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SwedenNorth Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ water level
River gauge, North Branch Raritan River, New Jersey, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
History
What this means
The North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ is at 1.56 ft, in the normal range.
It is 6.44 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.56 ft and 1.80 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 20.26 ftSeptember 2, 2021
Floating and fishing near North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 8.00 ft, 6.44 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 11.00 ft
- Flooding increases impacting roadways and structures along Milltown Road, North Branch River Road, and Old York Road toward Raritan.
- 9.00 ft
- Flooding increases on Old York Road. The road remains closed.
- 8.00 ft
- Flooding begins on Old York Road on the west side of the bridge. The road is closed.
- 7.00 ft
- The river leaves it's banks and floods surrounding open land.
- 1.56 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.26 ft | September 2, 2021 |
| 2 | 18.98 ft | September 16, 1999 |
| 3 | 18.00 ft | February 6, 1896 |
| 4 | 17.69 ft | August 28, 2011 |
| 5 | 16.45 ft | August 19, 1955 |
| 6 | 15.60 ft | October 19, 1996 |
| 7 | 14.31 ft | April 16, 2007 |
| 8 | 14.28 ft | January 10, 2024 |
| 9 | 13.91 ft | January 19, 1996 |
| 10 | 13.78 ft | December 18, 2023 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the North Branch Raritan River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Branch Raritan River near Far Hills NJRiver gauge, North Branch Raritan River | 2.07 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 11 mi |
| North Branch Raritan River at North Branch NJRiver gauge, North Branch Raritan River | 3.10 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 3.1 mi |
| North Branch Raritan River near Raritan NJRiver gauge, North Branch Raritan River | 2.82 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 1.1 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royce Brook at Hamilton Road near Manville NJRiver gauge, Royce Brook | 7.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 4.9 mi |
| Lamington River at Burnt Mills NJRiver gauge, Lamington River | 3.04 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 5.4 mi |
| Raritan River at Manville NJRiver gauge, Raritan River | 4.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 5.5 mi |
| Millstone River at Weston NJRiver gauge, Millstone River | 1.79 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 5.5 mi |
| South B Rockaway Creek at Whitehouse Station NJRiver gauge, South B Rockaway Creek | 8.7 cfs | Normal | +3.5 cfs | 6 mi |
| West Branch Middle Brook near Martinsville NJRiver gauge, West Branch Middle Brook | 2.02 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 6 mi |
| Middle Brook at Burnt Mills NJRiver gauge, Middle Brook | 4.01 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 6 mi |
| Millstone River at Millstone NJRiver gauge, Millstone River | 1.18 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 6 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 6.44 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 05:00 PM EDT, the water level was 1.56 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ?
The highest level on record is 20.26 ft on September 2, 2021.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01400010(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.55667, -74.68750(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 1.56 ft | 2026-10-20 21:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: North Branch Raritan River at South Branch NJ (usgs:01400010). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-jersey/north-branch-raritan-river-at-south-branch-nj
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer