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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.


$$