Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin water level

Lake, Lake Chelan, Washington, United States

Directions

Higher than ever recorded here

Surface elevation

1,094.84ft Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours

0 500 1,000 Highest onrecord 99.55 ft

History

1,0951,096ftOct 13Oct 14Oct 16Oct 18Oct 191,0951,096ftOct 13Oct 16Oct 19
1,0941,0961,098ftSep 20Sep 27Oct 4Oct 12Oct 191,0941,0961,098ftSep 20Oct 4Oct 19
1,0851,0901,0951,100ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20261,0851,0901,0951,100ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
1,0851,0901,0951,100ftOct 2020Apr 2022Oct 2023Apr 2025Oct 20261,0851,0901,0951,100ftOct 2020Oct 2023Oct 2026
1,0851,0901,0951,100ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20261,0851,0901,0951,100ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin is at a record high at 1,094.84 ft.

No reading on record has been higher: the old record was 99.55 ft, from July 16, 2019. The median for mid-October is 1,095.10 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the lake level is 0.26 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 1,094.65 ft, a difference of +0.19 ft.

It has dropped 0.12 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1,094.81 ft and 1,098.29 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 the highest and lowest levels the agency has recorded at this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1,095.10 ft0.26 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
1,094.28 ft – 1,096.02 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year
1,094.65 ft+0.19 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1,094.81 ft – 1,098.29 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1,089.13 ft – 1,099.29 ft
Highest on record
99.55 ftJuly 16, 2019
Highest on record
995.29 ft above the highest level on record

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

19 Mon 64° 44° – Wind 6 mph
20 Tue 70° 50° – Wind 8 mph
21 Wed 72° 46° – Wind 5 mph
22 Thu 69° 45° – Wind 7 mph
23 Fri 55° 40° – Wind 7 mph
24 Sat 62° 39° – Wind 3 mph
25 Sun 68° 43° – Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:29 AM Sunset 06:08 PM Daylight 10 hr, 39 min First quarter 61%

Map

Other gauges on Lake Chelan

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Lake Chelan at ChelanLake, Lake Chelan 1,095.04 ft Normal −0.15 ft 42 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Stehekin River at StehekinRiver gauge, Stehekin River 18.56 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 2.4 mi
Methow River above Goat Creek near MazamaRiver gauge, Methow River 11.61 ft Low ±0 22 mi
Twisp River near TwispRiver gauge, Twisp River 6.88 ft Very low +0.01 ft 24 mi
Chewuch River at WinthropRiver gauge, Chewuch River 2.62 ft Very low ±0 25 mi
Methow River at WinthropRiver gauge, Methow River 9.82 ft Very low ±0 25 mi
Methow River at TwispRiver gauge, Methow River 268 cfs Low +5.0 cfs 25 mi
Ruby Creek below Panther Creek near NewhalemRiver gauge, Ruby Creek 65.2 cfs Very low −1.4 cfs 31 mi
Thunder Creek near NewhalemRiver gauge, Thunder Creek 6.93 ft Normal −0.15 ft 32 mi

Questions and answers

Is Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.19 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1,094.65 ft.

Is Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin really 1,094.84 ft deep?

No. 1,094.84 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 Purple Point at Stehekin today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 AM PDT, the surface elevation was 1,094.84 ft. Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin rising or falling?

Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.93 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin normal?

Higher than ever recorded here. Compared with the highest and lowest levels the agency has recorded at this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin?

The highest level on record is 99.55 ft on July 16, 2019.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:12451200 (Agency page)
Coordinates
48.30597, -120.65427 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 1,094.84 ft 2026-10-19 17:00 Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Lake Chelan at Purple Point at Stehekin (usgs:12451200). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/washington/lake-chelan-at-purple-point-at-stehekin

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