Nooksack River at Ferndale

1. 23.00 ftthe Nooksack River will cause major near record flooding from near Ferndale downstream to the mouth, overtopping levees on both sides of the river and flooding roadways on the Lummi Peninsula including Hexton Way. Deep and swift flood waters will inundate residential areas...farm lands...and roads. 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. 22.00 ftthe Nooksack River will overflow levees and banks along the east bank of the river from Hovander Park downstream to Marietta, causing widespread flooding from near Ferndale downstream to the mouth...with swift waters in residential areas and over farmlands and roads. Erosion may damage some river banks. Flooding within the City of Ferndale affects Main Street in the vicinity of the Whatcom Transportation Authority Station.
3. 20.50 ftthe Nooksack River will overflow levees and banks along the east bank of the river from Hovander Park downstream to Marietta, causing widespread flooding from near Ferndale downstream to the mouth...with swift waters in residential areas and over farm lands and roads. Erosion may damage some river banks.
4. 20.00 ftthe river will flood additional areas within the City of Ferndale including low-lying residential areas and roads including Washington Street, Portal Way and Second Avenue.
5. 18.00 ftthe river begins overtopping its banks within the City of Ferndale flooding low-lying areas within the City and low pasture lands along the river from near Ferndale downstream to the mouth.
6. 17.00 ftthe Nooksack River will overtop levees along Bertrand Creek and near Marine Drive, causing shallow flooding of low pasture lands along the river and additional roadways within the floodplain including Slater Road.
7. 16.00 ftthe river begins spilling over its banks into low pasture lands flooding some roadways that are not protected by levees including Marine Drive and Ferndale Road.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.

Most recent crests

• December 12, 2025: 22.39 ft
• January 29, 2024: 18.52 ft
• December 1, 2021: 18.16 ft
• November 29, 2021: 21.22 ft
• November 16, 2021: 23.81 ft
• February 2, 2020: 20.95 ft
• November 24, 2017: 19.21 ft
• February 16, 2017: 17.10 ft
• February 16, 2016: 17.57 ft
• January 29, 2016: 16.70 ft

• UpstreamNooksack River at Everson
• Nooksack River at Lynden
• Nooksack River Overflow at Nooksack R overflow at Emerson Rd
• Nooksack River Overflow At SR544 Everson at Nooksack R Overflow At Everson
• Nooksack River at North Cedarvillle
• Sumas River at Sumas
• South Fork Nooksack River at Potter Rd
• Hutchinson Creek at Acme

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.