Puyallup River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 12:45 AM, the Puyallup River is flowing at 1,240 cfs at Puyallup, WA — 102% of normal for the date and down 16% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 353 to 1,240 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Puyallup River map
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Puyallup River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Puyallup, the Puyallup River is running 1,240 cfs — 102% of normal, down 16% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 117% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Puyallup (-16%) and Alderton (-10%).
How the Puyallup River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Electron1,641 ft 353 cfs123%
- Orting417 ft 373 cfs111%
- Alderton69 ft 740 cfs123%
- Puyallup24 ft 1,240 cfs102%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Puyallup River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (117%).
Puyallup River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Puyallup River Near Electron WA
Oct 2, 12:15 AM · USGS 12092000 |
353 cfs | 123% | +6% | 3.74 ft | · | 1,641 ft |
|
Puyallup River Near Orting WA
Oct 2, 1:00 AM · USGS 12093500 |
373 cfs | 111% | +2% | 6.60 ft | 3.4 ft below | 417 ft |
|
Puyallup River At Alderton WA
Oct 2, 12:45 AM · USGS 12096500 |
740 cfs | 123% | -10% | 46.13 ft | · | 69 ft |
|
Puyallup River At Puyallup WA
Oct 2, 12:45 AM · USGS 12101500 |
1,240 cfs | 102% | -16% | 10.49 ft | 15.7 ft below | 24 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Puyallup River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Puyallup River
The Puyallup River is a 45-mile long river located in Pierce County, Washington. The river is known for its rich history as it was once home to the Puyallup Tribe who relied on the river for fishing and trade. Today, the river is used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. The river's hydrology is heavily influenced by Mount Rainier and its surrounding glaciers, causing the river to have high flows during the spring and low flows during the summer. Spanaway Lake and Lake Tapps are two reservoirs along the river that are used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and flood control. The river is also important for agriculture as it provides irrigation to several farms in the area. However, the river faces challenges with water pollution and habitat degradation, leading to efforts to improve water quality and restore salmon populations.
Fishing near the Puyallup River
About the Puyallup River
How is the Puyallup River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Puyallup River is flowing at 1,240 cfs at Puyallup, WA, about 102% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 353 to 1,240 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Puyallup River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Puyallup River is at 117% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Puyallup River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Orting (10.0 ft), Puyallup (26.2 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.