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SwedenMerrimack River at Franklin Junction water level
River gauge, Merrimack River, New Hampshire, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 1,150 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.10 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 02:00 PM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 10:49 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Merrimack River at Franklin Junction is at 4.58 ft, in the normal range.
It is 11.42 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.21 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.10 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 02:00 PM. In the last month it has stayed between 4.30 ft and 5.23 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 36.40 ftMarch 19, 1936
- Forecast peak
- 4.30 ftTuesday, October 20 at 08:00 PM
Floating and fishing near Merrimack River at Franklin Junction
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 16.00 ft, 11.42 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 16.00 ft
- Lowland flooding begins.
- 4.58 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36.40 ft | March 19, 1936 |
| 2 | 30.85 ft | November 5, 1927 |
| 3 | 29.50 ft | September 22, 1938 |
| 4 | 24.00 ft | April 30, 1923 |
| 5 | 22.80 ft | February 13, 1925 |
| 6 | 19.99 ft | April 19, 1933 |
| 7 | 19.50 ft | April 21, 1914 |
| 8 | 19.45 ft | April 13, 1934 |
| 9 | 19.44 ft | May 3, 1940 |
| 10 | 19.00 ft | April 12, 1922 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Merrimack River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack River at ConcordRiver gauge, Merrimack River | 3.29 ft | Below flood stage | −0.75 ft | 16 mi |
| Merrimack River near Goffs Falls, below ManchesterRiver gauge, Merrimack River | 4.00 ft | Below flood stage | −0.41 ft | 34 mi |
| Merrimack River at NashuaRiver gauge, Merrimack River | 4.84 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 47 mi |
| Merrimack River below Concord River at LowellRiver gauge, Merrimack River | 42.96 ft | Below flood stage | −0.20 ft | 57 mi |
| Merrimack River at LawrenceRiver gauge, Merrimack River | 10.51 ft | Normal | −0.55 ft | 56 mi |
| Merrimack River at NewburyportEstuary gauge, Merrimack River | 3.27 ft | Very high | +1.24 ft | 58 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipesaukee River at TiltonRiver gauge, Winnipesaukee River | 2.73 ft | Below flood stage | −0.17 ft | 3.5 mi |
| Blackwater River near WebsterRiver gauge, Blackwater River | 65.8 cfs | Normal | −9.3 cfs | 9 mi |
| Smith River near BristolRiver gauge, Smith River | 2.07 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 11 mi |
| Warner River at DavisvilleRiver gauge, Warner River | 3.63 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 13 mi |
| Contoocook River below Hopkinton Dam at W HopkintonRiver gauge, Contoocook River | 54.8 cfs | Very low | −386.2 cfs | 17 mi |
| Suncook River at North ChichesterRiver gauge, Suncook River | 3.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.52 ft | 18 mi |
| Contoocook River near HennikerRiver gauge, Contoocook River | 6.04 ft | Below flood stage | +0.09 ft | 21 mi |
| Cockermouth River below Hardy Brook, at GrotonRiver gauge, Cockermouth River | 1.47 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 21 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Merrimack River at Franklin Junction?
The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 11.42 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 Merrimack River at Franklin Junction today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 08:30 PM EDT, the water level was 4.58 ft. Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Merrimack River at Franklin Junction rising or falling?
Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.49 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Merrimack River at Franklin Junction normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Merrimack River at Franklin Junction?
The highest level on record is 36.40 ft on March 19, 1936.
Is Merrimack River at Franklin Junction expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 4.10 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 02:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01081500(Agency page)- Coordinates
43.42285, -71.65285(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 | 4.58 ft | 2026-10-21 00:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,150 cfs | 2026-10-21 00:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Merrimack River at Franklin Junction (usgs:01081500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-hampshire/merrimack-river-at-franklin-junction
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