Rivers in Washington
Samish River near Burlington
Below flood stage
0.01ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 12:00 PM PDT
- Forecast crest
- 0.03 ftFri, Sep 25, 5:00 PM PDT
- Record crest
- 14.18 ft2021
Flood stages and impacts
- 11000.0 ftthe Samish River will experience major flooding from Old Hwy 99 down to Samish Bay, with flooding of most areas of farm land along the river and further away, including Old Hwy 99. Samish Island Road will flood, cutting off Samish Island. There will also be flooding of residences, businesses, and the following roads: Sam Bell, Farm To Market, Allen, Thomas, Green, and Steelhead Lane. Levees will overtop and could breech.
- 9000.0 ftthe Samish River will cause moderate flooding from Old Hwy 99 down to Samish Bay, flooding many areas of farm land along the river and further away. Samish Island Road will flood, cutting off Samish Island. There will also be flooding of residences, businesses, and the following roads: Sam Bell, Farm To Market, Allen, Thomas, Green, and Steelhead Lane. Levees could breech as well.
- 7000.0 ftthe Samish River will cause moderate flooding from Old Hwy 99 down to Samish Bay, flooding many areas of farm land along the river and further away. There will also be flooding of residences, businesses, and the following roads: Sam Bell, Farm To Market, Allen, Thomas, Green, and Steelhead Lane. Levees could breech as well.
- 4500.0 ftthe Samish River will spill over its banks causing flood waters from west of Interstate 5 down to Samish Bay, flooding Sam Bell Rd., Farm To Market Rd., Allen Rd. near the town of Allen, and also Thomas Rd. and Green Rd.. Some residences, businesses, and farmland along the river will also be flooded.
- 3000.0 ftthe Samish River will spill over its banks causing flood waters over Sam Bell Rd., Farm To Market Rd., and Allen Rd. near the town of Allen. Some residences, businesses, and low-lying farm land along the river will also be flooded.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 11% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.
Crest history
42 crests on NOAA’s list since 1945.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 15, 2021 | 14.18 ft |
| 2 | November 15, 2021 | 14.04 ft |
| 3 | January 8, 2009 | 14.01 ft |
| 4 | January 10, 1983 | 13.88 ft |
| 5 | November 25, 2004 | 13.00 ft |
| 6 | February 4, 2018 | 12.31 ft |
| 7 | December 11, 2025 | 12.24 ft |
| 8 | December 18, 1979 | 12.20 ft |
| 9 | November 19, 2003 | 12.07 ft |
| 10 | December 2, 1975 | 11.95 ft |
| 11 | December 13, 2010 | 11.95 ft |
| 12 | January 5, 2015 | 11.93 ft |
| 13 | December 28, 1949 | 11.89 ft |
| 14 | November 28, 2021 | 11.83 ft |
| 15 | November 13, 2015 | 11.73 ft |
| 16 | January 24, 1982 | 11.54 ft |
| 17 | February 22, 2012 | 11.34 ft |
| 18 | December 15, 1999 | 11.02 ft |
| 19 | January 17, 2011 | 11.00 ft |
| 20 | February 16, 2016 | 10.69 ft |
| 21 | December 14, 2001 | 10.63 ft |
| 22 | October 22, 2019 | 10.63 ft |
| 23 | February 1, 2020 | 10.50 ft |
| 24 | March 31, 2011 | 10.48 ft |
| 25 | January 7, 2020 | 10.46 ft |
Most recent crests
- December 11, 2025: 12.24 ft
- November 28, 2021: 11.83 ft
- November 15, 2021: 14.18 ft
- November 15, 2021: 14.04 ft
- February 5, 2021: 10.23 ft
- February 1, 2020: 10.50 ft
- January 7, 2020: 10.46 ft
- October 22, 2019: 10.63 ft
- November 2, 2018: 9.84 ft
- February 4, 2018: 12.31 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.