Major Flood
16 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
15 ft
Minor Flood
14 ft
Action Stage
13 ft
What Floods at Each Level
18 ft
Water will be into homes and trailers that are in the low areas close to the river. Some homes on Palmer Lake may experience flooding. This is equivalent to the 1972 flood. Loomis-Oroville Road around Palmer lake and Chopaka Road near the intersection with Loomis-Oroville Rd will be impassable.
15 ft
Water will be around the foundation of the home on Allemandi Road south of the Nighthawk Bridge. Widespread flooding of agricultural land and private property along the river valley. Portions of Loomis-Oroville Road around Palmer Lake will be inundated between Toats Coulee and Chopaka Road. Chopaka Road will be flooded.
14.4 ft
Minor flooding to properties on the southwest side Oroville to near the Oroville Golf Course and in pasture lands near Split Rock and Miners Flat Campground off of Loomis-Oroville Road.
14.25 ft
Water may begin to come over Loomis-Oroville road near Chopka Road on the south end of Palmer Lake. Minor flooding found in the Similkameen Valley off of Chopka Road.
13 ft
Water starts to back up into Palmer Lake and water will be a few inches deep over Chopaka Road. Low-lying pastures and agricultural land around Chopaka and Allemandi Roads will be flooded in the Similkameen Valley. Water will begin to encroach on farm land just downstream of the Nighthawk bridge.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
400 cfs
Minimum base flow for September 1st and 15th, January 1st and 15th, & February 1st and 15th at this river gage, which is the lowest base flow of the year. The affected stream reach is from the confluence of the Okanogan River to the Canadian Border. Water-rights junior to the base flows established in the rule may be restricted if streamflow drops below this value. For more information on this and the minimum base flows for other times in the year and for other reaches, refer to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 173-549.
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1972 | 17.97 ft | 45,800 cfs |
| May 29, 1948 | 17.62 ft | 38,700 cfs |
| Jun 16, 1974 | 15.52 ft | 31,500 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
NITW1
River
Similkameen River
County
Okanogan, WA
Coordinates
48.9846°N, 119.6184°W
Get Flood Alerts for Similkameen 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 Similkameen River near Nighthawk?
The Similkameen River near Nighthawk gauge is maintained by USGS (site 12442500) 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 Similkameen River near Nighthawk?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Similkameen River near Nighthawk is 14 feet. Action stage begins at 13 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 15 feet, and major flooding at 16 feet.
How do I get alerts when Similkameen River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Similkameen River near Nighthawk 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 Similkameen River near Nighthawk gauge located?
The gauge is located in Okanogan County, Washington at coordinates 48.9846°N, 119.6184°W. USGS site number: 12442500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: IJC, CCT, USGS, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.