 2019) · 12.33 ft (April 17, 2014) · 11.96 ft (December 14, 2010)
Highest flow on record
85,000 cubic feet per second — April 1, 1987. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1925.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MFDM1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.