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Concord River at Lowell

Highest listed crest 9.74 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft30 crests since 1938

The Concord River at Lowell crested above flood stage 17 times among the 30 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1938 to 2024. The highest, 9.74 ft on March 17, 2010, was minor flooding, 1.74 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
9.74 ft
March 17, 2010; 5,840 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 12.0 ft
Crests at major
0
17 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
January 15, 2024
8.13 ft, minor flooding
Location
Middlesex County
Near Lowell (1.0 mi), Lawrence (8.4 mi), Methuen (9.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Concord River at Lowell
Action stage7.512Apr 5, 2004The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.017Jan 15, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage12.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

30 crests from 1938 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Concord River at Lowell, 1938 to 2024 681012ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 12.0 ft Jul 29, 1938: 8.11 ft, minor flooding; 3,790 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1948: 7.94 ft, action stage; 32,006 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1953: 7.68 ft, action stage; 28,606 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 1954: 8.05 ft, minor flooding; 3,340 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 1955: 8.97 ft, minor flooding; 4,540 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1956: 7.71 ft, action stage; 29,706 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 1958: 7.89 ft, action stage; 31,206 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1962: 7.66 ft, action stage; 28,206 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1963: 7.77 ft, action stage; 29,606 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1969: 7.84 ft, action stage; 30,506 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1970: 7.77 ft, action stage; 29,600 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1977: 7.51 ft, action stage; 26,300 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 1979: 9.60 ft, minor flooding; 5,410 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1987: 9.60 ft, minor flooding; 5,400 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 1994: 6.51 ft, below flood stage; 1,540 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1996: 7.85 ft, action stage; 29,400 cubic feet per secondOct 24, 1996: 8.20 ft, minor floodingJun 18, 1998: 8.05 ft, minor floodingApr 27, 2000: 7.88 ft, action stage; 28,306 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2001: 8.96 ft, minor flooding; 4,150 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2004: 7.96 ft, action stage; 3,060 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2005: 8.34 ft, minor flooding; 3,460 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2006: 8.16 ft, minor flooding; 3,270 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2007: 8.48 ft, minor flooding; 3,610 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2008: 8.15 ft, minor flooding; 3,260 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 2010: 8.33 ft, minor flooding; 3,632 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2010: 9.74 ft, minor flooding; 5,840 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2010: 9.64 ft, minor flooding; 5,660 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 2023: 8.17 ft, minor flooding; 3,414 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 2024: 8.13 ft, minor flooding; 3,361 cubic feet per second Highest, 9.74 ft, Mar 17, 2010 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Concord River at Lowell 1930s: 1 1940s: 0 1950s: 2 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 1 1990s: 2 2000s: 5 5 2010s: 3 2020s: 2 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Concord River at Lowell
1Mar 17, 20109.74+1.74Minor5,840
2Apr 3, 20109.64+1.64Minor5,660
3Jan 28, 19799.60+1.60Minor5,410
4Apr 10, 19879.60+1.60Minor5,400
5Aug 23, 19558.97+0.97Minor4,540
6Mar 25, 20018.96+0.96Minor4,150
7Apr 20, 20078.48+0.48Minor3,610
8Apr 5, 20058.34+0.34Minor3,460
9Mar 1, 20108.33+0.33Minor3,632
10Oct 24, 19968.20+0.20Minor—
11Dec 21, 20238.17+0.17Minor3,414
12May 17, 20068.16+0.16Minor3,270
13Mar 11, 20088.15+0.15Minor3,260
14Jan 15, 20248.13+0.13Minor3,361
15Jul 29, 19388.11+0.11Minor3,790
16Sep 15, 19548.05+0.05Minor3,340
17Jun 18, 19988.05+0.05Minor—
18Apr 5, 20047.96−0.04Action3,060
19Mar 24, 19487.94−0.06Action32,006
20Jan 30, 19587.89−0.11Action31,206
21Apr 27, 20007.88−0.12Action28,306
22Jan 31, 19967.85−0.15Action29,400
23Mar 30, 19697.84−0.16Action30,506
24Mar 30, 19637.77−0.23Action29,606
25Feb 14, 19707.77−0.23Action29,600
26Apr 18, 19567.71−0.29Action29,706
27Apr 19, 19537.68−0.32Action28,606
28Apr 4, 19627.66−0.34Action28,206
29Mar 26, 19777.51−0.49Action26,300
30Dec 28, 19946.51−1.49Below flood stage1,540

Other gauges in Middlesex County

Flood gauges in Middlesex County
Maynard5.08.94 ft, Aug 20, 19556
Waltham5.07.56 ft, Mar 16, 20100
Lowell52.068.40 ft, Mar 20, 19365
East Pepperell8.019.10 ft, Mar 20, 19363
Wilmington7.010.54 ft, Mar 16, 20102
West Groton7.08.50 ft, Apr 17, 20070
Saxonville10.013.99 ft, Mar 31, 20103

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge LCNM3, 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.