Saco River at Conway
New Hampshire · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 01064500 — Saco River near Conway, NH · NWS forecast point CNWN3
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 255 CFS, this gauge is running 88% of normal for late July — close to the 289 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 103 years of record (1904–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Conway
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge CNWN3, issued by WFO GYX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 16.0 ft · 49,610 CFS
- 16.0 ft Significant flooding along the Saco River. Hundreds of homes surrounded or isolated by floodwaters and travel in and out of the area is difficult.
- 17.0 ft Severe flooding with inundation near the FEMA 1 percent flood level. The floodwaters will be as high as the flood which occurred in Hurricane Irene in 2011, and almost 2 feet higher than the flood crest which occurred on October 30, 2017. Widespread flood levels varying up to 12 feet in depth will cover campgrounds and agricultural lands along the river. In Conway, Hillside Avenue, Washington Street, and East Side Drive flood. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 21.0 ft Very serious flooding with inundation near the FEMA 0.2 percent flood level. The Saco River valley could suffer worse damages than from the floods of Hurricane Irene in 2011 by several feet. Access in and out of the region is very difficult with homes surrounded by floodwaters for days.
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Moderate flood 12.5 ft · 28,509 CFS
- 13.0 ft Flooding occurs on West Side Road in two sections, cutting off access to hundreds of homes. River Road flooded on the west bank impacting agricultural lands. Floodwaters inundate first floors of properties in Transvale Acres. This is a dangerous situation at riverside campgrounds.
- 14.0 ft Widespread flooding occurs along the west bank of the Saco River near Moat Brook Road, cutting off access to some homes. Flood waters enter agricultural lands in eastern Conway and into Freyburg.
- 15.0 ft Major flooding occurs in Conway and North Conway. Flood waters come up to properties off West Side Road in Conway Village. Transvale Acres severely impacted with flood water several feet deep. Permanent buildings on area campgrounds become flooded.
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Minor flood 9.0 ft · 12,443 CFS
- 9.0 ft Expect flooding of low-bottom fields and private roads in Conway and North Conway. Minor flooding in Transvale Acres, Moat Brook Bridge, and the lower part of E. Road flood.
- 10.0 ft Minor flooding occurs as floodwaters surround properties across Transvale Acres. Flood waters 1 to 2 feet deep in sections of east bank camping areas.
- 11.0 ft Flood waters 2 to 3 feet deep at east bank camping areas.
- 12.0 ft Minor flooding occurs as floodwaters reach West Side Road. Much of Transvale Acres floods from Moat Brook Bridge east to the Saco River. Numerous structures become flooded with buildings on campgrounds flooded by several feet. Campers should move to higher grounds.
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Action 7.0 ft · 6,158 CFS
- 7.0 ft Minor flooding as Moat Brook backs up and floods Transvale Road, cutting off access to a dozen homes and camps. Beaches at area camps flooded.
- 8.0 ft Flooding begins along the east bank campgrounds in Conway and North Conway. Campers along the river should move to higher ground.
- Right now 2.55 ft
NWS forecast: 3.70 ft by Jul 31, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Conway
Daily values from USGS gauge 01064500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Conway
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 17.71 ft | 61,649 CFS | Dec 19, 2023 |
| 17.23 ft | 55,856 CFS | Aug 29, 2011 |
| 17.20 ft | 47,200 CFS | Mar 27, 1953 |
| 17.04 ft | 46,600 CFS | Apr 1, 1987 |
| 16.45 ft | 44,500 CFS | Mar 19, 1936 |
| 16.39 ft | 43,800 CFS | Oct 24, 1959 |
| 15.61 ft | 40,500 CFS | Mar 14, 1977 |
| 15.06 ft | 35,000 CFS | Jun 30, 1973 |
| 15.04 ft | 43,326 CFS | Oct 30, 2017 |
| 14.67 ft | 36,500 CFS | Jun 14, 1998 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Saco River at Conway
This gauge measures Saco River at Conway, New Hampshire — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Saco Bound; New England's biggest float scene.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 289 CFS for late July, from 103 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.
Saco River at Conway — common questions
What is the current flow on Saco River at Conway?
As of the last reading on this page, Saco River at Conway was running 255 CFS at a gage height of 2.55 ft, or 88% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01064500, 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 289 CFS, calculated from 103 years of record (1904–2026). 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 flow is good for tubing Saco River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.