Pawcatuck at Westerly, RI
River level and flood forecast · Washington County
The river is 1.4 ft below flood stage (7 ft).
Forecast to fall to 5.2 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 8 AM.
Flow: 1,050 cubic feet per second (USGS).
Much higher than normal for October 13.
Usual for October 13: 104 to 268 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 86 years).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 11:14 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Pawcatuck at Westerly to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 11 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9 ft |
| Flood stage | 7 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (September 21, 1938) | 15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 12 ftMajor flooding occurs in Westerly, Hopkinton, Stonington and New Stonington. Areas hardest hit include the following, in Hopkinton, Maxson, Church and Laurel Streets, Route 3, and French Village. In Westerly, Hiscox Road, Saratoga Street and Canal Street. Substantial flooding occurs on Route 49 by the Stonington and North Stonington town line. Follow the advice of local officials, and evacuate if asked to do so.
- 11 ftFloodwaters inundate Route 3 near the Hopkinton and Westerly town line, with substantial flooding at French Village. Flooding forces closures of Maxson and Laurel Streets in Hopkinton. Hiscox Road and several homes in that neighborhood are inundated, floodwaters also reach onto lower Saratoga Street and low lying areas of Canal Street. Inundation also occurs along portions of Stonington and New Stonington including a portion of Route 49. Follow the advice of local officials, evacuate if asked to do so.
- 10 ftFloodwaters encroach on Route 3 near the Hopkinton and Westerly town line, with substantial flooding at French Village. Hiscox Road is closed due to flooding from Route 3 past Saratoga Street, and low lying homes are impacted in that neighborhood. Floodwaters encroach on low lying industrial and residential properties along Canal Street. Stonington and New Stonington are also impacted, including a portion of Route 49. Follow the advice of local officials, and evacuate if asked to do so.
- 9 ftLowland flooding is anticipated from Hopkinton downriver through Westerly, Stonington and New Stonington. Lowest lying homes along Hiscox Road in Westerly are inundated by floodwaters. Along Route 3, flooding occurs at homes in French Village in Hopkinton. Follow the advice of local officials, and evacuate if asked to do so. Floodwaters may inundate Route 49 by the North Stonington and Stonington town line.
- 8 ftFloodwaters approach lowest lying homes along Hiscox Road in Westerly. Along Route 3, flooding occurs at some homes in French Village in Hopkinton.
- 7 ftMinor lowland flooding occurs along the Pawcatuck River. Along Route 3 in Hopkinton, floodwaters encroach on lowest lying homes in French Village.
Highest crests on record
- 15 ft — September 21, 1938
- 12.86 ft — June 6, 1982
- 10.49 ft — March 18, 1968
- 9.84 ft — January 13, 2024
- 9.78 ft — April 25, 1983
Recent crests: 7.4 ft (December 12, 2024) · 7.28 ft (May 18, 2024) · 7.68 ft (April 4, 2024) · 7.47 ft (March 30, 2024) · 7.58 ft (March 26, 2024)
Highest flow on record
10,800 cubic feet per second — March 30, 2010. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1927.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (WSTR1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.