Winooski River at Essex Junction, VT
River level and flood forecast · Chittenden County
The river is 10.4 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Forecast to rise to 4.6 ft Wed 2 PM, below the 12 ft flood stage.
Flow: 207 cubic feet per second (USGS).
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.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Winooski River at Essex Junction to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 18 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 10 ft |
| Record crest (November 4, 1927) | 51.4 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftFlooding will be widespread along the Winooski river from Jonesville to Lake Champlain. Water will cover Route 2 from Bolton to Williston, and Route 117 from Richmond to Essex. Bridge Street in Richmond, North Williston Road in Williston and Essex, Poor Farm Road in South Burlington and Williston floods. The Burlington Intervale will be inundated.
- 18 ftFlooding will be widespread along the Winooski River from Jonesville to the rivers mouth at Lake Champlain. Water will cover Bridge Street in Richmond, North Williston Road in Williston and Essex, Poor Farm Road in South Burlington and Williston. The Burlington Intervale will be inundated.
- 16 ftLow lying roads along the Winooski will flood, including Bridge Street in Richmond, North Williston Road in Essex, Poor Farm Road near the South Burlington and Essex town line, and Pine Island Road in Colchester. The Burlington Intervale will be inundated, and there will be widespread field flooding from Jonesville to Lake Champlain.
- 15 ftFlooding will occur on North Williston Road in Essex, Bridge Street and Volunteer Green in Richmond, and low lying roads in Jonesville. Water will inundate low lying fields along the Winooski from Jonesville to Burlington.
- 14 ftFlooding will occur on North Williston Road in Essex and Pine Island Road in Colchester. Water will approach Bridge Street and Volunteer Green in Richmond, and low lying roads in Jonesville. Low lying farmland in the Burlington Intervale will flood, as well as farmland along the Winooski from Bolton through Burlington.
- 13 ftWater will cover North Williston Road in Essex and Pine Island Road in Colchester. Low lying farmland in the Burlington Intervale will flood.
- 12.5 ftNorth Williston Road in Essex will begin to flood, and motorists should seek an alternate route. Water will flood farmland in the Burlington Intervale.
- 12 ftFarms in the Burlington Intervale begin to flood. Water will flood fields adjacent to North Williston Road in Essex and will approach North Williston Road.
Highest crests on record
- 51.4 ft — November 4, 1927
- 24.54 ft — March 19, 1936
- 23.28 ft — July 11, 2023
- 22.19 ft — August 29, 2011
- 22.17 ft — February 21, 1981
Recent crests: 12.89 ft (March 17, 2025) · 20.48 ft (July 11, 2024) · 13.38 ft (March 8, 2024) · 21.52 ft (December 19, 2023) · 23.28 ft (July 11, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (ESSV1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.