Pawtuxet River at Cranston water level

Name: Pawtuxet River at Cranston 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, Pawtuxet River, Rhode Island, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

4.43ft Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 02:45 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 248 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The gauge at Pawtuxet River at Cranston reads 4.43 ft, a normal level.

It is 4.57 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft.

The level is falling, down 0.13 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.43 ft and 4.77 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: 20.79 ftMarch 31, 2010

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 9.00 ft, still 4.57 ft away.

What happens at each level

22.00 ft: This is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation, nearing or exceeding flood levels seen during the historic March 2010 Floods. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
20.00 ft: This is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation, approaching flood levels seen during the historic March 2010 Floods. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
18.00 ft: This is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
16.50 ft: This is a serious and potentially life threatening flood situation. Follow the directions of local officials if you are asked to evacuate. Do not go sightseeing and stay away from river banks, which can suddenly give way due to erosion and fast moving water. Swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life. Evacuations are likely in Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Homes and businesses will be impacted.
14.50 ft: Evacuations are likely near the Pawtuxet river in Warwick and Cranston. Both homes and businesses will be impacted from this flood event. Businesses and homes will be impacted on streets including but not limited to the following, in Warwick, Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street, Venturi Avenue and River Street. In Cranston, Wellington Avenue and Avery Road. In West Warwick, Daisy Street, the lower ends of Canna, Begonia and Aster Streets, and portions of Providence Street to Route 2.
12.00 ft: Evacuations are likely near the Pawtuxet River in Warwick and Cranston. Both homes and businesses will be impacted from this flood event. Businesses and homes will be impacted on streets including but not limited to the following, in Warwick, Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street, Venturi Avenue, and River Street. In Cranston, Wellington Avenue and Avery Road. In West Warwick, Daisy Street, the lower ends of Canna, Begonia and Aster Streets, and portions of Providence Street to Route 2.
11.50 ft: Homes and businesses are impacted in low lying sections of Warwick, West Warwick and Cranston. Affected roads in Cranston include Avery Road and Wellington Avenue. Affected roads in Warwick include Pioneer Avenue, River Street, Bellows Street and Venturi Avenue. In West Warwick, affected areas include Daisy Street and the lower ends of Canna, Begonia and Aster Streets.
11.00 ft: Structures and homes are impacted in low lying sections of Warwick. Affected areas include homes and businesses on Wellington Avenue and Avery Road in Cranston, as well as Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street, Venturi Avenue and a portion of River Street in Warwick.
10.00 ft: Flooding will occur along Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street and Venturi Avenue in Warwick. Some homes are impacted on Avery Road and Wellington Avenue in Cranston.
9.50 ft: Parking lots and roads are flooded in low lying areas of Warwick and Cranston near the Pawtuxet River. Impacted roads include River Street, Pioneer Avenue, Bellows Street and Venturi Avenue in Warwick.
9.00 ft: Minor lowland flooding will occur along the river as it flows through Warwick and Cranston.
4.43 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: 28 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	20.79 ft	March 31, 2010
2	15.11 ft	December 19, 2023
3	14.98 ft	March 15, 2010
4	14.50 ft	June 7, 1982
5	14.13 ft	January 11, 2024
6	13.68 ft	October 15, 2005
7	13.26 ft	January 26, 1979
8	13.11 ft	April 25, 1983
9	12.57 ft	June 8, 2006
10	12.50 ft	April 17, 2007

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 1.01 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

19 Mon 57° 35° – Wind 10 mph

20 Tue 58° 44° – Wind 17 mph

21 Wed 52° 48° – Wind 13 mph

22 Thu 63° 44° – Wind 12 mph

23 Fri 57° 44° – Wind 10 mph

24 Sat 56° 40° – Wind 5 mph

25 Sun 62° 41° – Wind 8 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:03 AM Sunset 06:00 PM Daylight 10 hr, 57 min First quarter 57%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
North Branch Pawtuxet River at FiskevilleRiver gauge, North Branch Pawtuxet River	33.5 cfs	Low	−2.8 cfs	5.5 mi
Moshassuck River at ProvidenceRiver gauge, Moshassuck River	16.1 cfs	Normal	−1.8 cfs	6.0 mi
Ten Mile R., Pawtucket Ave. at E. ProvidenceRiver gauge, Ten Mile R., Pawtucket Ave.	2.51 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	7 mi
South Branch Pawtuxet River at WashingtonRiver gauge, South Branch Pawtuxet River	1.90 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	8 mi
Hunt River near East GreenwichRiver gauge, Hunt River	54.3 cfs	Very high	−7.7 cfs	8 mi
Woonasquatucket River at CenterdaleRiver gauge, Woonasquatucket River	2.23 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	8 mi
Quonopaug Brook at RT 116 near North ScituateRiver gauge, Quonopaug Brook	3.9 cfs	High	−0.2 cfs	8 mi
Hunt R 250 Fort Ds Fry Brk at FrenchtownRiver gauge, Hunt R 250 Fort Ds Fry Brk	29.5 cfs	High	−4.4 cfs	9 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Pawtuxet River at Cranston?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 4.57 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 Pawtuxet River at Cranston today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 02:45 AM EDT, the water level was 4.43 ft. Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Pawtuxet River at Cranston rising or falling?

Down 0.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Pawtuxet River at Cranston normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Pawtuxet River at Cranston?

The highest level on record is 20.79 ft on March 31, 2010.

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:01116500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.75093, -71.44506 (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	4.43 ft	2026-10-19 06:45	Provisional
Flow	248 cfs	2026-10-19 06:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Pawtuxet River at Cranston (usgs:01116500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/rhode-island/pawtuxet-river-at-cranston

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