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Wanaque River at Wanaque

Highest listed crest 10.82 ftFlood stage 6.0 ft31 crests since 1924

The Wanaque River at Wanaque crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 31 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1924 to 2024. The highest, 10.82 ft on April 5, 1984, was major flooding, 4.82 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
10.82 ft
April 5, 1984; 10,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
6.0 ft
Major flooding from 9.0 ft
Crests at major
2
49th of 125 gauges in New Jersey
Most recent flood crest
January 10, 2024
7.49 ft, minor flooding
Location
Passaic County
Near Wanaque (0.3 mi), Pompton Lakes (2.9 mi), Oakland (2.9 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Wanaque River at Wanaque
Action stage5.06Mar 23, 2010The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)6.018Jan 10, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage8.03Mar 11, 2011Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage9.02Apr 5, 1984Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

31 crests from 1924 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Wanaque River at Wanaque, 1924 to 2024 4681012ft Flood stage 6.0 ftMajor 9.0 ft Apr 7, 1924: 8.00 ft, moderate floodingMar 31, 1951: 9.12 ft, major flooding; 8,470 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1952: 7.62 ft, minor flooding; 3,940 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1968: 8.42 ft, moderate flooding; 5,920 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1972: 6.32 ft, minor flooding; 2,070 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1973: 7.33 ft, minor flooding; 3,410 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1980: 7.33 ft, minor flooding; 3,450 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1983: 6.85 ft, minor flooding; 2,580 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1984: 10.82 ft, major flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1987: 7.49 ft, minor flooding; 3,040 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1989: 6.69 ft, minor flooding; 2,160 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1992: 6.34 ft, minor flooding; 1,840 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1993: 5.68 ft, action stageApr 1, 1997: 4.84 ft, below flood stage; 908 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1998: 6.02 ft, minor flooding; 1,590 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 1999: 4.09 ft, below flood stage; 607 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2003: 5.70 ft, action stage; 1,380 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2003: 5.97 ft, action stageDec 25, 2003: 5.47 ft, action stageApr 3, 2005: 7.59 ft, minor flooding; 3,180 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 2006: 5.82 ft, action stage; 1,455 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2007: 6.80 ft, minor flooding; 2,270 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2010: 7.53 ft, minor floodingMar 23, 2010: 5.39 ft, action stageMar 31, 2010: 6.13 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 2011: 8.03 ft, moderate flooding; 3,795 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 2011: 7.88 ft, minor flooding; 3,520 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2011: 7.51 ft, minor flooding; 3,072 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 2018: 6.11 ft, minor flooding; 1,865 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2023: 6.02 ft, minor flooding; 1,495 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 7.49 ft, minor flooding; 3,002 cubic feet per second Highest, 10.82 ft, Apr 5, 1984 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Wanaque River at Wanaque 1920s: 1 1930s: 0 1940s: 0 1950s: 2 1960s: 1 1970s: 2 1980s: 5 1990s: 2 2000s: 2 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 2 1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Wanaque River at Wanaque
1Apr 5, 198410.82+4.82Major10,500
2Mar 31, 19519.12+3.12Major8,470
3May 29, 19688.42+2.42Moderate5,920
4Mar 11, 20118.03+2.03Moderate3,795
5Apr 7, 19248.00+2.00Moderate—
6Aug 29, 20117.88+1.88Minor3,520
7Jun 1, 19527.62+1.62Minor3,940
8Apr 3, 20057.59+1.59Minor3,180
9Mar 15, 20107.53+1.53Minor—
10Sep 8, 20117.51+1.51Minor3,072
11Apr 4, 19877.49+1.49Minor3,040
12Jan 10, 20247.49+1.49Minor3,002
13Feb 3, 19737.33+1.33Minor3,410
14Apr 10, 19807.33+1.33Minor3,450
15Mar 19, 19836.85+0.85Minor2,580
16Apr 17, 20076.80+0.80Minor2,270
17May 17, 19896.69+0.69Minor2,160
18Jun 6, 19926.34+0.34Minor1,840
19Jun 22, 19726.32+0.32Minor2,070
20Mar 31, 20106.13+0.13Minor—
21Dec 22, 20186.11+0.11Minor1,865
22May 11, 19986.02+0.02Minor1,590
23Dec 28, 20236.02+0.02Minor1,495
24Dec 12, 20035.97−0.03Action—
25Jan 19, 20065.82−0.18Action1,455
26Mar 22, 20035.70−0.30Action1,380
27Mar 29, 19935.68−0.32Action—
28Dec 25, 20035.47−0.53Action—
29Mar 23, 20105.39−0.61Action—
30Apr 1, 19974.84−1.16Below flood stage908
31Sep 19, 19994.09−1.91Below flood stage607

Other gauges in Passaic County

Flood gauges in Passaic County
N. Haledon6.010.93 ft, May 16, 19902
Beatties Dam11.314.10 ft, Aug 30, 20110
Clifton (Dundee Dam)4.58.40 ft, Oct 10, 19031
Little Falls7.014.19 ft, Aug 30, 201122
Singac8.512.44 ft, Dec 20, 20231
Macopin5.57.75 ft, Mar 12, 19362
Riverdale8.013.60 ft, Apr 5, 19842
Pompton Plains16.025.24 ft, Aug 29, 201116
Pompton Lakes11.522.62 ft, Aug 29, 20119

Passaic County: every hazard · River floods across the country · New Jersey

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WNQN4, 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.