Cold River at Alstead

Highest listed crest 11.78 ftFlood stage 9.0 ft2 crests since 2021

The Cold River at Alstead crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 2 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2021 to 2023. The highest, 11.78 ft on July 29, 2021, was major flooding, 2.78 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest: 11.78 ft; July 29, 2021; 10,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage: 9.0 ft; Major flooding from 11.0 ft
Crests at major: 2; 11th of 34 gauges in New Hampshire
Most recent flood crest: July 11, 2023; 11.67 ft, major flooding
Location: Cheshire County; Near Keene (13.8 mi)
Identifiers: NWS ASTN3; USGS 01154950

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Cold River at Alstead

Action stage	8.0	0	—	The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)	9.0	0	—	Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage	10.0	0	—	Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage	11.0	2	Jul 11, 2023	Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

2 crests from 2021 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

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.
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, Cold River at Alstead

1	Jul 29, 2021	11.78	+2.78	Major	10,500
2	Jul 11, 2023	11.67	+2.67	Major	10,285

Other gauges in Cheshire County

Flood gauges in Cheshire County

West Swanzey	11.0	12.89 ft, Jul 19, 2021	0
Hinsdale	8.0	20.20 ft, Mar 19, 1936	2
Keene	73.0	74.60 ft, Oct 9, 2005	0
Gilsum	9.5	11.36 ft, Jul 11, 2023	0
North Walpole	28.0	43.80 ft, Mar 19, 1936	2

Cheshire County: every hazard · River floods across the country · New Hampshire

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ASTN3, 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.