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Shetucket River at Willimantic

Highest listed crest 27.60 ftFlood stage 13.0 ft21 crests since 1936

The Shetucket River at Willimantic crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 21 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1936 to 2011. The highest, 27.60 ft on September 21, 1938, was major flooding, 14.60 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
27.60 ft
September 21, 1938; 52,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
13.0 ft
Major flooding from 17.0 ft
Crests at major
4
7th of 26 gauges in Connecticut
Most recent flood crest
October 16, 2005
13.55 ft, minor flooding
Location
Windham County
Near Norwich (11.6 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Shetucket River at Willimantic
Action stage11.011Mar 7, 2011The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.05Oct 16, 2005Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage17.04Aug 19, 1955Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

21 crests from 1936 to 2011. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Shetucket River at Willimantic, 1936 to 2011 51015202530ft Flood stage 13.0 ftMajor 17.0 ft Mar 12, 1936: 18.35 ft, major flooding; 23,900 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1936: 17.95 ft, major flooding; 23,100 cubic feet per secondNov 29, 1937: 14.94 ft, minor flooding; 15,800 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 1938: 13.31 ft, minor flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1938: 14.65 ft, minor flooding; 15,300 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1938: 27.60 ft, major flooding; 52,200 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 1940: 11.40 ft, action stage; 92,405 cubic feet per secondFeb 8, 1941: 11.90 ft, action stage; 100,005 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1942: 11.04 ft, action stage; 86,105 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 1955: 17.36 ft, major floodingOct 16, 1955: 11.61 ft, action stage; 95,806 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1973: 11.20 ft, action stage; 89,206 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 1978: 11.16 ft, action stage; 88,606 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1979: 12.71 ft, action stage; 114,806 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1980: 11.38 ft, action stage; 92,106 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1982: 14.72 ft, minor flooding; 15,400 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1984: 11.49 ft, action stage; 93,706 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1995: 7.14 ft, below flood stage; 3,610 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1996: 11.95 ft, action stage; 9,970 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 2005: 13.55 ft, minor flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2011: 11.73 ft, action stage; 9,560 cubic feet per second Highest, 27.60 ft, Sep 21, 1938 19401950196019701980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Shetucket River at Willimantic 1930s: 6 6 1940s: 0 1950s: 1 1960s: 0 1970s: 0 1980s: 1 1990s: 0 2000s: 1 2010s: 0 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Shetucket River at Willimantic
1Sep 21, 193827.60+14.60Major52,200
2Mar 12, 193618.35+5.35Major23,900
3Mar 19, 193617.95+4.95Major23,100
4Aug 19, 195517.36+4.36Major—
5Nov 29, 193714.94+1.94Minor15,800
6Jun 6, 198214.72+1.72Minor15,400
7Jul 24, 193814.65+1.65Minor15,300
8Oct 16, 200513.55+0.55Minor12,800
9Jan 26, 193813.31+0.31Minor12,600
10Jan 25, 197912.71−0.29Action114,806
11Apr 17, 199611.95−1.05Action9,970
12Feb 8, 194111.90−1.10Action100,005
13Mar 7, 201111.73−1.27Action9,560
14Oct 16, 195511.61−1.39Action95,806
15Jun 1, 198411.49−1.51Action93,706
16Jan 15, 194011.40−1.60Action92,405
17Mar 22, 198011.38−1.62Action92,106
18Feb 3, 197311.20−1.80Action89,206
19Jan 26, 197811.16−1.84Action88,606
20Dec 31, 194211.04−1.96Action86,105
21Mar 9, 19957.14−5.86Below flood stage3,610

Other gauges in Windham County

Flood gauges in Windham County
Warrenville7.014.50 ft, Sep 21, 19384
Putnam9.526.50 ft, Aug 19, 19553

Windham County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Connecticut

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WLMC3, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.