Lake Chelan at Chelan water level
Lake, Lake Chelan, Washington, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Surface elevation
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
Nothing unusual at Lake Chelan at Chelan right now: the lake level of 1,095.30 ft is in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 1,096.31 ft, based on 95 years of readings, so the lake level is 1.01 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 1,095.18 ft, a difference of +0.12 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.17 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1,095.29 ft and 1,098.50 ft.
Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.
Compared with 95 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1,096.31 ft1.01 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1,093.21 ft – 1,097.80 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (95 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1,095.18 ft+0.12 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1,095.29 ft – 1,098.50 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1,089.39 ft – 1,099.50 ft
- Highest on record
- 1,100.16 ftJune 30, 1981
Swimming and boating at Lake Chelan at Chelan
At a normal level, ramps and marinas generally run as usual, and fishing tends to follow the season more than the water level.
If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.
What happens at each level
- 6,000.00 ft
- Flows in excess of 6000cfs may damage the stream restoration work in the Chelan River Gorge downstream of the Chelan Dam.
- 1,095.30 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Lake Chelan
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chelan at Purple Point at StehekinLake, Lake Chelan | 1,095.06 ft | Highest on record | −0.21 ft | 42 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelan River at ChelanRiver gauge, Chelan River | 82.6 cfs | Very low | +1.2 cfs | 2.4 mi |
| Entiat River near EntiatRiver gauge, Entiat River | 6.74 ft | Normal | ±0 | 15 mi |
| Mad River at ArdenvoirRiver gauge, Mad River | 2.11 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 16 mi |
| Entiat River near ArdenvoirRiver gauge, Entiat River | 0.94 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| Methow River near PaterosRiver gauge, Methow River | 1.59 ft | Low | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Rocky Reach Hw Unit 10W near WenatcheeRiver gauge, Rocky Reach Hw Unit 10W | 705.65 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 24 mi |
| Chiwawa River near PlainRiver gauge, Chiwawa River | 3.86 ft | Low | ±0 | 28 mi |
| Wenatchee River at PlainRiver gauge, Wenatchee River | 1.30 ft | Very low | ±0 | 29 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Lake Chelan at Chelan higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.12 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1,095.18 ft.
What is a normal level for Lake Chelan at Chelan in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1,096.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1,093.21 ft and 1,097.80 ft, based on 95 years of records.
Is Lake Chelan at Chelan really 1,095.30 ft deep?
No. 1,095.30 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.
What is the water level of Lake Chelan at Chelan today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 01:15 PM PDT, the surface elevation was 1,095.30 ft. Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Lake Chelan at Chelan rising or falling?
Down 0.17 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.99 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Lake Chelan at Chelan normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 95 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lake Chelan at Chelan?
The highest level on record is 1,100.16 ft on June 30, 1981.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:12452000(Agency page)- Coordinates
47.83625, -120.06146(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- local
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface elevation | 1,095.30 ft | 2026-10-17 20:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Lake Chelan at Chelan (usgs:12452000). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/washington/lake-chelan-at-chelan
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