Spicket River near Methuen, NH
River level and flood forecast · Essex County
Normal3.8 ftas of Tue 12:30 AM
The river is 4.2 ft below flood stage (8 ft).
Flow: 28 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Normal for October 13.
Usual for October 13: 24 to 137 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 21 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 Spicket River near Methuen to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 12 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 8 ft |
| Action stage | 6.5 ft |
| Record crest (May 16, 2006) | 12.15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 14 ftThis is a dangerous, major flood in Salem, Methuen and Lawrence. In Salem, affected areas include Haigh St, Bluff St Ext, Main St, Hampshire Rd, Fiedler Ave, Linwood Ave and Mulberry Rd. In Methuen, affected areas include Horne St, Morrison Ct, Broadway, Gleason St, East River Place, and Pine St. This river inundates numerous roadways and homes in Lawrence within the vicinity of Route 28 and Daisy St, through Erving Ave and Myrtle St. Flooding occurs at the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home.
- 13.2 ftThis is the maximum reportable stage at the Spicket River gage. In Salem, flooding occurs on Haigh St, Main St, Bluff St Ext, Hampshire Rd, Linwood Ave, Mulberry Rd and Fiedler Ave. In Methuen, affected areas include Horne St, Morrison Ct, Broadway, Gleason St, Pine St, and East River Place. In Lawrence, numerous homes in the general vicinity of Holly St, Park St, Myrtle St and Erving Ave will be inundated. Floodwaters will reach the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home.
- 12 ftThis is a dangerous, major flood in Salem, Methuen and Lawrence. In Salem, flooding occurs on Haigh St, Main St, Bluff St Ext, Hampshire Rd, Linwood Ave, Mulberry Rd and Fiedler Ave. In Methuen, affected areas include Horne St, Morrison Court, Broadway, Gleason St, Pine St, and East River Place. In Lawrence, numerous homes in the general vicinity of Holly St, Park St, Myrtle St and Erving Ave will be innundated. Floodwaters reach the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home.
- 11 ftIn Salem the following locations are affected, Haigh St, Main St, Bluff St Ext, Hampshire Rd, Mulberry Rd, Fiedler Ave and Linwood Ave. In Methuen, floodwaters affect the following locations, Horne St, Pine St, Gleason St, Morrison Court, Broadway, and East River Place. In Lawrence, locations impacted include the general vicinity of Park St to Broadway St, Erving Avenue and some nearby streets. Flooding is also expected further down river on Haverhill St, Access Rd, and Garden St.
- 10 ftModerate flooding occurs along the Spicket in Salem, Methuen and Lawrence. In Salem the following streets and/or low lying properties along those streets are affected, Haigh and Main St, Bluff St Ext, and Fiedler Ave. In Methuen, floodwaters affect the lowest lying homes and properties on Horne St, Gleason St, Morrison Court and Broadway. In Lawrence flooded areas include but are not limited to, Berving Ave, Spruce St, Saratoga St and Short St. Homes are affected on Myrtle and Willow.
- 9 ftIn Salem, the lower ends of Haigh St, Bluff St Extension and lowest lying properties on Fiedler Ave are impacted. Main St floods by the river. In Methuen, floodwaters affect the following locations, Horne, Pine and Gleason Streets, Morrison Court, Broadway, and East River Place. In Lawrence, floodwaters affect the following locations, Erving Avenue, Spruce, Saratoga, Myrtle and Willow Streets, and Schofield Park.
- 8.5 ftIn Salem, floodwaters encroach on lowest lying properties on Fiedler Ave. In Methuen, floodwaters encroach near properties on Horne Street, Morrison Court, and Broadway. In Lawrence, the river inundates Schofield Park and spreads onto Saratoga Street. Floodwaters reach onto Willow Street as well as nearby low lying buildings in the vicinity of Willow and Myrtle streets. In addition, floodwaters begin to inundate Spruce Street around the bridge.
- 8 ftWater backs up behind the Hampshire Road Bridge at the Methuen and Salem line. Floodwaters encroach on lowest lying properties on Fiedler Avenue in Salem. In Lawrence, floodwaters reach onto Willow Street as well as nearby low lying buildings in the vicinity of Willow and Myrtle Streets. Floodwaters begin ponding onto Spruce Street around the bridge. Schofield Park begins to flood, and floodwaters begin to spread onto nearby Saratoga Street.
- 7.5 ftMinor flooding of several parking areas along the river is possible as water from the Spicket River backs up into storm drains. Water begins to back up behind the Hampshire Road Bridge at the Methuen and Salem town line. Floodwaters encroach on lowest lying properties on Fiedler Ave in Salem.
Highest crests on record
- 12.15 ft — May 16, 2006
- 9.86 ft — March 16, 2010
- 9.13 ft — April 1, 2010
- 9.07 ft — March 24, 2001
- 9.01 ft — April 18, 2007
Recent crests: 8.14 ft (April 1, 2014) · 9.13 ft (April 1, 2010) · 9.86 ft (March 16, 2010) · 8.53 ft (February 27, 2010) · 7.02 ft (March 9, 2008)
Highest flow on record
2,480 cubic feet per second — May 15, 2006. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 2001.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MTHM3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.