West Walker River near Coleville (Upper Gage), CA

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 7:59 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 10.5 ftIncredible flood disaster with massive and uncertain impacts in excess of the January 1997 event.
• 10 ftFlood of record. Highway 395 in West Walker River Canyon closed for months. Massive destruction to infrastructure and economy including transportation, power, water, homes, businesses, etc. Area isolated. Near this flow in January 1997 a 6.5-mile stretch of Highway 395 completely scoured with debris from the canyon deposited in the town of Walker.
• 9.5 ftNear record flooding. Area cut off as most transportation routes into area destroyed or flooded. Massive destruction of infrastructure and economy including utilities, roads, business, homes, etc.
• 8.5 ftFlood disaster from Walker River Canyon through Antelope Valley. Widespread flood damage to roads, bridges, homes and structures along river. Severe damage to Highway 395 in W Walker River Canyon with the highway likely closed. Historically this flow has been exceeded only once in January 1997.
• 8 ftFlooding near disaster levels in the West Walker Canyon and in Antelope Valley. Numerous structures flooded and roads washed out. Sections of Highway 395 likely destroyed in West Walker Canyon. Major damage to agricutural land due to erosion and destroyed diversion dams, headgates, canals and levees. Similar to the 2nd highest flood of record in November of 1950, and only exceeded in January 1997.
• 7.3 ftMajor flooding in the West Walker River Canyon and in Antelope Valley including Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Many buildings flooded and roads washed out. Major damage to agricultural lands. Extensive sandbagging required to protect propery. Transportiation affected. Damage to Highway 395 in the West Walker Canyon likely. Similar to the 4th highest peak flow in the 85 year gage record.
• 6.8 ftModerate flooding of lowlands, agricultural land, yards, basements and rural roads in the West Walker River Canyon and in Antelope Valley including Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Flooding of structures limited although some sandbagging necessary Roughly similar, but slightly below the June 2017 peak.
• 6.5 ftExpanding minor flooding of lowlands, pastures and some rural roads between the West Walker River Canyon and Topaz Lake, including Walker Coleville and Topaz California. Out of bank flows may cause significant erosion of agricuturural lands. Similar to the peak of June 2023.
• 6 ftFlood stage. Minor flooding of lowlands pasture & rural roads in Antelope Valley including Walker, Coleville and Topaz California. Roughly similar to June 2019 and October 2021 crests.
• 5.5 ftMonitor Stage, No flooding in reach from West Walker River Canyon through Antelope Valley CA including Walker, Coleville, Topaz CA.

Highest crests on record

1. 9.99 ft — January 2, 1997
2. 7.86 ft — November 20, 1950
3. 7.71 ft — December 11, 1937
4. 7.37 ft — December 23, 1955
5. 7.07 ft — May 16, 1996

Recent crests: 6.62 ft (June 19, 2023) · 6.05 ft (October 25, 2021) · 6 ft (June 7, 2019) · 6.2 ft (April 8, 2018) · 6.88 ft (June 20, 2017)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• DownstreamWest Walker River near Coleville (Lower Gage), CA
• Buckeye Creek (CA) near Bridgeport, CA
• East Walker River near Bridgeport, CA
• Robinson Creek (CA) at Twin Lakes, CA
• Virginia Creek (CA) near Bridgeport, CA
• Green Creek (CA) near Bridgeport, CA
• West Walker River at Hoye Bridge nr Wellington, NV
• East Fork Carson River near Markleeville, CA