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Connecticut River at Wells River

Highest listed crest 17.35 ftFlood stage 12.0 ft35 crests since 1950

The Connecticut River at Wells River crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 35 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1950 to 2024. The highest, 17.35 ft on July 1, 1973, was major flooding, 5.35 feet above flood stage. 7 other gauges on the Connecticut River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
17.35 ft
July 1, 1973; 57,100 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
12.0 ft
Major flooding from 16.0 ft
Crests at major
1
21st of 28 gauges in Vermont
Most recent flood crest
December 19, 2023
12.19 ft, minor flooding
Location
Orange County
Vermont

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Connecticut River at Wells River
Action stage9.08Jul 12, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.019Dec 19, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage14.07Apr 16, 2014Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage16.01Jul 1, 1973Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

35 crests from 1950 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Connecticut River at Wells River, 1950 to 2024 1012141618ft Flood stage 12.0 ftMajor 16.0 ft Apr 21, 1950: 12.62 ft, minor flooding; 39,600 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1951: 11.55 ft, action stage; 34,200 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1952: 12.12 ft, minor flooding; 37,100 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1953: 15.96 ft, moderate flooding; 54,000 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1954: 14.67 ft, moderate flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1955: 12.95 ft, minor flooding; 40,500 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 1957: 11.35 ft, action stage; 34,900 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1958: 13.72 ft, minor flooding; 45,500 cubic feet per secondOct 25, 1959: 11.75 ft, action stage; 36,700 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 1959: 11.79 ft, action stage; 36,900 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1960: 11.82 ft, action stage; 37,000 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1960: 11.17 ft, action stage; 34,100 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1969: 13.81 ft, minor flooding; 42,900 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1972: 14.24 ft, moderate flooding; 44,500 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1973: 17.35 ft, major flooding; 57,100 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 1973: 13.51 ft, minor flooding; 42,500 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1976: 13.91 ft, minor flooding; 43,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 1981: 13.47 ft, minor floodingOct 28, 1981: 12.31 ft, minor flooding; 38,400 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1984: 15.03 ft, moderate flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1987: 14.87 ft, moderate flooding; 47,600 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1990: 11.55 ft, action stage; 35,800 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1992: 12.50 ft, minor flooding; 39,100 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1994: 12.43 ft, minor flooding; 38,800 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1996: 12.22 ft, minor flooding; 38,300 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1998: 14.10 ft, moderate flooding; 45,100 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2000: 12.42 ft, minor flooding; 39,000 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2001: 12.60 ft, minor flooding; 39,600 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2002: 13.61 ft, minor flooding; 43,300 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 2005: 12.24 ft, minor flooding; 40,900 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 13.58 ft, minor flooding; 47,200 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 2014: 14.32 ft, moderate flooding; 50,700 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2019: 12.32 ft, minor flooding; 42,300 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 2023: 12.19 ft, minor flooding; 40,696 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2024: 11.48 ft, action stage; 37,410 cubic feet per second Highest, 17.35 ft, Jul 1, 1973 19501960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Connecticut River at Wells River 1950s: 6 6 1960s: 1 1970s: 4 1980s: 4 1990s: 4 2000s: 4 2010s: 3 2020s: 1 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Connecticut River at Wells River
1Jul 1, 197317.35+5.35Major57,100
2Mar 27, 195315.96+3.96Moderate54,000
3May 31, 198415.03+3.03Moderate48,200
4Apr 1, 198714.87+2.87Moderate47,600
5Apr 24, 195414.67+2.67Moderate48,200
6Apr 16, 201414.32+2.32Moderate50,700
7May 6, 197214.24+2.24Moderate44,500
8Apr 2, 199814.10+2.10Moderate45,100
9Apr 2, 197613.91+1.91Minor43,900
10Apr 19, 196913.81+1.81Minor42,900
11Apr 24, 195813.72+1.72Minor45,500
12Jun 13, 200213.61+1.61Minor43,300
13Apr 29, 201113.58+1.58Minor47,200
14Dec 22, 197313.51+1.51Minor42,500
15Feb 12, 198113.47+1.47Minor—
16Apr 17, 195512.95+0.95Minor40,500
17Apr 21, 195012.62+0.62Minor39,600
18Apr 26, 200112.60+0.60Minor39,600
19Apr 25, 199212.50+0.50Minor39,100
20Apr 17, 199412.43+0.43Minor38,800
21Apr 9, 200012.42+0.42Minor39,000
22Apr 23, 201912.32+0.32Minor42,300
23Oct 28, 198112.31+0.31Minor38,400
24Oct 18, 200512.24+0.24Minor40,900
25Apr 24, 199612.22+0.22Minor38,300
26Dec 19, 202312.19+0.19Minor40,696
27Jun 2, 195212.12+0.12Minor37,100
28Apr 5, 196011.82−0.18Action37,000
29Nov 28, 195911.79−0.21Action36,900
30Oct 25, 195911.75−0.25Action36,700
31Apr 3, 195111.55−0.45Action34,200
32Mar 18, 199011.55−0.45Action35,800
33Jul 12, 202411.48−0.52Action37,410
34Dec 21, 195711.35−0.65Action34,900
35Apr 19, 196011.17−0.83Action34,100

The worst floods along the Connecticut River

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

July 1, 1973: 17.35 ft here, major flooding

March 27, 1953: 15.96 ft here, moderate flooding

May 31, 1984: 15.03 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Connecticut River

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

Flood gauges on the Connecticut River
DaltonNH18.025.60 ft, Mar 20, 19363
HartfordCT16.037.60 ft, Mar 21, 19367
HolyokeMA26.527.73 ft, Aug 30, 20110
Holyoke - UpperMA9.016.80 ft, Mar 19, 193610
Middle HaddamCT7.011.20 ft, Dec 21, 20230
MontagueMA28.049.20 ft, Mar 19, 19362
North StratfordNH13.016.66 ft, Mar 13, 19360
North WalpoleNH28.043.80 ft, Mar 19, 19362
NorthamptonMA112.0129.40 ft, Mar 19, 19363
SpringfieldMA20.028.60 ft, Mar 20, 19362
ThompsonvilleCT15.026.60 ft, Mar 20, 19367
Wells River this gaugeVT12.017.35 ft, Jul 1, 19731
West LebanonNH23.035.00 ft, Nov 4, 19274

Other gauges in Orange County

Flood gauges in Orange County
Randolph8.018.00 ft, Nov 4, 19273
Wells River6.09.82 ft, Jun 30, 19732

Orange County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Vermont

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WELV1, 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.