Summary
Total streamflow across the
Cowlitz River
was last observed at
27,270
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
54,089
acre-ft of water today; about 87%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
31,400 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-12-19 when daily discharge volume was observed at
108,900 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Cowlitz River At Castle Rock
reporting a streamflow rate of 14,300 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Cowlitz River, with a gauge stage of
36.27 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.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-01-17 |
| Discharge Volume | 54,089 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
27,270.0 cfs
-960.0 cfs (-3.4%) |
| Percent of Normal | 86.85% |
| Maximum |
108,900.0 cfs
2025-12-19 |
| Seasonal Avg | 31,400 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cowlitz River At Packwood
USGS 14226500 |
1900 cfs | 2.17 ft | -8.21 | |||||
|
Cowlitz River At Randle
USGS 14231000 |
3400 cfs | 7.47 ft | -5.29 | |||||
|
Cowlitz River Below Mayfield Dam
USGS 14238000 |
7670 cfs | 12.74 ft | -4.96 | |||||
|
Cowlitz River At Castle Rock
USGS 14243000 |
14300 cfs | 36.27 ft | -1.38 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
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".