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Blackstone River at Woonsocket

Highest listed crest 21.80 ftFlood stage 9.0 ft52 crests since 1932

The Blackstone River at Woonsocket crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 52 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1932 to 2024. The highest, 21.80 ft on August 19, 1955, was major flooding, 12.80 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Blackstone River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
21.80 ft
August 19, 1955; 32,900 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
9.0 ft
Major flooding from 16.0 ft
Crests at major
1
9th of 16 gauges in Rhode Island
Most recent flood crest
January 11, 2024
11.22 ft, minor flooding
Location
Providence County
Near Woonsocket (0.4 mi), Franklin Town (7.2 mi), North Attleborough Town (9.0 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Blackstone River at Woonsocket
Action stage8.011Mar 3, 2018The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)9.030Jan 11, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.09Dec 19, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage16.01Aug 19, 1955Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

52 crests from 1932 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Blackstone River at Woonsocket, 1932 to 2024 510152025ft Flood stage 9.0 ftMajor 16.0 ft Nov 11, 1932: 8.03 ft, action stage; 57,806 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1934: 8.55 ft, action stage; 65,606 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1936: 13.92 ft, moderate flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1936: 14.40 ft, moderate flooding; 15,000 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 1936: 8.26 ft, action stage; 63,406 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1938: 14.43 ft, moderate flooding; 15,100 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1953: 8.34 ft, action stage; 55,706 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 1954: 10.60 ft, minor flooding; 9,400 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 1955: 21.80 ft, major flooding; 32,900 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 1955: 10.12 ft, minor flooding; 8,710 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1967: 8.70 ft, action stage; 70,006 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1968: 14.64 ft, moderate flooding; 15,400 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1969: 10.20 ft, minor flooding; 8,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1970: 10.13 ft, minor flooding; 8,100 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1972: 10.25 ft, minor flooding; 8,280 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1974: 8.37 ft, action stage; 59,206 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1978: 10.78 ft, minor flooding; 9,010 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1979: 15.09 ft, moderate flooding; 15,900 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1982: 13.16 ft, moderate flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1983: 10.09 ft, minor flooding; 8,050 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1984: 11.45 ft, minor flooding; 9,980 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1986: 9.21 ft, minor flooding; 6,880 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1987: 11.65 ft, minor flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondOct 21, 1989: 8.57 ft, action stage; 60,806 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 1990: 8.14 ft, action stage; 55,606 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1993: 9.67 ft, minor flooding; 7,480 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 1995: 5.89 ft, below flood stage; 3,160 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 1996: 9.46 ft, minor flooding; 7,210 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1996: 9.10 ft, minor floodingOct 21, 1996: 9.30 ft, minor flooding; 7,000 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1998: 10.30 ft, minor floodingJun 15, 1998: 9.17 ft, minor floodingApr 23, 2000: 8.61 ft, action stage; 61,306 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2001: 11.65 ft, minor flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2005: 8.97 ft, action stage; 66,406 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 2005: 15.34 ft, moderate floodingJun 8, 2006: 9.78 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 2007: 11.08 ft, minor