Pawtuxet River at Cranston, RI
River level and flood forecast · Providence County
Normal6.2 ftas of Mon 10:45 PM
The river is 2.8 ft below flood stage (9 ft).
Flow: 735 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The highest for October 13 in 87 years of records.
Usual for October 13: 95 to 180 cubic feet per second (the middle half of 87 years).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Tue, Sep 29, 10:41 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 Pawtuxet River at Cranston to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 11 ft |
| Flood stage | 9 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (March 31, 2010) | 20.79 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 ftThis is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation, nearing or exceeding flood levels seen during the historic March 2010 Floods. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
- 20 ftThis is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation, approaching flood levels seen during the historic March 2010 Floods. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
- 18 ftThis is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
- 16.5 ftThis is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
- 14.5 ftEvacuations are likely near the Pawtuxet river in Warwick and Cranston. Both homes and businesses will be impacted from this flood event. Businesses and homes will be impacted on streets including but not limited to the following, in Warwick, Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street, Venturi Avenue and River Street. In Cranston, Wellington Avenue and Avery Road. In West Warwick, Daisy Street, the lower ends of Canna, Begonia and Aster Streets, and portions of Providence Street to Route 2.
- 12 ftEvacuations are likely near the Pawtuxet River in Warwick and Cranston. Both homes and businesses will be impacted from this flood event. Businesses and homes will be impacted on streets including but not limited to the following, in Warwick, Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street, Venturi Avenue, and River Street. In Cranston, Wellington Avenue and Avery Road. In West Warwick, Daisy Street, the lower ends of Canna, Begonia and Aster Streets, and portions of Providence Street to Route 2.
- 11.5 ftHomes and businesses are impacted in low lying sections of Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Affected roads in Cranston include Avery Road and Wellington Avenue. Affected roads in Warwick include Pioneer Avenue, River Street, Bellows Street and Venturi Avenue. In West Warwick, affected areas include Daisy Street and the lower ends of Canna, Begonia and Aster Streets.
- 11 ftStructures and homes are impacted in low lying sections of Warwick. Affected areas include homes and businesses on Wellington Avenue and Avery Road in Cranston, as well as Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street, Venturi Avenue and a portion of River Street in Warwick.
- 10 ftFlooding will occur along Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street and Venturi Avenue in Warwick. Some homes are impacted on Avery Road and Wellington Avenue in Cranston.
- 9.5 ftParking lots and roads are flooded in low lying areas of Warwick and Cranston near the Pawtuxet River. Impacted roads include River Street, Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street and Venturi Avenue in Warwick.
- 9 ftMinor lowland flooding will occur along the river as it flows through Warwick and Cranston.
Highest crests on record
- 20.79 ft — March 31, 2010
- 15.11 ft — December 19, 2023
- 14.98 ft — March 15, 2010
- 14.5 ft — June 7, 1982
- 14.13 ft — January 11, 2024
Recent crests: 8.53 ft (May 24, 2025) · 9.27 ft (December 12, 2024) · 8.35 ft (May 23, 2024) · 10.07 ft (May 16, 2024) · 8.11 ft (April 12, 2024)
Highest flow on record
14,900 cubic feet per second — March 31, 2010. From the USGS's yearly peaks since 1940.
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CRAR1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.