Saco River at Bartlett, NH
River level and flood forecast · Carroll County
The river is 7.5 ft below flood stage (10 ft).
Flow: 31 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Much lower than normal for October 13.
Usual for October 13: 49 to 135 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 17 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 Saco River at Bartlett to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 10 ft |
| Action stage | 5 ft |
| Record crest (August 28, 2011) | 14.83 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 14.8 ftExtremely severe flooding comparable to the flooding from Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011. Numerous homes and businesses from Bartlett to North Conway damaged by water depths of several feet. Rural lands and roads along the Saco River are inundated and damaged by swift currents. Hundreds of homes inaccessible due to floodwaters.
- 13.5 ftFlood inundation near the FEMA 0.2 percent flood hazard level.
- 13 ftSevere Flooding on River Street, upper West Side Road, and Cobb Farm Road in Bartlett. Flood waters affect propertly along Route 302 and Covered Bridge in Bartlett. River Road First Bridge in North Conway flooded. Inundation near the FEMA 1 percent flood hazard level.
- 12.5 ftModerate flooding to homes on River Street in Bartlett. Homes along Sleepy Hollow Road in Glen flooded. Flood waters encroach on properties off Pine Glen Road and Bartlett Place Road. Backwater on the Rocky Branch impacts properties off Sleepy Hollow Road. Significant flooding expected downstream in North Conway.
- 12 ftMinor flooding occurs on River Street. Flood waters approach properties on Cobb Farm Road.
- 10 ftMinor flooding to properties along River Street in Bartlett. Significant flooding likely along downstream campgrounds from Glen Ellis, North Conway, and Conway.
- 9 ftRiver out of banks in Bartlett. Backwater on the Ellis River combined with the Saco River high flows will inundate campground property in Glen Ellis.
- 6 ftDownstream riverside campgrounds from Glen Ellis to Conway flooded hours later. Campers should move to higher ground.
- 5 ftHigh streamflows are expected but no flooding occurs in Bartlett. High risk for recreational paddlers.
Highest crests on record
- 14.83 ft — August 28, 2011
- 13.93 ft — October 30, 2017
- 13.87 ft — December 18, 2023
- 10.66 ft — May 1, 2023
- 9.85 ft — April 15, 2014
Recent crests: 13.87 ft (December 18, 2023) · 10.66 ft (May 1, 2023) · 13.93 ft (October 30, 2017) · 8.78 ft (July 2, 2017) · 9.85 ft (April 15, 2014)
Highest flow on record
29,100 cubic feet per second — August 28, 2011. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 2010.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (BLTN3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.