Nooksack River River Levels

Last Updated: December 24, 2025

The Nooksack River is a 75-mile-long river in northwest Washington that flows through Whatcom County, eventually emptying into the Puget Sound.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Nooksack River was last observed at 12,300 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 24,397 acre-ft of water today; about 130% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 9,488 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2021-11-16 when daily discharge volume was observed at 149,200 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Nooksack River At Ferndale reporting a streamflow rate of 6,340 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Nooksack River At North Cedarville with a gauge stage of 140.61 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Nooksack River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 146 ft, the Nooksack River At North Cedarville.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-24
Discharge Volume 24,397 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 12,300.0 cfs
+5440.0 cfs (+79.3%)
Percent of Normal 129.63%
Maximum 149,200.0 cfs
2021-11-16
Seasonal Avg 9,488 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Nooksack River At North Cedarville
USGS 12210700
5960 cfs 140.61 ft -13.12
Nooksack River At Everson
USGS 12211200
5550 cfs 76 ft -11.48
Nooksack River At Ferndale
USGS 12213100
6340 cfs 8.87 ft -6.9
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Nooksack River is a river in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Washington. It drains an area of the Cascade Range around Mount Baker, near the Canada–US border. The lower river flows through a fertile agricultural area before emptying into Bellingham Bay and, via the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia, the Pacific Ocean. The river begins in three main forks, the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. The North Fork is sometimes considered the main river. Including the North Fork, the Nooksack is approximately 75 miles (121 km) long. All three forks originate in the Mount Baker Wilderness.