Flood Warning Issued for Essex and Clinton Counties Due to Ice Jam on East Branch Ausable River

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Burlington VT has issued a Flood Warning for the East Branch Ausable River at Ausable Forks. The alert was triggered by an ice jam causing water to infiltrate lowlands along the river.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically affects Essex and Clinton Counties in New York. Impacted locations include Keene, Jay, and areas near Keeseville. Specific roads facing potential flooding include Hulls Falls Road, Route 73, and Route 9N near Marcy Field and Trumbulls Corner. High water is also expected to impact interests at Alice Falls near Keeseville.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to follow the “Turn around, don’t drown” rule when encountering flooded roads, as most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. Exercise extreme caution when walking near riverbanks, as water levels can rise rapidly behind ice jams or if a jam releases without warning. Stay well away from any ice.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently occurring and is forecast to continue. As of 10:15 AM EDT Sunday, the river stage was recorded at 8.4 feet, which is above the flood stage of 7.0 feet. The river is expected to rise to a crest of 8.9 feet this afternoon before falling below flood stage this evening. At 7.0 feet, water begins to overflow onto Hulls Falls Road, Route 73, and Route 9N. At 8.0 feet, water covers Route 9N near Trumbulls Corner in Jay.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective as of 10:56 AM EDT on Sunday, March 8, 2026. The river is expected to crest this afternoon and fall below flood stage this evening. The warning is scheduled to expire at 1:57 AM EDT on Monday, March 9, 2026.