Chehalis River at Centralia
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
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Observed (OBS) 04/01/2025 4:00 PM PDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 04/01/2025 2:52 PM PDTRecord: 178.1 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 175.5 ft Moderate Flooding 172 ft Minor Flooding 168.5 ft Action 166 ft Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions
NOTE: 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.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 176.7 - the Chehalis River in Lewis County will cause severe near record flooding...with deep and swift flood waters inundating farms...residential and business areas...and roads on both sides of I-5...including I-5 and SR 6. Much of Chehalise and Centralia will be flooded. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Chehalis River Basin. This stage corresponds roughly to a Phase 4 flood in the Lewis County flood system.
- 175.5 - the Chehalis River in Lewis County will cause major flooding...inundating residential and commercial areas...farms...and many roads on both sides of I-5...including I-5 and SR 6. Flood waters will be deep and swift in some areas. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Chehalis River Basin. This stage corresponds roughly to a Phase 3 flood in the Lewis County flood system.
- 173.5 - the Chehalis River in Lewis County will cause moderate flooding including Fort Borst Park...residential and commercial areas...farms...and many roads from Chehalis to Centralia. Flood waters begin to inundate SR 6...I-5 ramps at SR 6...Main St Chehalis...and around Plummers and Hayes Lakes. Swift flood waters will cover some roads. This stage corresponds roughly to a Phase 2 flood in the Lewis County flood system.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 46.7117, -122.978 |
| RFC | NWRFC |
| State | WA |
| WFO | SEW |
| County | Lewis |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| Chehalis Riv. Basin Flood Authority | data attribution |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 174.93 ft | on 01-07-2022 | (P) |
| 2. | 65.07 ft | on 02-10-2017 | |
| 3. | 67.86 ft | on 12-10-2015 | (P) |
| 4. | 62.25 ft | on 01-06-2015 | (P) |
| 5. | 62.46 ft | on 02-18-2014 | (P) |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 174.93 ft | on 01-07-2022 | (P) |
| 2. | 65.07 ft | on 02-10-2017 | |
| 3. | 67.86 ft | on 12-10-2015 | (P) |
| 4. | 62.25 ft | on 01-06-2015 | (P) |
| 5. | 62.46 ft | on 02-18-2014 | (P) |
| 6. | 72.40 ft | on 01-08-2009 | |
| 7. | 178.10 ft | on 12-04-2007 | |
| 8. | 74.78 ft | on 12-04-2007 | |
| 9. | 67.34 ft | on 11-08-2006 | (P) |
| 10. | 68.43 ft | on 01-30-2006 | (P) |
| 11. | 67.61 ft | on 01-11-2006 | (P) |
| 12. | 68.77 ft | on 12-17-2001 | |
| 13. | 67.58 ft | on 12-16-1999 | |
| 14. | 69.60 ft | on 02-25-1999 | |
| 15. | 65.31 ft | on 01-30-1999 | |
| 16. | 65.45 ft | on 12-29-1998 | |
| 17. | 65.42 ft | on 12-03-1998 | |
| 18. | 69.73 ft | on 11-27-1998 | |
| 19. | 65.38 ft | on 01-15-1998 | |
| 20. | 65.09 ft | on 03-20-1997 | |
| 21. | 68.80 ft | on 01-01-1997 | |
| 22. | 70.18 ft | on 12-30-1996 | |
| 23. | 68.12 ft | on 04-24-1996 | |
| 24. | 74.31 ft | on 02-09-1996 | |
| 25. | 68.50 ft | on 11-30-1995 | |
| 26. | 66.17 ft | on 12-28-1994 | |
| 27. | 68.22 ft | on 12-21-1994 | |
| 28. | 68.29 ft | on 04-05-1991 | |
| 29. | 71.30 ft | on 11-25-1990 | |
| 30. | 69.91 ft | on 02-11-1990 | |
