Rivers in Washington
Cowlitz River at Randle
Below flood stage
3.84ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 11:30 PM PDT
- Flood stage
- 18.00 ft
- Record crest
- 25.24 ft2006
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 22.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 20.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 18.00 ft |
| Action | 13.20 ft |
- 22.00 ftthe Cowlitz River will cause major flooding from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...with dangerous inundation of many roads including US Highway 12...residential and commercial areas...and farms. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Cowlitz River Basin.
- 20.00 ftthe Cowlitz River will cause flooding from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...inundating many roads including US Highway 12 and much of the farm lands.
- 18.00 ftthe Cowlitz River will cause minor flooding from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...covering nearby farm lands and several roads.
- 15.00 ftthe Cowlitz River will spill into low fields along river from the vicinity of Randle downstream through Riffe Lake...with shallow water over a few roads.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 21% |
| Moderate flooding | 17% |
| Major flooding | 10% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.
Crest history
46 crests on NOAA’s list since 1995.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 7, 2006 | 25.24 ft |
| 2 | February 9, 1996 | 24.90 ft |
| 3 | December 11, 2025 | 24.17 ft |
| 4 | December 9, 2015 | 24.11 ft |
| 5 | November 30, 1995 | 23.58 ft |
| 6 | January 7, 2009 | 22.85 ft |
| 7 | January 31, 2003 | 22.49 ft |
| 8 | January 17, 2011 | 22.43 ft |
| 9 | November 13, 2021 | 22.28 ft |
| 10 | November 12, 2008 | 22.13 ft |
| 11 | November 18, 2015 | 21.88 ft |
| 12 | December 6, 2023 | 21.31 ft |
| 13 | November 26, 1999 | 21.13 ft |
| 14 | February 8, 2020 | 20.94 ft |
| 15 | November 23, 2017 | 20.89 ft |
| 16 | December 30, 1998 | 20.67 ft |
| 17 | October 22, 2017 | 20.30 ft |
| 18 | January 18, 2005 | 20.11 ft |
| 19 | December 19, 2025 | 19.84 ft |
| 20 | October 31, 1997 | 19.83 ft |
| 21 | January 8, 2002 | 19.77 ft |
| 22 | March 1, 2022 | 19.52 ft |
| 23 | November 9, 1995 | 19.38 ft |
| 24 | January 13, 2021 | 19.30 ft |
| 25 | March 20, 1997 | 19.27 ft |
Most recent crests
- December 19, 2025: 19.84 ft
- December 17, 2025: 18.83 ft
- December 11, 2025: 24.17 ft
- December 6, 2023: 21.31 ft
- November 5, 2022: 19.07 ft
- March 1, 2022: 19.52 ft
- November 13, 2021: 22.28 ft
- January 13, 2021: 19.30 ft
- February 8, 2020: 20.94 ft
- November 23, 2017: 20.89 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.