Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Ware River at Gibbs Crossing

Highest listed crest 18.20 ftFlood stage 7.0 ft57 crests since 1913

The Ware River at Gibbs Crossing crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 57 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1913 to 2011. The highest, 18.20 ft on September 21, 1938, was major flooding, 11.20 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
18.20 ft
September 21, 1938; 22,700 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
7.0 ft
Major flooding from 11.0 ft
Crests at major
3
10th of 65 gauges in Massachusetts
Most recent flood crest
September 9, 2011
7.14 ft, minor flooding
Location
Hampshire County
Near Palmer Town (3.7 mi), Amherst Town (14.9 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Ware River at Gibbs Crossing
Action stage5.043Dec 18, 2003The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)7.011Sep 9, 2011Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage9.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage11.03Aug 19, 1955Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

57 crests from 1913 to 2011. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Ware River at Gibbs Crossing, 1913 to 2011 5101520ft Flood stage 7.0 ftMajor 11.0 ft Mar 28, 1913: 5.54 ft, action stage; 26,406 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1914: 7.03 ft, minor flooding; 3,360 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1915: 5.48 ft, action stage; 25,606 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1916: 5.15 ft, action stage; 23,706 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1919: 5.50 ft, action stage; 25,706 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1920: 6.00 ft, action stage; 28,206 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1923: 6.00 ft, action stageApr 8, 1924: 6.25 ft, action stageApr 1, 1932: 5.50 ft, action stage; 23,906 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 1933: 6.48 ft, action stageApr 13, 1934: 5.37 ft, action stage; 23,006 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 1935: 5.23 ft, action stage; 21,806 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1936: 8.13 ft, minor flooding; 4,220 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1936: 12.04 ft, major flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 1938: 6.92 ft, action stage; 3,210 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1938: 18.20 ft, major flooding; 22,700 cubic feet per secondDec 6, 1938: 5.29 ft, action stage; 23,006 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1942: 5.55 ft, action stage; 25,706 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1944: 7.84 ft, minor flooding; 4,930 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1947: 5.42 ft, action stage; 21,306 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1948: 5.11 ft, action stage; 21,306 cubic feet per secondJan 7, 1949: 5.03 ft, action stage; 20,606 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1953: 5.48 ft, action stage; 24,606 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 1954: 5.42 ft, action stage; 24,106 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 1955: 12.83 ft, major flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1956: 5.55 ft, action stage; 25,806 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1957: 5.11 ft, action stage; 22,006 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1959: 5.36 ft, action stage; 24,006 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 7.03 ft, minor flooding; 4,000 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1962: 6.46 ft, action stageMar 27, 1963: 5.05 ft, action stage; 21,206 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1968: 6.05 ft, action stageFeb 4, 1970: 5.60 ft, action stage; 26,606 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1973: 5.57 ft, action stage; 26,306 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 1974: 6.39 ft, action stageSep 27, 1975: 6.40 ft, action stageJan 28, 1976: 7.22 ft, minor flooding; 4,240 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1977: 5.62 ft, action stage; 26,806 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1978: 5.73 ft, action stage; 27,706 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1979: 7.94 ft, minor flooding; 5,050 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1980: 5.53 ft, action stage; 26,006 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1982: 5.34 ft, action stage; 24,206 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1983: 5.82 ft, action stage; 28,606 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1984: 7.88 ft, minor flooding; 4,580 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1986: 6.18 ft, action stageApr 5, 1987: 5.98 ft, action stage; 28,006 cubic feet per secondOct 21, 1989: 6.70 ft, action stage; 3,430 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1993: 6.64 ft, action stage; 3,370 cubic feet per secondDec 18, 1996: 5.82 ft, action stage; 26,706 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1999: 5.56 ft, action stage; 24,606 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 2000: 5.94 ft, action stage; 27,706 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2003: 5.18 ft, action stage; 21,706 cubic feet per secondDec 18, 2003: 5.84 ft, action stage; 26,906 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2005: 7.02 ft, minor flooding; 3,720 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 2005: 8.54 ft, minor flooding; 5,308 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2011: 8.62 ft, minor flooding; 5,446 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 2011: 7.14 ft, minor flooding; 4,142 cubic feet per second Highest, 18.20 ft, Sep 21, 1938 19201940196019802000

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Ware River at Gibbs Crossing 1910s: 1 1920s: 0 1930s: 3 3 1940s: 1 1950s: 1 1960s: 1 1970s: 2 1980s: 1 1990s: 0 2000s: 2 2010s: 2 1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  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

The 50 highest of 57 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Ware River at Gibbs Crossing
1Sep 21, 193818.20+11.20Major22,700
2Aug 19, 195512.83+5.83Major12,200
3Mar 19, 193612.04+5.04Major11,200
4Mar 7, 20118.62+1.62Minor5,446
5Oct 15, 20058.54+1.54Minor5,308
6Mar 12, 19368.13+1.13Minor4,220
7Mar 6, 19797.94+0.94Minor5,050
8May 31, 19847.88+0.88Minor4,580
9Jun 25, 19447.84+0.84Minor4,930
10Jan 28, 19767.22+0.22Minor4,240
11Sep 9, 20117.14+0.14Minor4,142
12Mar 2, 19147.03+0.03Minor3,360
13Mar 31, 19607.03+0.03Minor4,000
14Apr 4, 20057.02+0.02Minor3,720
15Jan 26, 19386.92−0.08Action3,210
16Oct 21, 19896.70−0.30Action3,430
17Mar 29, 19936.64−0.36Action3,370
18Sep 17, 19336.48−0.52Action—
19Apr 1, 19626.46−0.54Action—
20Sep 27, 19756.40−0.60Action—
21Dec 22, 19746.39−0.61Action—
22Apr 8, 19246.25−0.75Action—
23Jan 27, 19866.18−0.82Action—
24Mar 18, 19686.05−0.95Action—
25Mar 27, 19206.00−1.00Action28,206
26Apr 6, 19236.00−1.00Action—
27Apr 5, 19875.98−1.02Action28,006
28Apr 22, 20005.94−1.06Action27,706
29Dec 18, 20035.84−1.16Action26,906
30Apr 20, 19835.82−1.18Action28,606
31Dec 18, 19965.82−1.18Action26,706
32Jan 27, 19785.73−1.27Action27,706
33Mar 14, 19775.62−1.38Action26,806
34Feb 4, 19705.60−1.40Action26,606
35Feb 3, 19735.57−1.43Action26,306
36Jan 25, 19995.56−1.44Action24,606
37Mar 9, 19425.55−1.45Action25,706
38Apr 17, 19565.55−1.45Action25,806
39Mar 28, 19135.54−1.46Action26,406
40Apr 10, 19805.53−1.47Action26,006
41Mar 2, 19195.50−1.50Action25,706
42Apr 1, 19325.50−1.50Action23,906
43Feb 26, 19155.48−1.52Action25,606
44Jan 25, 19535.48−1.52Action24,606
45Mar 15, 19475.42−1.58Action21,306
46Sep 12, 19545.42−1.58Action24,106
47Apr 13, 19345.37−1.63Action23,006
48Jan 22, 19595.36−1.64Action24,006
49Jun 6, 19825.34−1.66Action24,206
50Dec 6, 19385.29−1.71Action23,006

The worst floods along the Ware River

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

August 19, 1955: 12.83 ft here, major flooding

March 7, 2011: 8.62 ft here, minor flooding

  • Barre PlainsMA · Mar 7, 2011 · 7.49 ft · Moderate · its highest

October 15, 2005: 8.54 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Ware River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Ware River
Barre PlainsMA5.57.49 ft, Mar 7, 20110
Gibbs Crossing this gaugeMA7.018.20 ft, Sep 21, 19383

Other gauges in Hampshire County

Flood gauges in Hampshire County
Holyoke - Upper9.016.80 ft, Mar 19, 193610
Northampton112.0129.40 ft, Mar 19, 19363
Northampton11.016.42 ft, Aug 28, 20110
Huntington9.016.78 ft, Aug 28, 20114

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge GIBM3, 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.