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River report

Yakima River Flow Today

As of October 22, 2026 at 12:00 AM, the Yakima River is flowing at 2,060 cfs at Mabton, WA — 89% of normal for the date and up 17% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 709 to 2,060 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
4 4 reporting · upstream → down
Yakima River At Umtanum: 66% of normalYakima River Above Ahtanum Creek At Union Gap: 70% of normalYakima River At Mabton: 89% of normalYakima River At Kiona: 76% of normal
Typical gauge
73% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
2 2 in range now
2 in range
Updated
Oct 22, 12:00 AM
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Yakima River map

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River briefing · Oct 22, 2026

Yakima 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 Mabton, the Yakima River is running 2,060 cfs — 89% of normal, up 17% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 73% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Mabton (+17%).

Paddlers: 2 of 2 runs on the Yakima River with a live range are in range.

Headwaters to mouth

How the Yakima 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

  1. Umtanum1,338 ft 709 cfs66%
  2. Union Gap938 ft 1,280 cfs70%
  3. Mabton655 ft 2,060 cfs89%
  4. Kiona465 ft 1,870 cfs76%

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 Yakima River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (73%).

Typical gauge 73%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal0Below normal4Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal0

Yakima River flow report

4 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Yakima River At Umtanum WA
Oct 22, 12:15 AM · USGS 12484500
709 cfs 66% -4% 30.72 ft 4.8 ft below 1,338 ft
Yakima River Above Ahtanum Creek At Union Gap WA
Oct 22, 12:30 AM · USGS 12500450
1,280 cfs 70% -2% 40.17 ft · 938 ft
Yakima River At Mabton WA
Oct 22, 12:00 AM · USGS 12508990
2,060 cfs 89% +17% 12.95 ft · 655 ft
Yakima River At Kiona WA
Oct 22, 12:30 AM · USGS 12510500
1,870 cfs 76% -10% 4.28 ft 8.7 ft below 465 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.

Whitewater & paddle

Paddle runs on the Yakima River

2 of 2 runs are in range right now. Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).

RunStatusFlow nowRunnable rangeClass
Yakima River Segment 1
Gauge: Umtanum
In range 709 cfs 500–10,000 cfs II–III
Yakima River Segment 2
Gauge: Umtanum
In range 709 cfs 500–10,000 cfs II–III
History

Yakima River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

Yakima River

The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River that flows through Washington State. It stretches for 214 miles and has a rich history, having been home to various Native American tribes for centuries. It is also a popular destination for fly-fishing enthusiasts, as it is home to a variety of fish species, including trout, salmon, and steelhead.

The river's hydrology has been impacted by human activity, including the construction of dams and reservoirs. The Yakima River Basin Storage Alliance has worked to create reservoirs and dams that provide irrigation water to farms and ranches in the region, while also helping to protect the river's ecosystem.

Some of the most notable reservoirs on the Yakima River include the Cle Elum Lake Reservoir and the Bumping Lake Reservoir. The Yakima River also supports a variety of recreational activities, including camping, hiking, and rafting.

FAQ

About the Yakima River

How is the Yakima River flowing right now?

As of October 22, 2026, the Yakima River is flowing at 2,060 cfs at Mabton, WA, about 89% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 709 to 2,060 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Yakima River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Yakima River is at 73% 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 Yakima River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Umtanum (35.5 ft), Kiona (13.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

Is the Yakima River runnable for paddling today?

2 of 2 paddle runs are in range right now. 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.

More river levels

Rivers in Washington