Fire Weather Watch
2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... Strong northwest winds will spread across the northeast plains after sunrise today, with gusts 45 to 65 mph creating critical fire weather conditions despite somewhat marginal humidity values near 20%. Early Friday, westerly downslope winds will bring strong gusts to the Front Range mountains and foothills, with potential for these to spread into wind-favored portions of the adjacent lower elevations. Peak gusts of 70-90 mph are increasing in likelihood for the windiest locations (considerably lower for areas along and east of I-25). With a warmer and drier air mass in place, humidity values in the teens look to extend into much of the foothills, and certainly across the lower elevations. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend into the evening hours prior to the arrival of a front. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 215, 216, 241, 243, 245, 246 and 247. * TIMING...From Friday morning through late Friday evening. * WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 80 mph in and near the foothills. West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph for areas roughly along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15%. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.


Nisqually River River Levels

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

The Nisqually River runs 78 miles from the Nisqually Glacier on Mount Rainier to southern Puget Sound.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Nisqually River was last observed at 22,650 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 44,926 acre-ft of water today; about 373% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 6,073 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-02-06 when daily discharge volume was observed at 42,400 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Nisqually River At Mckenna reporting a streamflow rate of 8,580 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Nisqually River At La Grande with a gauge stage of 7.74 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Nisqually River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,436 ft, the Nisqually River Near National.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-18
Discharge Volume 44,926 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 22,650.0 cfs
+340.0 cfs (+1.52%)
Percent of Normal 372.95%
Maximum 42,400.0 cfs
2020-02-06
Seasonal Avg 6,073 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Nisqually River Near National
USGS 12082500
3550 cfs 7.43 ft -11.03
Nisqually River At La Grande Dam
USGS 12086000
4020 cfs 0.21 ft -0.5
Nisqually River At La Grande
USGS 12086500
6500 cfs 7.74 ft 3.01
Nisqually River At Mckenna
USGS 12089500
8580 cfs 7.31 ft 7.65
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Nisqually River is a river in west central Washington in the United States, approximately 81 miles (130 km) long. It drains part of the Cascade Range southeast of Tacoma, including the southern slope of Mount Rainier, and empties into the southern end of Puget Sound. Its outlet was designated in 1971 as the Nisqually Delta National Natural Landmark.
The Nisqually River forms the Pierce–Lewis county line, as well as the boundary between Pierce and Thurston counties.