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SwedenClearwater River at Spalding water level
River gauge, Clearwater River, Idaho, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 3,150 cfs
- Water temperature
- 53 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 3.25 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 11:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 10:12 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Clearwater River at Spalding is at 3.25 ft, in the normal range.
It is 14.75 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 3.25 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 11:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 3.21 ft and 3.29 ft.
The water temperature at the gauge is 53 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 27.77 ftFebruary 5, 1963
- Forecast peak
- 3.33 ftWednesday, October 28 at 05:00 AM
Floating and fishing near Clearwater River at Spalding
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 18.00 ft, 14.75 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 23.00 ft
- Significant flooding is likely in and around Spalding. Lapwai Creek will back up from its confluence with the Clearwater River and potentially cause flooding in North Lapwai.
- 21.00 ft
- Bankfull stage at gage near Spalding Mill Road and Silver Drive.
- 18.00 ft
- Lowland flooding is likely at Spalding in low-lying areas of the Nez Perce National Historical Park near the confluence with Lapwai Creek. The Clearwater may back up Lapwai Creek and cause low-land flooding in North Lapwai. Water will likely be over the top of the bank and approaching homes on Clearwater Drive, just downstream of the Highway 95 bridge, with high potential for bank erosion in this area.
- 17.00 ft
- Water will be approaching the top of the bank of the homes along Clearwater Drive downstream of the Highway 95 bridge, approximately 10 to 15 horizontal feet from the houses. There is high potential for bank erosion due to deep water and high velocities near the bank.
- 13.00 ft
- Water will be in the yards of the homes on Clearwater Drive, downstream of the Highway 95 bridge
- 3.25 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27.77 ft | February 5, 1963 |
| 2 | 25.60 ft | January 5, 1928 |
| 3 | 23.76 ft | May 29, 1948 |
| 4 | 23.19 ft | December 23, 1933 |
| 5 | 21.42 ft | May 20, 1957 |
| 6 | 20.80 ft | June 1, 1894 |
| 7 | 20.70 ft | June 8, 1964 |
| 8 | 20.48 ft | June 10, 1933 |
| 9 | 20.00 ft | April 19, 1938 |
| 10 | 19.81 ft | May 16, 1949 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Clearwater River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater River at OrofinoRiver gauge, Clearwater River | 2.39 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 27 mi |
| Clearwater River near PeckRiver gauge, Clearwater River | 3,140 cfs | Low | −30.0 cfs | 21 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lapwai Creek near LapwaiRiver gauge, Lapwai Creek | 10.2 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 1.8 mi |
| Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Creek near SpaldingRiver gauge, Potlatch River Bel Little Potlatch Creek | 11.3 cfs | Very low | +0.5 cfs | 4.7 mi |
| Mann Lake and Reservoir AReservoir | 1,788.66 ft | Normal | 5.5 mi | |
| Asotin Creek at AsotinRiver gauge, Asotin Creek | 1.65 ft | Lowest on record | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Lake WahaLake | 3,366.62 ft | Normal | 16 mi | |
| Big Canyon Creek near PeckRiver gauge, Big Canyon Creek | 4.5 cfs | Low | +0.2 cfs | 20 mi |
| Soldiers Meadow ReservoirReservoir | 4,496.22 ft | Low | 20 mi | |
| Snake River near AnatoneRiver gauge, Snake River | 3.30 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Clearwater River at Spalding?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 14.75 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 Clearwater River at Spalding today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 07:00 PM PDT, the water level was 3.25 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Clearwater River at Spalding rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Clearwater River at Spalding normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Clearwater River at Spalding?
The highest level on record is 27.77 ft on February 5, 1963.
Is Clearwater River at Spalding expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 3.25 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 11:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:13342500(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.44833, -116.82750(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 | 3.25 ft | 2026-10-19 02:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 3,150 cfs | 2026-10-19 02:00 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 53 °F | 2026-10-19 02:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Clearwater River at Spalding (usgs:13342500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/idaho/clearwater-river-at-spalding
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