flooding; 9,444 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2008: 9.15 ft, minor flooding; 6,855 cubic feet per secondDec 13, 2008: 11.65 ft, minor flooding; 10,280 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2010: 9.31 ft, minor flooding; 7,054 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2010: 10.52 ft, minor flooding; 8,638 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2010: 14.50 ft, moderate flooding; 14,900 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 2011: 10.29 ft, minor flooding; 8,320 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 2011: 9.01 ft, minor flooding; 6,682 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 2011: 9.00 ft, minor flooding; 6,670 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2014: 9.41 ft, minor flooding; 7,170 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 2018: 8.43 ft, action stageJan 25, 2019: 9.01 ft, minor flooding; 6,680 cubic feet per secondSep 3, 2021: 9.94 ft, minor flooding; 7,852 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2023: 13.39 ft, moderate flooding; 12,968 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 2024: 11.22 ft, minor flooding; 9,620 cubic feet per second Highest, 21.80 ft, Aug 19, 1955 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Blackstone River at Woonsocket 1930s: 3 1940s: 0 1950s: 3 1960s: 2 1970s: 4 1980s: 5 1990s: 6 2000s: 6 2010s: 8 8 2020s: 3 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 52 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Blackstone River at Woonsocket
1Aug 19, 195521.80+12.80Major32,900
2Oct 16, 200515.34+6.34Moderate—
3Jan 25, 197915.09+6.09Moderate15,900
4Mar 19, 196814.64+5.64Moderate15,400
5Mar 31, 201014.50+5.50Moderate14,900
6Jul 24, 193814.43+5.43Moderate15,100
7Mar 19, 193614.40+5.40Moderate15,000
8Mar 13, 193613.92+4.92Moderate14,200
9Dec 19, 202313.39+4.39Moderate12,968
10Jun 7, 198213.16+4.16Moderate12,600
11Apr 5, 198711.65+2.65Minor10,300
12Mar 23, 200111.65+2.65Minor10,300
13Dec 13, 200811.65+2.65Minor10,280
14Jun 1, 198411.45+2.45Minor9,980
15Jan 11, 202411.22+2.22Minor9,620
16Apr 17, 200711.08+2.08Minor9,444
17Jan 27, 197810.78+1.78Minor9,010
18Sep 12, 195410.60+1.60Minor9,400
19Mar 15, 201010.52+1.52Minor8,638
20Mar 10, 199810.30+1.30Minor—
21Mar 8, 201110.29+1.29Minor8,320
22Mar 3, 197210.25+1.25Minor8,280
23Mar 26, 196910.20+1.20Minor8,200
24Feb 4, 197010.13+1.13Minor8,100
25Oct 17, 195510.12+1.12Minor8,710
26Apr 25, 198310.09+1.09Minor8,050
27Sep 3, 20219.94+0.94Minor7,852
28Jun 8, 20069.78+0.78Minor—
29Mar 30, 19939.67+0.67Minor7,480
30Jan 28, 19969.46+0.46Minor7,210
31Mar 31, 20149.41+0.41Minor7,170
32Feb 26, 20109.31+0.31Minor7,054
33Oct 21, 19969.30+0.30Minor7,000
34Mar 15, 19869.21+0.21Minor6,880
35Jun 15, 19989.17+0.17Minor—
36Mar 9, 20089.15+0.15Minor6,855
37Apr 17, 19969.10+0.10Minor—
38Aug 29, 20119.01+0.01Minor6,682
39Jan 25, 20199.01+0.01Minor6,680
40Sep 9, 20119.000.00Minor6,670
41Apr 3, 20058.97−0.03Action66,406
42May 26, 19678.70−0.30Action70,006
43Apr 23, 20008.61−0.39Action61,306
44Oct 21, 19898.57−0.43Action60,806
45Mar 6, 19348.55−0.45Action65,606
46Mar 3, 20188.43−0.57Action—
47Mar 22, 19748.37−0.63Action59,206
48Mar 16, 19538.34−0.66Action55,706
49Dec 21, 19368.26−0.74Action63,406
50Oct 14, 19908.14−0.86Action55,606

The worst floods along the Blackstone River

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

August 19, 1955: 21.80 ft here, major flooding

  • NorthbridgeMA · Aug 20, 1955 · 16.74 ft · Major · its highest

October 16, 2005: 15.34 ft here, moderate flooding

January 25, 1979: 15.09 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Blackstone River

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

Flood gauges on the Blackstone River
WoonsocketRI9.014.59 ft, Dec 19, 20230
NorthbridgeMA9.016.74 ft, Aug 20, 19551
Woonsocket this gaugeRI9.021.80 ft, Aug 19, 19551
Woonsocket Falls DamRI9.09.99 ft, Mar 31, 20140

Other gauges in Providence County

Flood gauges in Providence County
Woonsocket9.014.59 ft, Dec 19, 20230
Woonsocket Falls Dam9.09.99 ft, Mar 31, 20140
Forestdale10.012.05 ft, Mar 31, 20100
Narragansett Bay at Providence Fox Point (IN MLLW)7.017.51 ft, Sep 20, 19383
Cranston9.020.79 ft, Mar 31, 20108
East Providence7.58.83 ft, Mar 24, 20240
Centerdale5.59.20 ft, Mar 30, 20105

Providence County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Rhode Island

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WOOR1, 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.