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Spicket River near Methuen

Highest listed crest 12.15 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft13 crests since 2001

The Spicket River near Methuen crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 13 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2001 to 2014. The highest, 12.15 ft on May 16, 2006, was major flooding, 4.15 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
12.15 ft
May 16, 2006; 2,480 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 12.0 ft
Crests at major
1
29th of 65 gauges in Massachusetts
Most recent flood crest
April 1, 2014
8.14 ft, minor flooding
Location
Essex County
Near Methuen (1.5 mi), Lawrence (3.8 mi), Haverhill (6.7 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Spicket River near Methuen
Action stage6.54Mar 9, 2008The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.07Apr 1, 2014Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage12.01May 16, 2006Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

13 crests from 2001 to 2014. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Spicket River near Methuen, 2001 to 2014 468101214ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 12.0 ft Mar 24, 2001: 9.07 ft, minor flooding; 1,140 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2002: 5.70 ft, below flood stage; 345 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2003: 6.53 ft, action stage; 514 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2004: 8.83 ft, minor flooding; 1,080 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2005: 7.54 ft, action stageOct 16, 2005: 7.52 ft, action stageMay 16, 2006: 12.15 ft, major flooding; 2,480 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2007: 9.01 ft, minor flooding; 1,360 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2008: 7.02 ft, action stage; 712 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 2010: 8.53 ft, minor flooding; 996 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2010: 9.86 ft, minor flooding; 1,670 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 2010: 9.13 ft, minor flooding; 1,156 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 2014: 8.14 ft, minor flooding; 990 cubic feet per second Highest, 12.15 ft, May 16, 2006 200520102015

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Spicket River near Methuen 2000s: 4 4 2010s: 4 2000s2010s
  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, Spicket River near Methuen
1May 16, 200612.15+4.15Major2,480
2Mar 16, 20109.86+1.86Minor1,670
3Apr 1, 20109.13+1.13Minor1,156
4Mar 24, 20019.07+1.07Minor1,140
5Apr 18, 20079.01+1.01Minor1,360
6Apr 3, 20048.83+0.83Minor1,080
7Feb 27, 20108.53+0.53Minor996
8Apr 1, 20148.14+0.14Minor990
9May 27, 20057.54−0.46Action—
10Oct 16, 20057.52−0.48Action—
11Mar 9, 20087.02−0.98Action712
12Mar 23, 20036.53−1.47Action514
13May 18, 20025.70−2.30Below flood stage345

Other gauges in Essex County

Flood gauges in Essex County
Atlantic Coast at Gloucester (IN MLLW)11.513.13 ft, Jan 4, 20180
Ipswich7.010.53 ft, May 15, 20061
South Middleton7.08.46 ft, May 15, 20060
Lawrence24.025.37 ft, Dec 20, 20230
Haverhill11.025.75 ft, Mar 20, 19363
Byfield5.57.85 ft, May 15, 20062
Andover29.037.45 ft, May 15, 20062

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MTHM3, 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.