Rivers in Washington

Nooksack River at North Cedarvillle

Whatcom County, WashingtonNWS NRKW1USGS 12210700Seattle office

Below flood stage
137.95ftStage

Observed Thu, Sep 24, 7:30 AM PDT

Flood stage
146.50 ft
Forecast crest
138.56 ftThu, Oct 1, 5:00 AM PDT
Record crest
150.76 ft2021

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood150.00 ft
Moderate flood148.00 ft
Minor flood146.50 ft
Action144.80 ft
  1. 150.00 ftthe Nooksack River will cause major near record flooding downstream through Lynden. Deep and swift flood waters will inundate farm lands...roads...and residential areas. The flood may overtop levees. In addition...flood waters could overflow and flood the Sumas drainage. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Nooksack River Basin.
  2. 148.00 ftthe Nooksack River will cause widespread flooding downstream through Lynden...with swift waters covering some farm lands and roads. Erosion may affect some river banks.
  3. 147.30 ftthe Nooksack River cause widespread flooding of low farm lands along the river downstream through Lynden...with swift water moving over several roads.
  4. 146.50 ftthe Nooksack River will cause shallow flooding of low pasture lands along the river downstream through Lynden.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding13%
Moderate flooding9%
Major floodingUnder 5%

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

Crest history

44 crests on NOAA’s list since 2003.

#DateStage
1November 15, 2021150.76 ft
2December 11, 2025150.49 ft
3October 17, 2003149.61 ft
4November 6, 2006149.61 ft
5November 25, 2004149.18 ft
6February 1, 2020148.85 ft
7January 7, 2009148.68 ft
8November 17, 2015148.48 ft
9October 21, 2003148.46 ft
10December 13, 2010148.07 ft
11November 23, 2017147.99 ft
12November 13, 2015147.89 ft
13November 12, 2008147.86 ft
14January 17, 2011147.81 ft
15November 19, 2003147.34 ft
16January 28, 2024147.30 ft
17November 28, 2021147.26 ft
18November 28, 2014147.02 ft
19November 5, 2022146.93 ft
20March 12, 2007146.92 ft
21December 5, 2023146.86 ft
22November 2, 2018146.73 ft
23November 26, 2009146.63 ft
24March 24, 2007146.47 ft
25January 5, 2015146.36 ft

Most recent crests

  • December 11, 2025: 150.49 ft
  • January 28, 2024: 147.30 ft
  • December 5, 2023: 146.86 ft
  • November 5, 2022: 146.93 ft
  • November 28, 2021: 147.26 ft
  • November 15, 2021: 150.76 ft
  • February 1, 2020: 148.85 ft
  • November 2, 2018: 146.73 ft
  • November 23, 2017: 147.99 ft
  • November 17, 2015: 148.48 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

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.

Sources

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.