Cowlitz River at Kelso
Critical Stages
19.5' - Action
21.5' - Flood
24.5' - Moderate
26.5' - Major
Latest Observation
Updated: 8:47 PM PST 12/17/25
Status: Action
Stage: 21.2 ft
Flow: -999 kcfs
Forecast
| Time | Stage (ft) | Flow (kcfs) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 PM 12/17 | 21.53 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/17 | 21.54 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/18 | 21.53 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/18 | 21.53 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/18 | 21.52 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/18 | 21.52 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/18 | 21.52 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/18 | 21.52 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/18 | 21.51 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/18 | 21.49 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/18 | 21.48 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/18 | 21.48 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/18 | 21.48 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/18 | 21.49 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/18 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/18 | 21.51 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/18 | 21.52 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/18 | 21.52 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/18 | 21.53 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/19 | 21.54 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/19 | 21.56 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/19 | 21.58 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/19 | 21.6 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/19 | 21.63 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/19 | 21.64 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/19 | 21.65 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/19 | 21.66 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/19 | 21.66 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/19 | 21.67 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/19 | 21.68 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/19 | 21.69 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/19 | 21.7 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/19 | 21.72 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/19 | 21.75 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/19 | 21.78 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/19 | 21.79 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/19 | 21.79 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/19 | 21.79 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/19 | 21.78 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/19 | 21.77 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/19 | 21.77 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/19 | 21.76 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/19 | 21.75 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/20 | 21.73 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/20 | 21.72 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/20 | 21.72 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/20 | 21.72 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/20 | 21.72 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/20 | 21.73 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/20 | 21.73 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/20 | 21.73 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/20 | 21.72 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/20 | 21.71 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/20 | 21.7 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/20 | 21.68 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/20 | 21.67 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/20 | 21.66 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/20 | 21.66 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/20 | 21.66 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/20 | 21.67 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/20 | 21.66 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/20 | 21.65 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/20 | 21.63 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/20 | 21.62 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/20 | 21.6 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/20 | 21.58 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/20 | 21.56 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/21 | 21.53 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/21 | 21.51 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/21 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/21 | 21.49 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/21 | 21.48 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/21 | 21.49 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/21 | 21.49 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/21 | 21.48 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/21 | 21.47 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/21 | 21.46 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/21 | 21.44 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/21 | 21.43 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/21 | 21.42 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/21 | 21.42 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/21 | 21.43 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/21 | 21.44 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/21 | 21.46 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/21 | 21.46 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/21 | 21.45 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/21 | 21.43 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/21 | 21.42 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/21 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/21 | 21.39 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/21 | 21.38 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/22 | 21.37 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/22 | 21.36 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/22 | 21.35 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/22 | 21.35 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/22 | 21.36 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/22 | 21.37 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/22 | 21.38 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/22 | 21.38 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/22 | 21.37 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/22 | 21.36 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/22 | 21.35 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/22 | 21.35 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/22 | 21.34 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/22 | 21.34 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/22 | 21.34 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/22 | 21.36 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/22 | 21.39 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/22 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/22 | 21.39 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/22 | 21.37 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/22 | 21.36 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/22 | 21.35 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/22 | 21.34 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/22 | 21.33 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/23 | 21.32 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/23 | 21.32 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/23 | 21.32 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/23 | 21.34 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/23 | 21.34 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/23 | 21.33 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/23 | 21.32 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/23 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/23 | 21.29 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/23 | 21.29 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/23 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/23 | 21.33 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/23 | 21.33 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/23 | 21.31 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/23 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/23 | 21.29 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/23 | 21.28 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/23 | 21.27 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/24 | 21.26 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/24 | 21.25 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/24 | 21.25 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/24 | 21.24 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/24 | 21.24 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/24 | 21.24 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/24 | 21.25 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/24 | 21.26 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/24 | 21.25 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/24 | 21.24 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/24 | 21.23 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/24 | 21.22 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/24 | 21.22 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/24 | 21.21 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/24 | 21.21 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/24 | 21.2 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/24 | 21.21 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/24 | 21.23 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/24 | 21.24 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/24 | 21.23 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/24 | 21.21 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/24 | 21.19 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/24 | 21.17 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/24 | 21.15 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/25 | 21.13 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/25 | 21.12 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/25 | 21.11 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/25 | 21.1 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/25 | 21.09 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/25 | 21.09 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/25 | 21.1 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/25 | 21.12 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/25 | 21.12 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/25 | 21.11 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/25 | 21.09 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/25 | 21.08 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/25 | 21.07 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/25 | 21.05 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/25 | 21.04 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/25 | 21.04 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/25 | 21.03 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/25 | 21.04 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/25 | 21.05 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/25 | 21.07 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/25 | 21.06 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/25 | 21.05 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/25 | 21.03 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/25 | 21.02 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/26 | 21.01 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/26 | 20.99 | -999 |
| 5 AM 12/26 | 20.99 | -999 |
| 6 AM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 7 AM 12/26 | 21.01 | -999 |
| 8 AM 12/26 | 21.03 | -999 |
| 9 AM 12/26 | 21.04 | -999 |
| 10 AM 12/26 | 21.04 | -999 |
| 11 AM 12/26 | 21.03 | -999 |
| 12 PM 12/26 | 21.02 | -999 |
| 1 PM 12/26 | 21.01 | -999 |
| 2 PM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 3 PM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 4 PM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 5 PM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 6 PM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 7 PM 12/26 | 21.01 | -999 |
| 8 PM 12/26 | 21.02 | -999 |
| 9 PM 12/26 | 21.02 | -999 |
| 10 PM 12/26 | 21.01 | -999 |
| 11 PM 12/26 | 21 | -999 |
| 12 AM 12/27 | 20.99 | -999 |
| 1 AM 12/27 | 20.99 | -999 |
| 2 AM 12/27 | 20.98 | -999 |
| 3 AM 12/27 | 20.98 | -999 |
| 4 AM 12/27 | 20.98 | -999 |
| Time | Stage (ft) | Flow (kcfs) |
|---|---|---|
| 8:47 PM 12/17 | 21.2 | -999 |
| 8:17 PM 12/17 | 21.2 | -999 |
| 7:47 PM 12/17 | 21.2 | -999 |
| 7:32 PM 12/17 | 21.2 | -999 |
| 7:17 PM 12/17 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 7:02 PM 12/17 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 6:32 PM 12/17 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 5:47 PM 12/17 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 5:32 PM 12/17 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 5:02 PM 12/17 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 4:32 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 4:17 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 4:02 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 3:47 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 3:32 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 3:02 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 2:32 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 2:02 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 1:17 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 12:47 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 12:32 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 12:17 PM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 11:47 AM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 11:32 AM 12/17 | 21.5 | -999 |
| 11:17 AM 12/17 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 11:02 AM 12/17 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 10:47 AM 12/17 | 21.4 | -999 |
| 10:32 AM 12/17 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 10:02 AM 12/17 | 21.3 | -999 |
| 9:47 AM 12/17 | 21.3 | -999 |
28.5' -
major flooding in Kelso occurs, including residential and business areas. Numerous roads are flooded and closed, and levees may be subject to erosion and overtopping at this level.
26.5' -
some flooding of business and residential areas occurs in Kelso. Numerous road closures can be expected. The top of some levees are approached at this level.
24.5' -
flooding of a few residential areas in Kelso begins. Also expect widespread flooding of pasture land and low lying roads.
21.5' -
flooding of several low lying and secondary roads begins, including the Cowlitz Gardens neighborhood, along with flooding of pasture and lowland upstream of Kelso.
19.5' -
the river is at bankfull level.
| Date | Stage (ft) |
|---|---|
| Feb 9, 1996 | 29.5 |
| Dec 23, 1933 | 28.86 |
| Nov 30, 1995 | 27 |
| Jun 10, 1948 | 24.3 |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 24.2 |
| Dec 10, 1933 | 24.2 |
| Dec 9, 2015 | 24.2 |
| Jan 7, 2022 | 24 |
| Dec 15, 1946 | 23.4 |
| Nov 19, 1983 | 23.14 |
| Nov 7, 2006 | 23.1 |
| Jan 30, 2006 | 23.1 |
| Feb 1, 2003 | 22.9 |
| Jan 10, 2006 | 22.8 |
| May 19, 1980 | 22.6 |
| Dec 11, 2015 | 22.4 |
| Jan 9, 1990 | 22.1 |
| Dec 6, 2023 | 22.1 |
| Nov 18, 2015 | 22.1 |
| Nov 24, 1986 | 22 |
Data provided by the National Weather Service.
