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SwedenCowlitz River at Randle water level
River gauge, Cowlitz River, Washington, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 382 cfs
History
Not enough readings for a chart yet. History builds up with every update.
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.94 ft by Tuesday, October 27 at 05:00 AM. Issued Saturday, October 17 at 08:34 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Cowlitz River at Randle, where the gauge shows 3.69 ft.
That puts it 0.34 ft below the median of 4.03 ft for mid-October, based on 16 years of readings. It is 14.31 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.94 ft by Tuesday, October 27 at 05:00 AM.
Compared with 16 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.03 ft0.34 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.96 ft – 5.76 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (16 years of records)
- Highest on record
- 25.24 ftNovember 7, 2006
- Forecast peak
- 3.94 ftTuesday, October 27 at 05:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 18.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
- the Cowlitz River will cause major flooding from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...with dangerous inundation of many roads including US Highway 12...residential and commercial areas...and farms. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Cowlitz River Basin.
- 20.00 ft
- the Cowlitz River will cause flooding from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...inundating many roads including US Highway 12 and much of the farm lands.
- 18.00 ft
- the Cowlitz River will cause minor flooding from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...covering nearby farm lands and several roads.
- 15.00 ft
- the Cowlitz River will spill into low fields along river from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...with shallow water over a few roads.
- 3.69 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: 27 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.24 ft | November 7, 2006 |
| 2 | 24.90 ft | February 9, 1996 |
| 3 | 24.17 ft | December 11, 2025 |
| 4 | 24.11 ft | December 9, 2015 |
| 5 | 23.58 ft | November 30, 1995 |
| 6 | 22.85 ft | January 7, 2009 |
| 7 | 22.49 ft | January 31, 2003 |
| 8 | 22.43 ft | January 17, 2011 |
| 9 | 22.28 ft | November 13, 2021 |
| 10 | 22.13 ft | November 12, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Cowlitz River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz River at PackwoodRiver gauge, Cowlitz River | 0.84 ft | Very low | +0.03 ft | 14 mi |
| Cowlitz River near KosmosRiver gauge, Cowlitz River | 512 cfs | Very low | +67.0 cfs | 9 mi |
| Cowlitz River below Mayfield DamRiver gauge, Cowlitz River | 10.64 ft | Normal | ±0 | 31 mi |
| Cowlitz River at Castle RockRiver gauge, Cowlitz River | 33.65 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 49 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cispus River above Yellowjacket Creek near RandleRiver gauge, Cispus River | 12.84 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| Nisqually River near NationalRiver gauge, Nisqually River | 4.17 ft | Normal | +0.09 ft | 16 mi |
| Mineral Creek near MineralRiver gauge, Mineral Creek | 18.9 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Tilton River above Bear Canyon Creek near CinebarRiver gauge, Tilton River | 2.23 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 24 mi |
| Puyallup River near ElectronRiver gauge, Puyallup River | 3.34 ft | Normal | +0.14 ft | 26 mi |
| Nisqually River at La GrandeRiver gauge, Nisqually River | 4.24 ft | High | ±0 | 28 mi |
| Mashel River near La GrandeRiver gauge, Mashel River | 1.80 ft | Very low | ±0 | 28 mi |
| Ohop Creek near EatonvilleRiver gauge, Ohop Creek | 1.61 ft | Low | −0.04 ft | 29 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Cowlitz River at Randle?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 14.31 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Cowlitz River at Randle in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.03 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.96 ft and 5.76 ft, based on 16 years of records.
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 Cowlitz River at Randle today?
On Oct 13, 2026, 02:30 AM PDT, the water level was 3.69 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Cowlitz River at Randle rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Cowlitz River at Randle normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 16 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Cowlitz River at Randle?
The highest level on record is 25.24 ft on November 7, 2006.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:14231000(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.53194, -121.95694(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 | 3.69 ft | 2026-10-13 09:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 382 cfs | 2026-10-13 09:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Cowlitz River at Randle (usgs:14231000). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/washington/cowlitz-river-at-randle
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