Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
Issued by NWS Portland, ME
853 NOUS41 KGYX 081400 PNSGYX MEZ007>009-012>014-018>028-033-NHZ001>015-090200- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Gray ME 900 AM EST Fri Nov 8 2024 To: Subscribers: -Family of Services -NOAA Weather Wire Service -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network -Other NWS partners and users From: Sarah Jamison Senior Service Hydrologist Weather Forecast Office Gray, ME Subject: Changes in River Forecast Services Effective at 1200 Coordinated Universal Time on Wednesday December 11, 2024, the National Weather Service (NWS) will implement adjustments to flood stages for the following 10 official river forecast points. Carrabassett River at North Anson (NANM1): Lower moderate flood stage from 20 ft to 18 feet. Lower major flood stage from 25 to 22 ft. Sandy River at Mercer (MERM1): All flood stages lowered from 12 to 10 ft for minor, 15 to 14 ft for moderate, and 17 to 16 ft for major. Kennebec River at Skowhegan (SKOM1): Raise minor flood stage from 35k cfs to 60k cfs. Kennebec River at North Sidney (SIDM1): Raise minor flood stage from 10 ft to 20 ft. Lower major flood stage from 30 ft to 29 ft. Kennebec River at Augusta (ASTM1): Lowered moderate and major flood stages. Major flood stage 30 ft lowered to 25 ft. Moderate flood stage lowered from 25 ft to 17 ft. Androscoggin River at Rumford (RMFM1): Minor flood stage lowered from 15 ft to 13.5 feet. Major flood stage lowered from 20 ft to 19 ft. Androscoggin River at Auburn (AUBM1): Raised minor flood stage from 13 ft to 14 ft. Lowered moderate flood stage from 19 ft to 17 ft. Lowered major flood stage from 22 ft to 20 ft. Swift River at Roxbury (ROXM1): Lowered major flood stage from 14 ft to 12 ft. Lowered moderate flood stage from 12 ft to 9.5 ft. Raised minor flood stage from 7 ft to 8 ft. Sheepscot River at North Whitefield (NWFM1): Flood stages newly assigned. Minor flood stage 8.0 ft, moderate flood stage 8.5 ft, and major flood stage 9.5 ft. Presumpscot River at West Falmouth (WFAM1): Minor flood stage raised from 14 ft to 16 ft. These forecast points represent several municipalities in Maine including Carrabassett Valley, Kingfield, New Portland, North Anson, Farmington, Farmington Falls, Mercer, Norridgewock, Skowhegan, Clinton, Fairfield, Waterville, Winslow, North Sidney, Augusta, Bethel, Hanover, Rumford, Dixfield, Peru, Canton, Jay, Livermore Falls, Auburn, Lewiston, Durham, Lisbon, Roxbury, Byron, Mexico, North Whitefield, Alna, Westbrook, and West Falmouth. It is necessary for the National Weather Service to periodically update flood stages at river forecast points as changes, both natural and manmade, occur over a watershed. Floods over the last 18 months have highlighted the need for more consistency amongst the flood categories across Maine and New Hampshire. The proposed changes represent this effort and are supported with detailed impact statements that will be included with the flood stage changes on December 11. The data and forecasts for each of these sites can be found at: https://water.noaa.gov. These updates are needed to ensure the best quality river forecasts and resulting warnings to local communities. If interested in more information regarding these changes please contact sarah.jamison@noaa.gov. The data for these sites are provided by our partner the USGS. Without this critical data forecasts and warnings would not be possible. $$