River stage
Clifton, Passaic River
- River level
- 1.76 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.54 ft
- Recent high
- 2.43 ft
- Recent low
- 0.86 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS DDCN4
- 30-day change
- -0.67 ft
- Average
- 1.42 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 8.40 ft
In brief
The Passaic River at Clifton, NJ read 1.76 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 1.74 ft below action stage. That is 0.67 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge DDCN4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.40 ft | 1903-10-10 |
| 2 | 6.80 ft | 1902-03-02 |
| 3 | 6.42 ft | 1936-03-13 |
| 4 | 6.00 ft | 1977-04-07 |
| 5 | 5.90 ft | 2011-08-30 |
| 6 | 5.00 ft | 2010-03-16 |
| 7 | 4.93 ft | 2007-04-18 |
| 8 | 4.30 ft | 1938-09-23 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 3.50 ft
The lower end of East-Holsman Street, closest ot the river, begins to flood.
- 4.00 ft
The lower end of Bergen Street, closest to the river, begins to flood.
- 4.50 ft
River Drive in Elmwood Park begins to flood.
- 5.50 ft
Industrial area in the vicinity of Route 80 begins to flood.
- 6.00 ft
River Road at River Drive in Elmwood Park begins to flood. Riverside Place in Garfield begins to flood as does Somerset Street. Market Street in Elmwood Park begins to flood.
- 6.50 ft
River Drive in Garfield becomes impassable. Cambridge Avenue in Garfield begins to flood, including residential properties. Pulaski Park in Paterson is submerged with water.
- 7.00 ft
Business' between Route 46 and 80 in Elmwood Park are flooded and sustain first floor damage. Market Street is subject to closures. Residential properties surrounding Pulaski Park are flooded. Many homes between Passaic Street and Van Winkler in Garfield are flooded.
- 8.00 ft
Flooding stretches to Palisades Avenue in Garfield. Flooding stretches to 3rd Street in Paterson.
- 8.50 ft
Midland Avenue in Garfield is flooded.
- 9.00 ft
Flooding extends to Market Street in Paterson. Outwater Lane in Garfield is flooded near River Drive. Commercial properties near Route 21 in Paterson are flooded. Portions of Route 20 and 46, near the Garden State Parkway, are flooded. Industrial area between Route 46 and 80 in Elmwood Park is submerged with several feet of water.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Passaic River flooding at Clifton?
No. The Passaic River at Clifton is at 1.76 ft, 1.74 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Clifton?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 3.5 ft, minor flooding 4.5 ft, moderate flooding 6 ft and major flooding 7 ft.
What is the highest the Passaic River has been at Clifton?
The highest crest on record is 8.4 ft, on 1903-10-10.
Is the Passaic River high or low right now at Clifton?
At 1.76 ft it is higher than 84% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge DDCN4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 01389890). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.