Chiwawa River near Plain water level
River gauge, Chiwawa River, Washington, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 84.2 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Low water at Chiwawa River near Plain: the gauge reads 3.86 ft, below normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 3.98 ft, based on 24 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.12 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 3.85 ft, a difference of +0.01 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 3.85 ft – 3.96 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 3.98 ft0.12 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.85 ft – 4.80 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (24 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.85 ft+0.01 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.85 ft – 3.96 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.86 ft – 7.93 ft
- Highest on record
- 9.36 ftNovember 30, 1995
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.36 ft | November 30, 1995 |
| 2 | 9.26 ft | November 25, 1990 |
| 3 | 9.17 ft | May 29, 1948 |
| 4 | 8.87 ft | June 1, 1956 |
| 5 | 8.39 ft | June 17, 1999 |
| 6 | 8.31 ft | May 16, 1949 |
| 7 | 8.26 ft | June 13, 1955 |
| 8 | 8.01 ft | May 19, 2006 |
| 9 | 7.90 ft | May 31, 2017 |
| 10 | 7.79 ft | November 7, 2006 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenatchee River at PlainRiver gauge, Wenatchee River | 1.31 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 5.1 mi |
| Entiat River near ArdenvoirRiver gauge, Entiat River | 0.93 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 11 mi |
| Mad River at ArdenvoirRiver gauge, Mad River | 2.10 ft | Normal | ±0 | 15 mi |
| Wenatchee River at PeshastinRiver gauge, Wenatchee River | 1.45 ft | Very low | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Icicle Creek above Snow Creek near LeavenworthRiver gauge, Icicle Creek | 2.96 ft | Normal | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Entiat River near EntiatRiver gauge, Entiat River | 6.74 ft | Normal | ±0 | 23 mi |
| Wenatchee River at MonitorRiver gauge, Wenatchee River | 16.87 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 26 mi |
| Rocky Reach Hw Unit 10W near WenatcheeRiver gauge, Rocky Reach Hw Unit 10W | 705.65 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 27 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Chiwawa River near Plain higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.01 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.85 ft.
What is a normal level for the Chiwawa River near Plain in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 3.98 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.85 ft and 4.80 ft, based on 24 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Chiwawa River near Plain today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 07:30 PM PDT, the water level was 3.86 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Chiwawa River near Plain rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Chiwawa River near Plain normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Chiwawa River near Plain?
The highest level on record is 9.36 ft on November 30, 1995.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:12456500(Agency page)- Coordinates
47.83731, -120.66229(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 3.86 ft | 2026-10-18 02:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 84.2 cfs | 2026-10-18 02:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Chiwawa River near Plain (usgs:12456500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/washington/chiwawa-river-near-plain
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer