Merrimack River near Haverhill
Massachusetts — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Essex County, Massachusetts on the Merrimack River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 011006988, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
16 ft
Moderate Flood
14 ft
Minor Flood
11 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
27 ft
Catastrophic, life threatening flooding will occur from Haverhill and Merrimac to Amesbury and Newburyport. The Seawall in downtown Haverhill will be overtopped. Widespread evacuations along the river are likely. Docks and boats, if not removed from the water, will likely be destroyed. Marinas will be severely impacted. Follow the directions of local officials, and stay away from these floodwaters.
25 ft
Catastrophic, life threatening flooding will occur from Haverhill and Merrimac to Amesbury and Newburyport. The Seawall in downtown Haverhill will be overtopped. Widespread evacuations along the river are likely. Docks and boats, if not removed from the water, will likely be destroyed. Marinas will be severely impacted. Follow the directions of local officials, and stay away from these floodwaters.
22 ft
Disastrous, life threatening flooding is expected. The river has not flooded to this level since 1936. Major flooding occurs along the river from Haverhill and Merrimac to Amesbury. Numerous evfacuations will occur. Flooding is also expected along Newburyport and Salisbury communities closest to the river. The Haverhill seawall begins to overtop, resulting in the onset of flooding in downtown Haverhill. Follow the directions of local officials. Docks and boats in the water will likely be destroyed.
21 ft
Major flooding occurs from Haverhill and Merrimac to Amesbury. Newburyport and Salisbury will experience flooding along roadways closest to the Merrimack River. In Haverhill numerous evacuations are likely, especially along stretches of Coffin Avenue, Old Ferry Road, Western Avenue, Orchard Avenue and River Street. Follow the directions of local officials. Boats, docks and marinas will be severely impacted.
18.5 ft
Major flooding will occur from Haverhill and Merrimac to Amesbury. Newburyport and Salisbury will experience flooding along roadways closest to the river. In Haverhill numerous evacuations are likely, especially along Coffin Avenue, Western Avenue, Orchard Avenue, Old Ferry Road and River Street. Follow the directions of local officials. Boats, docks and marinas will be severely impacted.
17 ft
Major flooding is expected from Haverhill to Amesbury. The lowest lying roads in Salisbury and Newburyport will also be affected. In Haverhill, floodwaters will innundate portions of Old Ferry Road, Western Avenue, Coffin Avenue, Orchard Avenue, and River Street. Marinas along the river will likely experience considerable flooding. While floodwsaters are expected to remain on the river side of the sea wall, innundation may occur on the lowest levels of businesses adjacent to the river.
16 ft
Major flooding is expected from Haverhill to Amesbury. The lowest lying roads in Salisbury and Newburyport will also be affected. In Haverhill, floodwaters will innundate portions of Old Ferry Road, Western Avenue, Coffin Avenue, Orchard Avenue, and River Street. Marinas along the river will likely experience considerable flooding. While floodwsaters are expected to remain on the river side of the sea wall, innundation may occur on the lowest levels of businesses adjacent to the river.
15 ft
Floodwaters reach into low lying businesses and residences along River Street, Western Avenue, Coffin Avenue and Orchard Avenue. Backwater flooding occurs near old Ferry Road and Slavit Riverside Airport. Marinas, docks and boats will be impacted. Should evacuations be necessary, act quickly and follow the directions of emergency management officals. Know your alternate routes of travel so you can avoid flooded areas.
14 ft
Flooding is likely in parts of Haverhill, particularly in the vicinity of Coffin Avenue. Floodwaters may surround homes in this area. Should evacuations become necessary, act quickly and follow the directions of emergency management officials. Marinas, boats and docks will be impacted.
13.5 ft
Flooding is likely in low lying sections of Haverhill, including portions of Coffin Avenue. Should evacuations be necessary, act quickly and follow the directions of emergency management officals. Know your alternate routes of travel so you can avoid flooded areas. Marinas, boats and docks will be impacted.
12 ft
Flooding is expected in low lying sections around Haverhill. Marinas near and downstream of Haverhill should take action to protect boats and docks due to the increased flows.
11 ft
Flooding is expected in low lying sections around Haverhill. Marinas near and downstream of Haverhill should take action to protect boats and docks due to the increased flows.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1936 | 25.75 ft | — |
| Mar 19, 1936 | 25.75 ft | — |
| Sep 12, 1938 | 18.25 ft | — |
| Sep 12, 1938 | 18.25 ft | — |
| May 15, 2006 | 17.05 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
BATM3
River
Merrimack River
County
Essex, MA
Coordinates
42.7636°N, 71.0332°W
Get Flood Alerts for Merrimack River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Merrimack River near Haverhill?
The Merrimack River near Haverhill gauge is maintained by USGS (site 011006988) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Merrimack River near Haverhill?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Merrimack River near Haverhill is 11 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 14 feet, and major flooding at 16 feet.
How do I get alerts when Merrimack River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Merrimack River near Haverhill to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Merrimack River near Haverhill gauge located?
The gauge is located in Essex County, Massachusetts at coordinates 42.7636°N, 71.0332°W. USGS site number: 011006988. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- Gauge readings are temporarily unavailable.
- Stage may be affected by ice.
- Crest data is taken from a discontinued USGS site upstream of the current stream gauge, and is included for informational purposes only.