Cold River at High Street, at Alstead water level

Name: Cold River at High Street, at Alstead water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Cold River, New Hampshire, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

1.85ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 10:45 PM EDT (40 min ago)

Flow: 25.1 cfs
Water temperature: 47 °F

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Cold River at High Street, at Alstead, where the gauge shows 1.85 ft.

It is 7.15 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.83 ft – 2.15 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 47 °F.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 11.78 ftJuly 29, 2021

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 9.00 ft.

What happens at each level

12.00 ft: Water up to Route 123 bridge.
11.75 ft: Flood comparable to the one in July 2021.
11.00 ft: Route 123 in Acworth and Alstead flooded. Several properties near the river imapacted.
10.00 ft: Property near the dam in Alstead inundated.
9.00 ft: Warren Brook likely to cause flooding along Route 123 or Forest Road east of Alstead.
8.00 ft: Flooding in Acworth in the headwaters of the Cold River.
7.00 ft: River out of banks.
1.85 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.78 ft	July 29, 2021
2	11.67 ft	July 11, 2023
3	11.67 ft	July 10, 2023
4	7.80 ft	October 9, 24

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:11 AM Sunset 05:59 PM Daylight 10 hr, 48 min Waxing gibbous 74%

Map

Other gauges on the Cold River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Cold River at FloridaRiver gauge, Cold River	6.3 cfs	Normal	−1.1 cfs	48 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Connecticut River at North WalpoleRiver gauge, Connecticut River	6.98 ft	Below flood stage	+0.03 ft	4.1 mi
Williams River near RockinghamRiver gauge, Williams River	2.15 ft	Below flood stage	−0.16 ft	7 mi
Ashuelot River near GilsumRiver gauge, Ashuelot River	2.87 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	9 mi
Ashuelot River below Surry Mount Dam, near KeeneRiver gauge, Ashuelot River	120 cfs	Normal	+5.0 cfs	11 mi
Black River at North SpringfieldRiver gauge, Black River	104 cfs	Normal	−4.0 cfs	15 mi
Ashuelot River above The Branch, at KeeneRiver gauge, Ashuelot River	65.55 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	16 mi
Sugar River at West ClaremontRiver gauge, Sugar River	1.30 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	16 mi
Ashuelot River at West SwanzeyRiver gauge, Ashuelot River	6.02 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	19 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Cold River at High Street, at Alstead?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 7.15 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 Cold River at High Street, at Alstead today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 10:45 PM EDT, the water level was 1.85 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cold River at High Street, at Alstead rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Cold River at High Street, at Alstead normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Cold River at High Street, at Alstead?

The highest level on record is 11.78 ft on July 29, 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:01154950 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.14944, -72.36167 (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	1.85 ft	2026-10-21 02:45	Provisional
Flow	25.1 cfs	2026-10-21 02:45	Provisional
Water temperature	47 °F	2026-10-21 02:45	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cold River at High Street, at Alstead (usgs:01154950). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-hampshire/cold-river-at-high-street-at-alstead

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