Nisqually River near National

1. 15000.0 ftthe Nisqually River will cause major flooding along the upper reaches of the river from Mt Rainier National Park downstream to Alder Lake. Deep and swift flood waters will inundate roads...pasture lands...and farms. The river will likely overtop some levees. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Nisqually River Basin.
2. 10000.0 ftthe Nisqually River will flood along the upper reaches of the river from Mt Rainier National Park downstream to Alder Lake. Swift waters will flood roads...pasture lands...and farms. Erosion may damage the river banks.
3. 8000.0 ftthe Nisqually River will flood roads and pasture lands along the upper reaches of the river from Mt Rainier National Park downstream to Alder Lake.
4. 6000.0 ftthe Nisqually River will locally spill over its banks along the upper reaches of the river downstream to Alder Lake.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.

Most recent crests

• December 11, 2025: 9.74 ft
• December 10, 2025: 11.71 ft
• December 9, 2025: 11.29 ft
• December 1, 2023: 10.31 ft
• November 5, 2022: 10.37 ft
• January 13, 2021: 8.66 ft
• November 23, 2017: 9.15 ft
• October 22, 2017: 10.27 ft
• November 5, 2015: 12.01 ft
• November 25, 2014: 11.60 ft

• DownstreamNisqually River at McKenna
• Puyallup River
• Nisqually River at Alder Dam
• Cowlitz River at Randle
• Carbon River at Fairfax
• Cowlitz River at Kosmos
• Puyallup River at Orting
• Tilton River at Cinebar
• Cowlitz River at Packwood

Forecasts by the Northwest River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. 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.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.