Clearwater River at Orofino, ID
River level and flood forecast · Clearwater County
The river is 14.5 ft below flood stage (17 ft).
Forecast to rise to 2.8 ft Mon 12 AM, below the 17 ft flood stage.
Flow: 1,330 cubic feet per second (USGS).
River camera
Watch the time-lapse
Camera by the U.S. Geological Survey. Most take a picture every hour, some every few minutes; many stop at night.
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 9:08 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Clearwater River at Orofino to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 20 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 17 ft |
| Action stage | 16 ft |
| Record crest (May 29, 1948) | 21.1 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftFlooding affects low lying areas including sections of the Orofino business district, the Riverside residential district and U.S. Route 12.
- 18.5 ftFlooding affects low lying areas ajacent to the river. Floodwaters also approach the airport and homes near the mouth of Orofino Creek.
- 17 ftFlooding affects low lying areas adjacent to the river.
Highest crests on record
- 21.1 ft — May 29, 1948
- 20.32 ft — June 8, 1964
- 18.84 ft — June 2, 1972
- 18.51 ft — June 16, 1974
- 17.96 ft — May 17, 1997
Recent crests: 12.54 ft (May 12, 2025) · 17 ft (June 12, 2022) · 13.68 ft (June 1, 2017) · 15.47 ft (April 27, 2012) · 16.71 ft (June 8, 2011)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (ORFI1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.