Raquette River at South Colton water level
River gauge, Raquette River, New York, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 2,080 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.20 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:40 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The gauge at Raquette River at South Colton reads 4.89 ft, a normal level.
It is 5.11 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft.
The water is rising: up 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.20 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. There is still 5.11 ft of room before flood stage. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.16 ft and 5.03 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 11.27 ftApril 29, 2011
- Forecast peak
- 4.80 ftMonday, October 19 at 08:00 PM
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 10.00 ft, still 5.11 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 11.00 ft
- Homes and businesses in Colton will flood. This includes areas along Stowe Lane, Gulf Road, Cold Brook Drive, East Higley Road, Stowe Lane, Riverside Drive and County Road 58. Downstream in Potsdam, Fall Island Park and Depot Street will flood. In Norwood some homes and the wastewater treatment plant will be threatened.
- 10.00 ft
- Low lying local roads along the Raquette River from Colton to Potsdam and Norwood will flood. This includes low lying portions of Gulf Road and Riverside Drive in Colton. There will be extensive field and property flooding.
- 8.50 ft
- Above normal flows in the river will flood low lying fields and the yards of residences along the Raquette River from Colton to Potsdam and Norwood.
- 4.89 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.27 ft | April 29, 2011 |
| 2 | 9.80 ft | May 11, 1971 |
| 3 | 9.68 ft | April 28, 1993 |
| 4 | 9.22 ft | January 19, 1998 |
| 5 | 9.15 ft | April 26, 2019 |
| 6 | 9.07 ft | April 22, 1954 |
| 7 | 9.07 ft | May 10, 1972 |
| 8 | 9.04 ft | May 17, 2000 |
| 9 | 9.03 ft | April 29, 1978 |
| 10 | 9.01 ft | May 5, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Raquette River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquette River at PiercefieldRiver gauge, Raquette River | 5.67 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 25 mi |
| Raquette River at RaymondvilleRiver gauge, Raquette River | 966 cfs | Normal | −204.0 cfs | 23 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch St. Regis River near ParishvilleRiver gauge, West Branch St. Regis River | 342 cfs | Normal | −94.0 cfs | 9 mi |
| Oswegatchie River near OswegatchieRiver gauge, Oswegatchie River | 871 cfs | Very high | −27.0 cfs | 22 mi |
| St. Regis River at Brasher CenterRiver gauge, St. Regis River | 6.82 ft | Below flood stage | −0.22 ft | 25 mi |
| Grass River at Chase MillsRiver gauge, Grass River | 884 cfs | Normal | −236.0 cfs | 25 mi |
| Oswegatchie River near HeuveltonRiver gauge, Oswegatchie River | 2.86 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 25 mi |
| West Branch Oswegatchie River near HarrisvilleRiver gauge, West Branch Oswegatchie River | 540 cfs | Normal | −166.0 cfs | 31 mi |
| Little Salmon River at BombayRiver gauge, Little Salmon River | 3.18 ft | Below flood stage | −0.31 ft | 34 mi |
| Raisin River at Black RiverRiver gauge, Raisin River | 4.99 m | Very high | −0.19 m | 63 km |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Raquette River at South Colton?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 5.11 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 Raquette River at South Colton today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 07:30 PM EDT, the water level was 4.89 ft. Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Raquette River at South Colton rising or falling?
Up 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Raquette River at South Colton normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Raquette River at South Colton?
The highest level on record is 11.27 ft on April 29, 2011.
Is Raquette River at South Colton expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.20 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:04267500(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.50983, -74.88361(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 | 4.89 ft | 2026-10-19 23:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2,080 cfs | 2026-10-19 23:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Raquette River at South Colton (usgs:04267500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-york/raquette-river-at-south-colton
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