| 31. | 73.50 ft | on 01-10-1990 | |
| 32. | 67.54 ft | on 03-04-1987 | |
| 33. | 68.26 ft | on 02-02-1987 | |
| 34. | 71.99 ft | on 11-25-1986 | |
| 35. | 67.63 ft | on 01-19-1986 | |
| 36. | 65.80 ft | on 12-04-1982 | |
| 37. | 66.00 ft | on 02-17-1982 | |
| 38. | 66.50 ft | on 01-24-1982 | |
| 39. | 65.30 ft | on 12-27-1980 | |
| 40. | 68.70 ft | on 12-03-1977 | |
| 41. | 71.17 ft | on 12-05-1975 | |
| 42. | 69.10 ft | on 01-16-1974 | |
| 43. | 71.65 ft | on 01-21-1972 | |
| 44. | 70.20 ft | on 01-26-1971 | |
| 45. | 67.27 ft | on 12-07-1970 | |
| 46. | 65.25 ft | on 01-21-1967 | |
| 47. | 68.58 ft | on 12-22-1955 | |
| 48. | 68.62 ft | on 01-06-1954 | |
| 49. | 69.20 ft | on 02-10-1951 | |
| 50. | 66.10 ft | on 02-26-1950 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 178.10 ft | on 12-04-2007 | |
| 2. | 174.93 ft | on 01-07-2022 | (P) |
| 3. | 74.78 ft | on 12-04-2007 | |
| 4. | 74.31 ft | on 02-09-1996 | |
| 5. | 73.50 ft | on 01-10-1990 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 178.10 ft | on 12-04-2007 | |
| 2. | 174.93 ft | on 01-07-2022 | (P) |
| 3. | 74.78 ft | on 12-04-2007 | |
| 4. | 74.31 ft | on 02-09-1996 | |
| 5. | 73.50 ft | on 01-10-1990 | |
| 6. | 72.40 ft | on 01-08-2009 | |
| 7. | 71.99 ft | on 11-25-1986 | |
| 8. | 71.65 ft | on 01-21-1972 | |
| 9. | 71.30 ft | on 11-25-1990 | |
| 10. | 71.17 ft | on 12-05-1975 | |
| 11. | 70.20 ft | on 01-26-1971 | |
| 12. | 70.18 ft | on 12-30-1996 | |
| 13. | 69.91 ft | on 02-11-1990 | |
| 14. | 69.73 ft | on 11-27-1998 | |
| 15. | 69.60 ft | on 02-25-1999 | |
| 16. | 69.20 ft | on 02-10-1951 | |
| 17. | 69.10 ft | on 01-16-1974 | |
| 18. | 68.80 ft | on 01-01-1997 | |
| 19. | 68.77 ft | on 12-17-2001 | |
| 20. | 68.70 ft | on 12-03-1977 | |
| 21. | 68.62 ft | on 01-06-1954 | |
| 22. | 68.58 ft | on 12-22-1955 | |
| 23. | 68.50 ft | on 11-30-1995 | |
| 24. | 68.43 ft | on 01-30-2006 | (P) |
| 25. | 68.29 ft | on 04-05-1991 | |
| 26. | 68.26 ft | on 02-02-1987 | |
| 27. | 68.22 ft | on 12-21-1994 | |
| 28. | 68.12 ft | on 04-24-1996 | |
| 29. | 67.86 ft | on 12-10-2015 | (P) |
| 30. | 67.63 ft | on 01-19-1986 | |
| 31. | 67.61 ft | on 01-11-2006 | (P) |
| 32. | 67.58 ft | on 12-16-1999 | |
| 33. | 67.54 ft | on 03-04-1987 | |
| 34. | 67.34 ft | on 11-08-2006 | (P) |
| 35. | 67.27 ft | on 12-07-1970 | |
| 36. | 66.50 ft | on 01-24-1982 | |
| 37. | 66.17 ft | on 12-28-1994 | |
| 38. | 66.10 ft | on 02-26-1950 | |
| 39. | 66.00 ft | on 02-17-1982 | |
| 40. | 65.80 ft | on 12-04-1982 | |
| 41. | 65.45 ft | on 12-29-1998 | |
| 42. | 65.42 ft | on 12-03-1998 | |
| 43. | 65.38 ft | on 01-15-1998 | |
| 44. | 65.31 ft | on 01-30-1999 | |
| 45. | 65.30 ft | on 12-27-1980 | |
| 46. | 65.25 ft | on 01-21-1967 | |
| 47. | 65.09 ft | on 03-20-1997 | |
| 48. | 65.07 ft | on 02-10-2017 | |
| 49. | 62.46 ft | on 02-18-2014 | (P) |
| 50. | 62.25 ft | on 01-06-2015 | (P) |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 175.50 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 172.00 ft |
| minor Flooding | 168.50 ft |
| action | 166.00 ft |
| Latest Value | 155.92 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 0.00 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Unique Local Info
Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority's Early Warning System: https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/community-development/chehalis-river-basin-flood-authority/
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.