000 NOUS41 KCAR 191332 PNSCAR MEZ001>006-010-011-015>017-029>032-200145- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Caribou ME 932 AM EDT Fri Apr 19 2024 To: Subscribers: -Family of Services -NOAA Weather Wire Service -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network -Other NWS partners, users, and NWS employees From: Patrick Maloit Meteorologist in Charge Weather Forecast Office Caribou, ME Subject: Changes in River Forecast Services Effective at 1200 Coordinated Universal Time on Tuesday May 21, 2024, the National Weather Service will be adjusting river flood stages for the Penobscot River at West Enfield, Maine (WENM1) and Grindstone, Maine(GRNM1). At Grindstone, on the East Branch of the Penobscot River, in 2023, the gage was moved upstream a few hundred yards with the same zero datum which resulted in the gage being located in a different slope of the river bed. In coordination with local emergency managers, after review of the existing information for this gage, along with an extensive review of the December 2023 flood, the flood stages have been re- evaluated at Grindstone to reflect the new gage location. The NWS location identifier for Grindstone is GRNM1. The new flood categories will be as follows: 1. New flood stage is 14 feet above Gage Zero. The previous flood stage was 13 feet above Gage Zero. 2. New moderate flood stage is 16 feet above Gage Zero. The previous flood stage was 15 feet above Gage Zero. 3. New major flood stage is 17 feet above Gage Zero. The previous flood stage was 16 feet above Gage Zero. These new flood stages will be referenced in flood warnings, flood statements, and flood advisories for the East Branch of the Penobscot River. In West Enfield, in coordination with local emergency managers, review of the current flood stages, along with information from the December 2023 flood event, flood inundation mapping and historic flood accounts, has resulted in an adjustment to the flood stages. The new flood stages will better reflect current flood impacts. The NWS location identifier for West Enfield is WENM1. The new flood categories will be as follows: 4. New flood stage is 17 feet above Gage Zero. The previous flood stage was 18 feet above Gage Zero. 5. New moderate flood stage is 20 feet above Gage Zero. The previous flood stage was 22 feet above Gage Zero. 6. New major flood stage is 24 feet above Gage Zero. The previous flood stage was 25 feet above Gage Zero. These new flood stages will be referenced in flood warnings, flood statements, and flood advisories for the Penobscot River. For more information, please contact: James Sinko Hydrology Program Manager NWS Weather Forecast Office Caribou, ME 04736 (207) 492-0180 james.sinko@noaa.gov Louise Fode Warning Coordination Meteorologist NWS Weather Forecast Office Caribou, ME 04736 (207) 492-0180, x223 louise.fode@noaa.gov $$