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Piscataquis River at Blanchard

Highest listed crest 13.40 ftFlood stage 10.5 ft18 crests since 2000

The Piscataquis River at Blanchard crested above flood stage 2 times among the 18 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2000 to 2023. The highest, 13.40 ft on December 18, 2023, was moderate flooding, 2.90 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Piscataquis River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
13.40 ft
December 18, 2023; 14,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
10.5 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
0
2 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
December 18, 2023
13.40 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Piscataquis County
Maine

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Piscataquis River at Blanchard
Action stage9.012May 1, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.51Apr 9, 2000Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.01Dec 18, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

18 crests from 2000 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Piscataquis River at Blanchard, 2000 to 2023 810121416ft Flood stage 10.5 ftMajor 15.0 ft Apr 9, 2000: 11.38 ft, minor flooding; 7,550 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 2007: 8.61 ft, below flood stage; 3,140 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2008: 10.32 ft, action stage; 6,110 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2009: 9.08 ft, action stageMar 31, 2010: 9.48 ft, action stage; 4,500 cubic feet per secondDec 13, 2010: 9.65 ft, action stage; 4,800 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2012: 10.24 ft, action stage; 5,950 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2013: 10.46 ft, action stage; 6,410 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 2014: 9.70 ft, action stage; 4,890 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 2015: 9.38 ft, action stage; 4,290 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2017: 8.69 ft, below flood stage; 3,170 cubic feet per secondJan 13, 2018: 9.14 ft, action stageApr 27, 2019: 9.12 ft, action stage; 3,690 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2020: 8.95 ft, below flood stage; 3,450 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2020: 10.03 ft, action stage; 5,240 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 2022: 8.93 ft, below flood stage; 3,420 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2023: 10.44 ft, action stage; 6,050 cubic feet per secondDec 18, 2023: 13.40 ft, moderate flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per second Highest, 13.40 ft, Dec 18, 2023 20002005201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Piscataquis River at Blanchard 2000s: 1 1 2010s: 0 2020s: 1 2000s2010s2020s
  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, Piscataquis River at Blanchard
1Dec 18, 202313.40+2.90Moderate14,200
2Apr 9, 200011.38+0.88Minor7,550
3Jun 30, 201310.46−0.04Action6,410
4May 1, 202310.44−0.06Action6,050
5Apr 29, 200810.32−0.18Action6,110
6Oct 30, 201210.24−0.26Action5,950
7Dec 25, 202010.03−0.47Action5,240
8Apr 16, 20149.70−0.80Action4,890
9Dec 13, 20109.65−0.85Action4,800
10Mar 31, 20109.48−1.02Action4,500
11Sep 30, 20159.38−1.12Action4,290
12Jan 13, 20189.14−1.36Action—
13Apr 27, 20199.12−1.38Action3,690
14Apr 7, 20099.08−1.42Action—
15Apr 14, 20208.95−1.55Below flood stage3,450
16Oct 15, 20228.93−1.57Below flood stage3,420
17Apr 17, 20178.69−1.81Below flood stage3,170
18Nov 16, 20078.61−1.89Below flood stage3,140

The worst floods along the Piscataquis River

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

December 18, 2023: 13.40 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Piscataquis River

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

Flood gauges on the Piscataquis River
Blanchard this gaugeME10.513.40 ft, Dec 18, 20230
Dover-FoxcroftME11.022.62 ft, Apr 1, 19871
MedfordME13.018.65 ft, Apr 1, 19871

Other gauges in Piscataquis County

Flood gauges in Piscataquis County
Abbot Village17.018.43 ft, Dec 20, 20030
Dover-Foxcroft11.022.62 ft, Apr 1, 19871
Medford13.018.65 ft, Apr 1, 19871
Sebec9.09.00 ft, Dec 20, 20230

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BLAM1, 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.