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SwedenBig Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly water level
River gauge, Big Lost River, Idaho, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 102 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 1.11 ft by Friday, October 23 at 12:00 PM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 09:20 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly, where the gauge shows 1.00 ft.
It is 3.05 ft below the flood stage of 4.05 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 1.11 ft by Friday, October 23 at 12:00 PM. The 30-day range is 0.99 ft – 1.01 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 6.02 ftMay 25, 1967
- Forecast peak
- 1.11 ftFriday, October 23 at 12:00 PM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 4.05 ft.
What happens at each level
- 4.05 ft
- Widespread lowland flooding from Howell Ranch downriver to the top of Mackay Reservoir. Fish Hatchery Road near Donahue Ranch may have water flowing over it. Canals and headgates may have problems.
- 3.51 ft
- Near bankfull from Howell Ranch downriver to the top of Mackay Reservoir. Some lowland flooding of fields possible.
- 1.00 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.02 ft | May 25, 1967 |
| 2 | 6.00 ft | June 26, 1954 |
| 3 | 5.94 ft | June 12, 1921 |
| 4 | 5.73 ft | June 12, 1965 |
| 5 | 5.68 ft | May 21, 2006 |
| 6 | 5.52 ft | June 11, 1983 |
| 7 | 5.50 ft | June 15, 1922 |
| 8 | 5.48 ft | June 4, 1986 |
| 9 | 5.47 ft | June 22, 1982 |
| 10 | 5.41 ft | June 16, 1974 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Big Lost River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lost River below Mackay Reservoir near MackayRiver gauge, Big Lost River | 1.60 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 19 mi |
| Big Lost River near LeslieRiver gauge, Big Lost River | 68.1 cfs | Normal | −5.4 cfs | 29 mi |
| Big Lost River below Moore Diversion near MooreRiver gauge, Big Lost River | 0.0 cfs | Low | ±0 | 36 mi |
| Big Lost River at Arco at Sunset RoadRiver gauge, Big Lost River | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 43 mi |
| Big Lost River near ArcoRiver gauge, Big Lost River | 2.01 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 47 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nf Big Lost River at Wild Horse near ChillyRiver gauge, Nf Big Lost River | 1.50 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 6 mi |
| Thousand Springs Creek near ChillyRiver gauge, Thousand Springs Creek | 5.1 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 10 mi |
| Warm Springs Creek below Diversion near MackayRiver gauge, Warm Springs Creek | 43.4 cfs | High | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Lower Cedar Creek above Divs near MackayRiver gauge, Lower Cedar Creek | 10.8 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 22 mi |
| Trail Creek near Sun ValleyRiver gauge, Trail Creek | 15.5 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 24 mi |
| Nf Big Wood River near Sawtooth Nra Hq near KetchumRiver gauge, Nf Big Wood River | 4.91 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 25 mi |
| Big Wood River near KetchumRiver gauge, Big Wood River | 4.93 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 25 mi |
| Trail Creek at KetchumRiver gauge, Trail Creek | 4.95 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 28 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly?
The official flood stage is 4.05 ft. The level is currently 3.05 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 Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 07:00 PM MDT, the water level was 1.00 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly?
The highest level on record is 6.02 ft on May 25, 1967.
Is Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 1.11 ft by Friday, October 23 at 12:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:13120500(Agency page)- Coordinates
43.99833, -114.02111(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 | 1.00 ft | 2026-10-21 01:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 102 cfs | 2026-10-21 01:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Lost River at Howell Ranch near Chilly (usgs:13120500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/idaho/big-lost-river-at-howell-ranch-near-chilly
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