Contoocook River at Peterborough, NH
River level and flood forecast · Hillsborough County
The river is 3.8 ft below flood stage (5.5 ft).
Forecast to hold near 1.7 ft through Fri, Oct 16, 8 AM.
Flow: 69 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Higher than normal for October 14.
Usual for October 14: 17 to 59 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 58 years).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Tue, Oct 13, 11:23 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Contoocook River at Peterborough to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 9 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 7 ft |
| Flood stage | 5.5 ft |
| Action stage | 4 ft |
| Record crest (September 21, 1938) | 15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 17.5 ftThis is the maximum reportable stage of the river gage.
- 9.5 ftThis is a major...life threatening flood in the Peterborough area. floodwaters affect low lying businesses off of Grove Street and Wilton Road including Peterborough Plaza...and parking lots and low lying residences off of Pheasant Road including the Riverview Apartments. Significant flooding occurs along roads and low lying properties adjacent to the river including the following...Route 136...Concord Street...Jaffrey Road...Summer Street...Sharon Road...Bogle Road...and Hunt Road.
- 7.5 ftMajor flooding occurs in the Peterborough area. Route 136 floods near Bogle Road. Floodwaters affect low lying businesses off of Grove Street and Wilton Road including Peterborough Plaza...and parking lots and low lying residences off of Pheasant Road including the Riverview Apartments. Significant flooding occurs along roads and low lying properties adjacent to the river including the following...Concord Street...Jaffrey Road...Summer Street...Sharon Road...Bogle Road...and Hunt Road.
- 6.5 ftSignificant flooding occurs in Peterborough. Floodwaters inundate portions of the Peterborough Plaza parking area. Floodwaters affect low lying businesses off of Grove street and Wilton road. Flooding occurs at low lying properties along and/or stretches of the following roads...Concord Street...Summer Street...Sharon Road...Bogle Road...and Hunt Road. Inundation may occur along the parking lots off of Pheasant Road including the Riverview Apartments.
- 5.5 ftFloodwaters approach low lying roads and properties in the Peterborough area...especially along Concord Street.
Highest crests on record
- 15 ft — September 21, 1938
- 7.21 ft — April 16, 2007
- 6.92 ft — March 7, 2011
- 6.82 ft — January 29, 1976
- 6.62 ft — April 6, 1987
Recent crests: 4.79 ft (December 18, 2023) · 4.98 ft (December 23, 2022) · 4.44 ft (December 14, 2019) · 5.05 ft (January 24, 2019) · 6.1 ft (October 30, 2017)
Highest flow on record
4,110 cubic feet per second — April 16, 2007. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1946.
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamContoocook River at Henniker, NH
- Souhegan River at Milford, NH
- Millers River at Winchendon, MA
- Priest Brook at Winchendon, MA
- Ashuelot River at Keene, NH
- Ashuelot River above West Swanzey, NH
- South Branch Piscataquog River near Goffstown, NH
- Otter River at Otter River, MA
- Ashuelot River near Gilsum, NH
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PTRN3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.