Cowlitz River at Castle Rock

1. 57.00 ftexpect widespread and major flooding of homes and property just upstream and downstream of Castle Rock. Impacts include major flooding of the fairgrounds area west of Castle Rock, numerous road closures, and possible overtopping or weakening of portions of the levee protecting Castle Rock, especially sections downstream of the highway bridge.
2. 54.00 ftexpect widespread flooding of residential and business areas, especially west of the river in the Four Corners area and along Hwy 411. Also expect widespread flooding of agricultural land. Levees have historically been threatened of overtopping at this and higher levels.
3. 51.00 ftflooding of buildings and residential areas begins, especially west of the river along Hwy 411 and around Four Corners. Also expect widespread flooding of low-lying agricultural land.
4. 48.00 ftexpect flooding of several roads and low-lying agricultural lands in areas not protected by levees.

Most recent crests

• March 14, 2026: 48.08 ft
• December 9, 2025: 48.18 ft
• January 7, 2022: 49.01 ft
• December 9, 2015: 52.45 ft
• January 8, 2009: 54.70 ft
• November 7, 2006: 49.78 ft
• February 1, 2003: 47.58 ft
• November 26, 1998: 46.59 ft
• December 29, 1996: 46.88 ft
• February 8, 1996: 55.76 ft

• UpstreamCowlitz River at Mayfield Dam
• DownstreamCowlitz River at Lexington
• Toutle River at Tower Road near Silver Lake
• Cowlitz River at Kelso
• Columbia River at Longview
• Abernathy Creek at Longview
• Mill Creek at Longview
• South Fork Chehalis Rver at Wildwood
• Columbia River at Port Westward near Clatskanie 5N

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

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.