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Charles River at Medway

Highest listed crest 7.21 ftFlood stage 5.0 ft15 crests since 1998

The Charles River at Medway crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 15 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1998 to 2024. The highest, 7.21 ft on March 31, 2010, was major flooding, 2.21 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Charles River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
7.21 ft
March 31, 2010; 1,767 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
5.0 ft
Major flooding from 7.0 ft
Crests at major
2
18th of 65 gauges in Massachusetts
Most recent flood crest
January 11, 2024
5.39 ft, minor flooding
Location
Norfolk County
Near Franklin Town (3.9 mi), Woonsocket (11.1 mi), Framingham (11.9 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Charles River at Medway
Action stage4.50—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)5.08Jan 11, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage6.03Dec 19, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage7.02Mar 31, 2010Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

15 crests from 1998 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Charles River at Medway, 1998 to 2024 45678ft Flood stage 5.0 ftMajor 7.0 ft Jun 14, 1998: 5.34 ft, minor flooding; 1,100 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2000: 4.02 ft, below flood stage; 747 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2001: 6.35 ft, moderate flooding; 1,490 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2004: 4.46 ft, below flood stage; 919 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 2005: 7.02 ft, major flooding; 1,444 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2006: 5.47 ft, minor floodingDec 13, 2008: 5.57 ft, minor flooding; 1,154 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2010: 5.41 ft, minor flooding; 1,194 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2010: 6.62 ft, moderate flooding; 1,578 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2010: 7.21 ft, major flooding; 1,767 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 2014: 5.09 ft, minor flooding; 1,105 cubic feet per secondJan 13, 2018: 5.39 ft, minor flooding; 1,189 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2021: 5.09 ft, minor flooding; 1,114 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2023: 6.35 ft, moderate flooding; 1,494 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 2024: 5.39 ft, minor flooding; 1,197 cubic feet per second Highest, 7.21 ft, Mar 31, 2010 200020052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Charles River at Medway 1990s: 1 2000s: 4 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 3 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Charles River at Medway
1Mar 31, 20107.21+2.21Major1,767
2Oct 16, 20057.02+2.02Major1,444
3Mar 16, 20106.62+1.62Moderate1,578
4Mar 23, 20016.35+1.35Moderate1,490
5Dec 19, 20236.35+1.35Moderate1,494
6Dec 13, 20085.57+0.57Minor1,154
7Jun 8, 20065.47+0.47Minor—
8Feb 26, 20105.41+0.41Minor1,194
9Jan 13, 20185.39+0.39Minor1,189
10Jan 11, 20245.39+0.39Minor1,197
11Jun 14, 19985.34+0.34Minor1,100
12Apr 1, 20145.09+0.09Minor1,105
13Jul 11, 20215.09+0.09Minor1,114
14Apr 15, 20044.46−0.54Below flood stage919
15Apr 23, 20004.02−0.98Below flood stage747

The worst floods along the Charles River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Charles River that crested above flood stage within a week.

March 31, 2010: 7.21 ft here, major flooding

  • DoverMA · Apr 2, 2010 · 8.05 ft · Major
  • WalthamMA · Mar 31, 2010 · 6.46 ft · Minor

October 16, 2005: 7.02 ft here, major flooding

  • DoverMA · Oct 19, 2005 · 6.09 ft · Minor

March 16, 2010: 6.62 ft here, moderate flooding

  • DoverMA · Mar 18, 2010 · 7.76 ft · Moderate
  • WalthamMA · Mar 16, 2010 · 7.56 ft · Moderate · its highest

Gauges on the Charles River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Charles River
Medway this gaugeMA5.07.21 ft, Mar 31, 20102
DoverMA5.09.24 ft, Aug 23, 19556
WalthamMA5.07.56 ft, Mar 16, 20100

Other gauges in Norfolk County

Flood gauges in Norfolk County
Dover5.09.24 ft, Aug 23, 19556
East Braintree4.55.60 ft, Mar 17, 20100
Norwood9.014.65 ft, Aug 19, 19555
Weymouth4.55.92 ft, Oct 15, 20050

Norfolk County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Massachusetts

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MEDM3, 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.