River stage
Little Falls, Passaic River
- River level
- 3.04 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +1.57 ft
- Recent high
- 4.32 ft
- Recent low
- 0.05 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS LTFN4
- 30-day change
- -1.28 ft
- Average
- 1.90 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 17.50 ft
In brief
The Passaic River at Little Falls, NJ read 3.04 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.46 ft below action stage. That is 1.28 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge LTFN4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.50 ft | 1903-10-10 |
| 2 | 14.19 ft | 2011-08-30 |
| 3 | 12.91 ft | 1984-04-07 |
| 4 | 11.88 ft | 2007-04-18 |
| 5 | 11.87 ft | 2010-03-16 |
| 6 | 11.81 ft | 2011-03-13 |
| 7 | 11.05 ft | 2011-09-09 |
| 8 | 10.73 ft | 1968-05-31 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 5.50 ft
The lower end of East-Holsman Street in Paterson, closest to the river, begins to flood.
- 6.00 ft
Portions of Hoffman Grove in Wayne sustain some nuisance flooding.
- 6.50 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.
- 7.00 ft
Minor flooding begins in Lincoln Park, Wayne and Little Falls.
- 8.00 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.
- 8.50 ft
Widespread flooding occurs in Fairfield.
- 9.00 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.
- 9.50 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.
- 10.00 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.
- 10.50 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.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Passaic River flooding at Little Falls?
No. The Passaic River at Little Falls is at 3.04 ft, 3.46 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Little Falls?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 6.5 ft, minor flooding 7 ft, moderate flooding 8 ft and major flooding 9 ft.
What is the highest the Passaic River has been at Little Falls?
The highest crest on record is 17.5 ft, on 1903-10-10.
Is the Passaic River high or low right now at Little Falls?
At 3.04 ft it is higher than 86% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge LTFN4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 01389500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.