Willamette River Flow Today
As of October 20, 2026 at 12:45 AM, the Willamette River is flowing at 7,690 cfs at Portland, OR — 40% of normal for the date and down 59% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 3,710 to 7,690 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Willamette River map
See the Willamette River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Willamette 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 Portland, the Willamette River is running 7,690 cfs — 40% of normal, down 59% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 6 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 55% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Portland (-59%).
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Willamette River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Willamette 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
- Harrisburg294 ft 3,710 cfs53%
- Corvallis196 ft 4,580 cfs61%
- Albany174 ft 4,740 cfs58%
- Salem125 ft 6,910 cfs54%
- Newberg63 ft 7,480 cfs55%
- Portland10 ft 7,690 cfs40%
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 Willamette River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (55%).
Willamette River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Willamette River At Harrisburg OR
Oct 23, 1:15 AM · USGS 14166000 |
3,710 cfs | 53% | 0% | 1.58 ft | 12.4 ft below | 294 ft |
|
Willamette River At Corvallis OR
Oct 23, 12:15 AM · USGS 14171600 |
4,580 cfs | 61% | 0% | 10.23 ft | 19.8 ft below | 196 ft |
|
Willamette River At Albany OR
Oct 23, 1:15 AM · USGS 14174000 |
4,740 cfs | 58% | +0% | 3.18 ft | 21.8 ft below | 174 ft |
|
Willamette River At Salem OR
Oct 23, 1:15 AM · USGS 14191000 |
6,910 cfs | 54% | +1% | 5.31 ft | 22.7 ft below | 125 ft |
|
Willamette River At Newberg OR
Oct 22, 11:45 PM · USGS 14197900 |
7,480 cfs | 55% | +1% | 56.21 ft | · | 63 ft |
|
Willamette River At Portland OR
Oct 20, 12:45 AM · USGS 14211720 |
7,690 cfs | 40% | -59% | 1.07 ft | · | 10 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.
Paddle runs on the Willamette River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette River Gauge: Harrisburg |
Too low | 3,710 cfs | 3,820–24,435 cfs typical | · |
Dams & reservoirs on the Willamette River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Willamette River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, running approximately 187 miles through western Oregon. The river has a rich history, having been home to several Native American tribes and having played a pivotal role in the region's settlement and industrialization. Today, the river is heavily utilized for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming, as well as agricultural purposes. Additionally, several reservoirs and dams have been constructed along the river, including the Detroit Dam and Foster Reservoir, which are used for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. The river's hydrology is characterized by seasonal variation in water levels and flow rates, with high flows in the winter and low flows in the summer. Despite some water quality concerns, efforts have been made to protect and restore the river's ecological health.
About the Willamette River
How is the Willamette River flowing right now?
As of October 20, 2026, the Willamette River is flowing at 7,690 cfs at Portland, OR, about 40% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 3,710 to 7,690 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Willamette River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Willamette River is at 55% 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 Willamette River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Harrisburg (14.0 ft), Corvallis (30.0 ft), Albany (25.0 ft), Salem (28.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Willamette River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
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.