Minor flooding is expected in low-lying areas along the river in Northampton, Montague, Sunderland and Hadley.
he parking area for the Route 5 boat ramp in Northampton is underwater due to rising Connecticut River waters, as seen in this 2010 file photoNORTHAMPTON - The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch Tuesday afternoon for areas along the Connecticut River in Hampshire and Franklin counties because of rising water levels due to melting of snow up north over the last few days.
Significant snow melt in Vermont and western New Hampshire, along with heavy rains is expected to raise the level of the Connecticut River in some places to very near flood stage over the next few days.
Minor flooding in expected in Montague and along the Oxbow in Northampton.
Water level in Montague on Tuesday afternoon was 18 inches below the flood stage of 28 feet. It is expected to rise to 29 feet before receding on Thursday morning.
Low-lying areas downstream in Sunderland and Whately should see minor flooding.
The area along the Oxbow was 110.4 feet, and is expected to reach flood stage of 112 feet two feet below flood stage of 112 feet and rising. It is expected to crest at 112.6 feet by Wednesday, which should cause minor flooding in the area of the Oxbow and along Aqua Vitae Drive in Hadley.