Nisqually River near National, WA

North Cascades & Puget Sound · USGS gauge 12082500 · Updated Oct 24, 2:37 PM PDT · USGS data, provisional

Too low133 cfs● steady (-4% in 24 h)

Reading time: Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT · Provisional data

Flow is far below normal for the date. Expect shallow riffles and slower water; some stretches may be hard to float and fish can be stressed by low flows. Check local reports for the specific stretch.

Vs. normal for this date
<1st percentile
Typical range (25th–75th)
270–600 cfs
Median for this date
374 cfs
7-day low / high
133 / 303 cfs

Plain-language explanation

Nisqually River near National is flowing at 133 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT. That is among the lowest flows on record for this time of year: lower than over 99% of the daily flows this gauge has recorded for this date (give or take 7 days) over 85 years of record (1942–2026).

The middle half of those historical flows runs from 270 to 600 cfs, with a median of 374 cfs; the lowest 10% of days are at or below 209 cfs and the highest 10% at or above 903 cfs.

Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (-3.6%). In the last 7 days it ranged from 133 to 303 cfs.

Why this status: Flow is at or below the seasonal 10th percentile and in the lower 40% of all days on record.

Quick answers

Is the Nisqually River near National fishable today?

Flowcast's status for the Nisqually River near National is “Too low”: flow is 133 cfs, well below normal for the date, at the <1st percentile for this date (as of Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT). That describes flow only. It says nothing about water clarity, temperature, fish activity, access or fishing regulations.

What is the current flow of the Nisqually River near National?

133 cubic feet per second at USGS gauge 12082500 as of Oct 24, 2:00 PM PDT, provisional data.

Is the Nisqually River near National too high or too low right now?

It is on the low side: below the typical range for the date (270 to 600 cfs).

Is the Nisqually River near National rising or falling?

Over the last 24 hours the flow has been steady (-3.6%).

What is a normal flow for the Nisqually River near National in October?

For this date (give or take 7 days) the median is 374 cfs and the middle half of days runs 270 to 600 cfs, over 85 years of USGS record.

7-day trend

typical range for this date (25th-75th pct)111158205252299Sun 10/18Mon 10/19Tue 10/20Wed 10/21Thu 10/22Fri 10/23Sat 10/24

Hourly flow in cfs, Pacific time. The shaded band is the typical range (25th–75th percentile) for this date, shown when it falls within the chart.

Day (Pacific)Mean cfsPercentileStatus that day
Sun Oct 181774thToo low
Mon Oct 191774thToo low
Tue Oct 201734thToo low
Wed Oct 211896thToo low
Thu Oct 221856thToo low
Fri Oct 231612ndToo low
Sat Oct 24 (so far)1602ndToo low

Seasonal context

1002005001,0002,0005,00010,000JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Shaded band: 10th–90th percentile of daily flows through the year; dashed line: median. Log scale. Dot: today's flow. Based on 85 years of USGS daily data (1942–2026).

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Official resources

Links go to the agencies' own websites and were checked as working. Flowcast does not summarize fishing or boating rules: regulations and closures change, and the agency pages are the authority.

About this gauge

USGS site
USGS-12082500
USGS name
Nisqually River Near National, Wa
Drainage area
133 sq mi
Location
46.7526, -122.0837
Record in this analysis
1942–2026
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Readings are provisional and subject to revision. Flowcast statuses are automated comparisons with each gauge's own history, not safety ratings or fishing reports. Check local conditions, weather, regulations and closures before you go. Rivers can change quickly.

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