River stage
Bristol, Smith River
- River level
- 1.89 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.05 ft
- Recent high
- 3.75 ft
- Recent low
- 1.35 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS BRSN3
- 30-day change
- -0.20 ft
- Average
- 2.00 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 16.09 ft
In brief
The Smith River at Bristol, NH read 1.89 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 4.11 ft below action stage. That is 0.20 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge BRSN3
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.09 ft | 1936-03-19 |
| 2 | 11.41 ft | 2006-05-14 |
| 3 | 10.77 ft | 1938-09-22 |
| 4 | 10.44 ft | 1953-03-27 |
| 5 | 10.37 ft | 1934-04-12 |
| 6 | 10.21 ft | 1987-04-01 |
| 7 | 9.27 ft | 1973-06-30 |
| 8 | 8.99 ft | 1996-10-21 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 8.00 ft
Minor lowland flooding begins.
- 12.00 ft
Prime farmland flooded from Bristol to Danbury.
- 14.00 ft
Flooding begins on Smith River Road.
- 16.00 ft
Smith River Road floods in several locations from Bristol to Danbury.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Smith River flooding at Bristol?
No. The Smith River at Bristol is at 1.89 ft, 4.11 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Bristol?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 6 ft, minor flooding 8 ft, moderate flooding 12 ft and major flooding 14 ft.
What is the highest the Smith River has been at Bristol?
The highest crest on record is 16.09 ft, on 1936-03-19.
Is the Smith River high or low right now at Bristol?
At 1.89 ft it is higher than 61% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge BRSN3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 01078000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.