Stillwater River near Sterling water level

Name: Stillwater River near Sterling 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, Stillwater River, Massachusetts, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

4.50ft Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 35.0 cfs
Water temperature: 49 °F

History

7 days

Water level

What this means

The gauge at Stillwater River near Sterling shows 4.50 ft, above normal for mid-October.

The water is rising: up 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.35 ft and 4.69 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 49 °F.

Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 8.53 ftApril 2, 2004

What the stage means on the water

Fast, high water is not the time for casual paddling. Strainers, debris and cold water make an unplanned swim dangerous.

What happens at each level

16.00 ft: Innundation of low lying homes near the river. Floodwaters overtop the Muddy Road bridge.
14.00 ft: Floodwaters overtop the Muddy Road bridge.
9.50 ft: River reaches the bottom girder of the Muddy Road bridge.
4.50 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	8.53 ft	April 2, 2004
2	8.50 ft	January 28, 1996
3	8.50 ft	March 29, 2005

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.06 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

19 Mon 61° 32° – Wind 5 mph

20 Tue 61° 41° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 54° 38° – Wind 11 mph

22 Thu 62° 37° – Wind 11 mph

23 Fri 54° 36° – Wind 8 mph

24 Sat 57° 33° – Wind 7 mph

25 Sun 63° 39° – Wind 7 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:06 AM Sunset 05:59 PM Daylight 10 hr, 52 min First quarter 65%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Quinapoxet River at Canada Mills near HoldenRiver gauge, Quinapoxet River	18.2 cfs	Normal	−1.2 cfs	3.2 mi
Gates Brook near West BoylstonRiver gauge, Gates Brook	3.6 cfs	High	−0.1 cfs	3.3 mi
Nashua River, Water Street Bridge, at ClintonRiver gauge, Nashua River, Water Street Bridge	8.9 cfs	Normal	+0.5 cfs	6 mi
North Nashua River near LeominsterRiver gauge, North Nashua River	118 cfs	Normal	−21.0 cfs	7 mi
North Nashua River at FitchburgRiver gauge, North Nashua River	2.71 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	11 mi
Ware River near BarreRiver gauge, Ware River	40.5 cfs	Normal	−1.0 cfs	12 mi
Quinsigamond River at North GraftonRiver gauge, Quinsigamond River	26.3 cfs	Normal	−3.2 cfs	13 mi
Ware River at Intake Works near BarreRiver gauge, Ware River	61.1 cfs	Normal	−2.9 cfs	14 mi

Questions and answers

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 Stillwater River near Sterling today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT, the water level was 4.50 ft. Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Stillwater River near Sterling rising or falling?

Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Stillwater River near Sterling normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Stillwater River near Sterling?

The highest level on record is 8.53 ft on April 2, 2004.

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.

Where does this data come from?

The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:01095220 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.41081, -71.79115 (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	4.50 ft	2026-10-20 02:30	Provisional
Flow	35.0 cfs	2026-10-20 02:30	Provisional
Water temperature	49 °F	2026-10-20 02:30	Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Stillwater River near Sterling (usgs:01095220). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/massachusetts/stillwater-river-near-sterling

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