Major Flood
12 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
11 ft
Minor Flood
10.5 ft
Action Stage
8.2 ft
What Floods at Each Level
13 ft
the Cowlitz River will cause severe near record flooding from the upper reaches of the river downstream through Packwood...with dangerous inundation of residential and commercial areas...roads...and farms throughout the flood plain. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Cowlitz River Basin.
12 ft
the Cowlitz River will cause major flooding from the upper reaches of the river downstream through Packwood...with dangerous flooding of roads including US Highway 12...pasture lands...and farms throughout the flood plain. Flood waters will inundate some residential and commercial areas. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Cowlitz River Basin.
11 ft
the Cowlitz River will cause flooding from the upper reaches of the river downstream through Packwood...inundating roads...pasture lands...and some farms.
10.5 ft
the Cowlitz River will cause minor flooding from the upper reaches of the river downstream through Packwood...covering several roads along the river and nearby pasture lands.
10 ft
the Cowlitz River will spill over its banks into nearby low pasture lands from the upper reaches downstream through Packwood.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2006 | 14.59 ft | 42,100 cfs |
| Dec 1, 1977 | 13.73 ft | 36,200 cfs |
| Nov 22, 1959 | 13.54 ft | 34,300 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Cowlitz River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Cowlitz River at Packwood?
The Cowlitz River at Packwood gauge is maintained by USGS (site 14226500) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Cowlitz River at Packwood?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cowlitz River at Packwood is 10.5 feet. Action stage begins at 8.2 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 11 feet, and major flooding at 12 feet.
How do I get alerts when Cowlitz River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Cowlitz River at Packwood to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Cowlitz River at Packwood gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lewis County, Washington at coordinates 46.6131°N, 121.6781°W. USGS site number: 14226500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Cowlitz River
On This River
Downstream: Cowlitz River at Randle
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.