Passaic River at Little Falls
New Jersey — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Passaic County, New Jersey on the Passaic River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 01389500, 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
9 ft
Moderate Flood
8 ft
Minor Flood
7 ft
Action Stage
6.5 ft
5,402 cfs
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
12 ft
Wagaraw Road in Hawthorne, between Lafayette Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, is closed. Passaic Avenue, Schoon Avenue and Vincent Street are also closed. Homes and businesses flood.
11.5 ft
Tyler Street, Shady Street, Arch Street, Lowe Street, Wood Street, and Bleeker Street in Paterson are closed due to flooding.
11 ft
The West Broadway Bridge in Paterson is subject to closures.
10.5 ft
Businesses along Route 46 in Wayne begin to flood. Route 23 floods. The Willowbrook Mall experiences flooding. Haledon Avenue bridge in Paterson is subject to closures. Also in Paterson, portions of Straight Street, Union Avenue, West Broadway, Ryle Avenue, East Main Street, North Main Street, and Haledon Avenue are also subject to closures due to flooding.
10 ft
Wagaraw Road in Hawthorne is closed. Homes and businesses in Hawthorne, directly along the river, begin to flood. Water begins to flow over the Temple Street bridge in Paterson.
9.5 ft
Route 46 in Wayne is subject to closures. Riverside Drive in Wayne floods. Flooding in Little Falls worsens as homes on William Street and Zeliff Avenue take on water. Arch Street and Temple Street bridges in Paterson are subject to closures. Also in Paterson, portions of Watson Street, Hillman Street, Bergen Street, east Holsman Street, North 1st Street, Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and Goodwin Street are also subject to closures due to flooding.
9 ft
Widespread flooding occurs throughout Lincoln Park and Wayne with many evacuations. In Paterson, portions of River Street, Presidential Boulevard, Bridge Street, Tyler Street, Totowa Avenue and Mclean Boulevard are flooded.
8.5 ft
Widespread flooding occurs in Fairfield.
8 ft
Flooding occurs in the "Old" Wayne area of Wayne. The recycling center and Wagaraw Road ball field complex in Hawthorne begins to experience flooding.
7 ft
Minor flooding begins in Lincoln Park, Wayne and Little Falls.
6.5 ft
Low lying areas in the vicinity of Two Bridges in Wayne are flooded. The lower end of Bergen Street in Paterson, closest to the river, begins to flood.
6 ft
Portions of Hoffman Grove in Wayne sustain some nuisance flooding.
5.5 ft
The lower end of East-Holsman Street in Paterson, closest to the river, begins to flood.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 1903 | 17.5 ft | 31,700 cfs |
| Oct 9, 1903 | 17.5 ft | 31,700 cfs |
| Aug 30, 2011 | 14.19 ft | 20,800 cfs |
| Aug 30, 2011 | 14.19 ft | 20,800 cfs |
| Apr 6, 1984 | 12.91 ft | 18,400 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Passaic 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 Passaic River at Little Falls?
The Passaic River at Little Falls gauge is maintained by USGS (site 01389500) 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 Passaic River at Little Falls?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Passaic River at Little Falls is 7 feet. Action stage begins at 6.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 8 feet, and major flooding at 9 feet.
How do I get alerts when Passaic River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Passaic River at Little Falls 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 Passaic River at Little Falls gauge located?
The gauge is located in Passaic County, New Jersey at coordinates 40.8847°N, 74.2261°W. USGS site number: 01389500. 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 reading affected by reservoir operations.