Yakima River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 12:30 AM, the Yakima River is flowing at 1,660 cfs at Union Gap, WA — 81% of normal for the date and down 2% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 823 to 1,660 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Yakima River map
See the Yakima 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
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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 Union Gap, the Yakima River is running 1,660 cfs — 81% of normal, down 2% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 72% of normal).
Paddlers: 2 of 2 runs on the Yakima River with a live range are in range.
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
- Umtanum1,338 ft 823 cfs65%
- Union Gap938 ft 1,660 cfs81%
- Mabton655 ft 1,100 cfs65%
- Kiona465 ft 1,430 cfs78%
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 (72%).
Yakima River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yakima River At Umtanum WA
Oct 2, 12:15 AM · USGS 12484500 |
823 cfs | 65% | -9% | 30.84 ft | 4.7 ft below | 1,338 ft |
|
Yakima River Above Ahtanum Creek At Union Gap WA
Oct 2, 12:30 AM · USGS 12500450 |
1,660 cfs | 81% | -2% | 40.47 ft | · | 938 ft |
|
Yakima River At Mabton WA
Oct 2, 1:00 AM · USGS 12508990 |
1,100 cfs | 65% | -5% | 12.43 ft | · | 655 ft |
|
Yakima River At Kiona WA
Oct 2, 12:30 AM · USGS 12510500 |
1,430 cfs | 78% | +3% | 3.90 ft | 9.1 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.
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).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima River Segment 1 Gauge: Umtanum |
In range | 823 cfs | 500–10,000 cfs | II–III |
| Yakima River Segment 2 Gauge: Umtanum |
In range | 823 cfs | 500–10,000 cfs | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Yakima River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Yakima River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
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.
About the Yakima River
How is the Yakima River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Yakima River is flowing at 1,660 cfs at Union Gap, WA, about 81% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 823 to 1,660 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 72% 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.