SNOFLO

       




COWLITZ RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
March 28, 2025


Total streamflow across the Cowlitz River was last observed at 43,890 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 87,055 acre-ft of water today; about 188% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 23,320 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-02-07 when daily discharge volume was observed at 95,120 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Cowlitz River At Castle Rock reporting a streamflow rate of 16,600 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Cowlitz River, with a gauge stage of 37.18 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Cowlitz River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,053 ft, the Cowlitz River At Packwood.

Last Updated 2025-03-28
Discharge Volume 87,055 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 43,890.0 cfs
+3080.0 cfs (+7.55%)
Percent of Normal 188.21%
Maximum 95,120.0 cfs
2020-02-07
Seasonal Avg 23,320 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Created with Highcharts 8.0.0Total River Discharge (cfs)19. Mar20. Mar21. Mar22. Mar23. Mar24. Mar25. Mar26. Mar27. Mar28. Mar020k40k60k
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Created with Highcharts 8.0.0Total River Discharge (cfs)1. Jan1. Feb1. Mar1. Apr1. May1. Jun1. Jul1. Aug1. Sep1. Oct1. Nov1. Dec1. Jan050k100k
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Created with Highcharts 8.0.0YearAnnual Peak Discharge(cfs)2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025202640k60k80k100k

Weather Forecast

Streamflow Elevation Profile
Created with Highcharts 8.0.0

The Cowlitz River is a river in the state of Washington in the United States, a tributary of the Columbia River. Its tributaries drain a large region including the slopes of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens.
The Cowlitz has a 2,586-square-mile (6,698 km2) drainage basin, located between the Cascade Range in eastern Lewis County, Washington and the cities of Kelso and Longview. The river is roughly 105 miles (169 km) long, not counting tributaries.
Major tributaries of the Cowlitz River include the Cispus River and the Toutle River, which was overtaken by volcanic mudflows (lahars) during the May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
When the smelt spawn in the Cowlitz River, the gulls go into a feeding frenzy that lasts for weeks. Kelso, Washington is known as the "Smelt Capital of the World".