Rivers in Washington
Similkameen River near Nighthawk
Below flood stage
2.13ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 20, 7:30 AM PDT
- Flood stage
- 14.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 2.17 ftMon, Sep 28, 5:00 PM PDT
- Record crest
- 17.97 ft1972
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 16.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 15.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 14.00 ft |
| Action | 13.00 ft |
- 18.00 ftWater will be into homes and trailers that are in the low areas close to the river. Some homes on Palmer Lake may experience flooding. This is equivalent to the 1972 flood. Loomis-Oroville Road around Palmer lake and Chopaka Road near the intersection with Loomis-Oroville Rd will be impassable.
- 15.00 ftWater will be around the foundation of the home on Allemandi Road south of the Nighthawk Bridge. Widespread flooding of agricultural land and private property along the river valley. Portions of Loomis-Oroville Road around Palmer Lake will be inundated between Toats Coulee and Chopaka Road. Chopaka Road will be flooded.
- 14.40 ftMinor flooding to properties on the southwest side Oroville to near the Oroville Golf Course and in pasture lands near Split Rock and Miners Flat Campground off of Loomis-Oroville Road.
- 14.25 ftWater may begin to come over Loomis-Oroville road near Chopka Road on the south end of Palmer Lake. Minor flooding found in the Similkameen Valley off of Chopka Road.
- 13.00 ftWater starts to back up into Palmer Lake and water will be a few inches deep over Chopaka Road. Low-lying pastures and agricultural land around Chopaka and Allemandi Roads will be flooded in the Similkameen Valley. Water will begin to encroach on farm land just downstream of the Nighthawk bridge.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 19, 2026.
Crest history
97 crests on NOAA’s list since 1929.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 1, 1972 | 17.97 ft |
| 2 | May 30, 1948 | 17.62 ft |
| 3 | June 17, 1974 | 15.52 ft |
| 4 | May 11, 2018 | 15.50 ft |
| 5 | June 17, 1950 | 15.47 ft |
| 6 | June 13, 1955 | 15.13 ft |
| 7 | April 26, 1934 | 14.96 ft |
| 8 | May 18, 2018 | 14.82 ft |
| 9 | May 15, 1949 | 14.76 ft |
| 10 | May 17, 1997 | 14.59 ft |
| 11 | November 16, 2021 | 14.38 ft |
| 12 | May 22, 1991 | 14.25 ft |
| 13 | May 22, 1956 | 14.19 ft |
| 14 | May 14, 1971 | 14.06 ft |
| 15 | June 23, 1967 | 13.92 ft |
| 16 | June 1, 1986 | 13.72 ft |
| 17 | May 24, 1951 | 13.71 ft |
| 18 | May 21, 1957 | 13.70 ft |
| 19 | June 5, 1961 | 13.69 ft |
| 20 | May 27, 1938 | 13.60 ft |
| 21 | June 12, 1964 | 13.43 ft |
| 22 | June 17, 1933 | 13.30 ft |
| 23 | May 27, 1942 | 13.09 ft |
| 24 | May 13, 2013 | 13.06 ft |
| 25 | June 10, 2011 | 13.02 ft |
Most recent crests
- May 17, 2024: 8.37 ft
- May 7, 2023: 11.17 ft
- June 6, 2022: 11.02 ft
- November 16, 2021: 14.38 ft
- May 18, 2021: 10.56 ft
- June 1, 2020: 12.81 ft
- May 11, 2019: 9.47 ft
- May 18, 2018: 14.82 ft
- May 11, 2018: 15.50 ft
- May 24, 2017: 12.46 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. Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.
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.