Willow Creek near Willow water level

Name: Willow Creek near Willow water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Willow Creek, Alaska, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.28ft Up 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 09:15 PM AKDT (48 min ago)

Flow: 380 cfs
Water temperature: 37 °F

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.17 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 PM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 02:18 PM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

Willow Creek near Willow is at 2.28 ft, in the normal range.

It is 3.62 ft below the flood stage of 5.90 ft.

It has risen 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.17 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 PM. There is still 3.62 ft of room before flood stage. In the last month it has stayed between 2.19 ft and 2.31 ft.

The sensor also reports a water temperature of 37 °F.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 9.01 ftOctober 11, 1986
Forecast peak: 2.26 ftTuesday, October 20 at 04:00 AM

Floating and fishing near Willow Creek near Willow

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 5.90 ft, 3.62 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

4.09 ft: High water level -- Class IV whitewater in Willow Creek canyon
3.40 ft: Medium water level -- Class IV whitewater in Willow Creek canyon
2.60 ft: Low water level -- Class III whitewater in Willow Creek canyon
2.28 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	9.01 ft	October 11, 1986
2	8.80 ft	July 28, 1980
3	8.27 ft	September 21, 2012
4	7.82 ft	May 28, 1979
5	7.38 ft	August 19, 2006
6	6.40 ft	August 12, 1985
7	6.34 ft	September 16, 1982
8	6.22 ft	August 25, 1984
9	5.97 ft	August 15, 1981
10	5.87 ft	August 13, 1990

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 08:58 AM Sunset 06:32 PM Daylight 9 hr, 35 min First quarter 66%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Kashwitna River near WillowRiver gauge, Kashwitna River	171.54 ft	Below flood stage	+0.09 ft	12 mi
Lake Susitna River near PalmerRiver gauge, Lake Susitna River	2.59 ft	Below flood stage	+0.07 ft	22 mi
Moose Creek near PalmerRiver gauge, Moose Creek	15.47 ft	Below flood stage	+0.06 ft	28 mi
Matanuska River at PalmerRiver gauge, Matanuska River	1,640 cfs	Normal	−10.0 cfs	29 mi
Knik River near PalmerRiver gauge, Knik River	3,480 cfs	Normal	−170.0 cfs	34 mi
Eklutna Lake near PalmerRiver gauge, Eklutna Lake	849.94 ft	Very low	+0.01 ft	36 mi
Ship Creek near AnchorageRiver gauge, Ship Creek	4.99 ft	Below flood stage	+0.05 ft	39 mi
Talkeetna River near TalkeetnaRiver gauge, Talkeetna River	4.09 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	39 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for Willow Creek near Willow?

The official flood stage is 5.90 ft. The level is currently 3.62 ft below it.

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 Willow Creek near Willow today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 09:15 PM AKDT, the water level was 2.28 ft. Up 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Willow Creek near Willow rising or falling?

Up 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Willow Creek near Willow normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Willow Creek near Willow?

The highest level on record is 9.01 ft on October 11, 1986.

Is Willow Creek near Willow expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.17 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 PM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:15294005 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 61.78083, -149.88444 (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	2.28 ft	2026-10-20 05:15	Provisional
Flow	380 cfs	2026-10-20 05:15	Provisional
Water temperature	37 °F	2026-10-20 05:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Willow Creek near Willow (usgs:15294005). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alaska/willow-creek-near-willow

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