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Penobscot River at Bangor

Highest listed crest 17.90 ftFlood stage 11.6 ft20 crests since 1976

The Penobscot River at Bangor crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 20 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1976 to 2024. The highest, 17.90 ft on February 2, 1976, was major flooding, 6.30 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
17.90 ft
February 2, 1976
Flood stage
11.6 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
1
16th of 55 gauges in Maine
Most recent flood crest
January 10, 2024
13.11 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Penobscot County
Near Bangor (2.5 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Penobscot River at Bangor
Action stage11.04Jan 3, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)11.62Apr 10, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.01Jan 10, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.01Feb 2, 1976Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

20 crests from 1976 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Penobscot River at Bangor, 1976 to 2024 1012141618ft Flood stage 11.6 ftMajor 15.0 ft Feb 2, 1976: 17.90 ft, major floodingJan 2, 2010: 10.96 ft, below flood stageFeb 28, 2010: 10.50 ft, below flood stageApr 1, 2010: 10.50 ft, below flood stageApr 27, 2010: 10.35 ft, below flood stageFeb 19, 2011: 11.45 ft, action stageJan 12, 2013: 10.71 ft, below flood stageJan 26, 2013: 10.55 ft, below flood stageJan 3, 2014: 11.61 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 2016: 11.59 ft, action stageJan 3, 2018: 11.42 ft, action stageApr 23, 2019: 10.64 ft, below flood stageApr 10, 2020: 12.10 ft, minor floodingDec 14, 2020: 10.55 ft, below flood stageJan 3, 2022: 11.32 ft, action stageMar 3, 2022: 10.89 ft, below flood stageFeb 20, 2023: 10.62 ft, below flood stageNov 27, 2023: 10.89 ft, below flood stageDec 18, 2023: 10.84 ft, below flood stageJan 10, 2024: 13.11 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 17.90 ft, Feb 2, 1976 19801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Penobscot River at Bangor 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 0 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 2020s: 2 2 1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Penobscot River at Bangor
1Feb 2, 197617.90+6.30Major—
2Jan 10, 202413.11+1.51Moderate—
3Apr 10, 202012.10+0.50Minor—
4Jan 3, 201411.61+0.01Minor—
5Feb 9, 201611.59−0.01Action—
6Feb 19, 201111.45−0.15Action—
7Jan 3, 201811.42−0.18Action—
8Jan 3, 202211.32−0.28Action—
9Jan 2, 201010.96−0.64Below flood stage—
10Mar 3, 202210.89−0.71Below flood stage—
11Nov 27, 202310.89−0.71Below flood stage—
12Dec 18, 202310.84−0.76Below flood stage—
13Jan 12, 201310.71−0.89Below flood stage—
14Apr 23, 201910.64−0.96Below flood stage—
15Feb 20, 202310.62−0.98Below flood stage—
16Jan 26, 201310.55−1.05Below flood stage—
17Dec 14, 202010.55−1.05Below flood stage—
18Feb 28, 201010.50−1.10Below flood stage—
19Apr 1, 201010.50−1.10Below flood stage—
20Apr 27, 201010.35−1.25Below flood stage—

Gauges on the Penobscot River

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

Flood gauges on the Penobscot River
GrindstoneME14.016.90 ft, Apr 30, 19230
West EnfieldME17.025.15 ft, May 1, 19231
EddingtonME18.023.53 ft, Apr 3, 19871
Bangor this gaugeME11.617.90 ft, Feb 2, 19761

Other gauges in Penobscot County

Flood gauges in Penobscot County
Grand Lake Matagamon8.59.60 ft, Dec 19, 20230
Bangor10.012.85 ft, Jan 15, 20180
Mattawamkeag13.516.31 ft, Apr 18, 20140
Grindstone14.016.90 ft, Apr 30, 19230
Eddington18.023.53 ft, Apr 3, 19871
West Enfield17.025.15 ft, May 1, 19231
Shin Pond11.013.48 ft, Apr 30, 20080

Penobscot County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Maine

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BPRM1, 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.