Passaic River at Little Falls
New Jersey · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 01389500 — Passaic River at Little Falls NJ · NWS forecast point LTFN4
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running far above normal for the date
At 720 CFS, this gauge is running 235% of normal for late July — above the 306 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 127 years of record (1898–2024).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Little Falls
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge LTFN4, issued by WFO PHI. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 9.0 ft
- 9.0 ft Widespread flooding occurs throughout Lincoln Park and Wayne with many evacuations. In Paterson, portions of River Street, Presidential Boulevard, Bridge Street, Tyler Street, Totowa Avenue and Mclean Boulevard are flooded.
- 9.5 ft Route 46 in Wayne is subject to closures. Riverside Drive in Wayne floods. Flooding in Little Falls worsens as homes on William Street and Zeliff Avenue take on water. Arch Street and Temple Street bridges in Paterson are subject to closures. Also in Paterson, portions of Watson Street, Hillman Street, Bergen Street, east Holsman Street, North 1st Street, Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and Goodwin Street are also subject to closures due to flooding.
- 10.0 ft Wagaraw Road in Hawthorne is closed. Homes and businesses in Hawthorne, directly along the river, begin to flood. Water begins to flow over the Temple Street bridge in Paterson.
- 10.5 ft Businesses along Route 46 in Wayne begin to flood. Route 23 floods. The Willowbrook Mall experiences flooding. Haledon Avenue bridge in Paterson is subject to closures. Also in Paterson, portions of Straight Street, Union Avenue, West Broadway, Ryle Avenue, East Main Street, North Main Street, and Haledon Avenue are also subject to closures due to flooding.
- 11.0 ft The West Broadway Bridge in Paterson is subject to closures.
- 11.5 ft Tyler Street, Shady Street, Arch Street, Lowe Street, Wood Street, and Bleeker Street in Paterson are closed due to flooding.
- 12.0 ft Wagaraw Road in Hawthorne, between Lafayette Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, is closed. Passaic Avenue, Schoon Avenue and Vincent Street are also closed. Homes and businesses flood.
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Moderate flood 8.0 ft
- 8.0 ft Flooding occurs in the "Old" Wayne area of Wayne. The recycling center and Wagaraw Road ball field complex in Hawthorne begins to experience flooding.
- 8.5 ft Widespread flooding occurs in Fairfield.
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Minor flood 7.0 ft
- 7.0 ft Minor flooding begins in Lincoln Park, Wayne and Little Falls.
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Action 6.5 ft · 5,402 CFS
- 6.5 ft Low lying areas in the vicinity of Two Bridges in Wayne are flooded. The lower end of Bergen Street in Paterson, closest to the river, begins to flood.
- Right now 1.91 ft
NWS forecast: 4.30 ft by Jul 30, 6:00 PM UTC.
12 months of flow at Little Falls
Daily values from USGS gauge 01389500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Little Falls
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 17.50 ft | 31,700 CFS | Oct 10, 1903 |
| 14.19 ft | 20,800 CFS | Aug 30, 2011 |
| 12.91 ft | 18,400 CFS | Apr 7, 1984 |
| 11.88 ft | 15,800 CFS | Apr 18, 2007 |
| 11.87 ft | — | Mar 16, 2010 |
| 11.81 ft | 15,620 CFS | Mar 13, 2011 |
| 11.05 ft | 14,000 CFS | Sep 9, 2011 |
| 10.73 ft | 13,500 CFS | May 31, 1968 |
| 10.29 ft | 12,413 CFS | Dec 20, 2023 |
| 10.11 ft | 12,100 CFS | Apr 4, 2005 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Passaic River at Little Falls
This is the reference gauge for Passaic River at Little Falls, New Jersey. It is the reading local emergency managers, the National Weather Service and residents watch when the river comes up.
Chronic repeat flooding through Wayne and Pine Brook.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 306 CFS for late July, from 127 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Passaic River at Little Falls — common questions
What is the current flow on Passaic River at Little Falls?
As of the last reading on this page, Passaic River at Little Falls was running 720 CFS at a gage height of 1.91 ft, or 235% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01389500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 306 CFS, calculated from 127 years of record (1898–2024). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is flood stage at Little Falls?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 7.0 ft, moderate at 8.0 ft, and major at 9.0 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 6.5 ft. The ladder on this page shows each threshold against the current reading.
What happens at each flood stage here?
The National Weather Service publishes 13 stage-by-stage impact statements for this gauge, describing what specific roads, properties and structures are affected at each level. They are reproduced verbatim on this page, lowest to highest. They are NWS descriptions, not riverlvl's.
Is there a forecast for this gauge?
Yes. This is an NWS forecast point, so the chart shows the observed hydrograph running into the official National Weather Service forecast. Forecasts are issued by the local Weather Forecast Office (PHI) and updated through the day during high water.