Payette River at Emmett, ID
River level and flood forecast · Gem County
The river is 8.4 ft below flood stage (10.5 ft).
Forecast to fall to 1.8 ft by Mon, Oct 19, 6 PM.
Flow: 830 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 1:09 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Payette River at Emmett to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 15 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12 ft |
| Flood stage | 10.5 ft |
| Action stage | 10 ft |
| Record crest (December 23, 1964) | 16.1 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 15 ftWater will approach the top of the levee along Riverside Drive in Emmett. If the levee is breached, a large volume of water will flow down the canal which passes through Emmett, causing significant flooding in portions of Emmett. Water, about 1 foot deep will flow accoss portions of Highway 52 between Emmett and Montour. Extensive flooding of agricultural land and innundation of county roads near the river will occur.
- 14 ftWater, about 1/2 foot deep, will flow over Highway 52 between Black Canyon Dam and Montour. Water will approach houses along Riverside Street in Emmett. Bridge access into the Emmett Sports Fields in Emmett will be flooded. Extensive flooding of agricutlural land will occur near Montour, Emmett and Letha.
- 13 ftExtensive flooding of agricultural land will occur upstream and downstream from Emmett. Some county roads will be under water in the vicinity of Emmett, including Shale Rock Road. Railroad tracks between Emmett and Horseshoe Bend will be flooded. Water will begin flowing over Highway 52 between Black Canyon Dam and Montour. Bridge access into the Emmett Sports Fields near the river will be flooded.
- 12 ftModerate flooding of agricultural land will occur upstream and downstream from Emmett. Farmland and pasture near the river will be underwater near Montour and Letha and livestock should be moved to higher ground. Water will reach the level of Shale Rock Road and the railroad tracks near Montour.
- 11.5 ftSome pasture and farmland near Montour will be under water and minor flooding will spread into agricultural land downstream from Emmett. Squaw Creek will backup and flood agricultural land near intersection of Highway 52 and Ola Road.
- 10.6 ftMinor flooding of pasture and farmland will occur upstream from Black Canyon Dam near Montour.
Highest crests on record
- 16.1 ft — December 23, 1964
- 15.9 ft — January 1, 1997
- 13.45 ft — June 5, 2010
- 13 ft — May 1, 1938
- 12.9 ft — December 22, 1955
Recent crests: 8.71 ft (May 12, 2025) · 8.64 ft (June 4, 2024) · 10.15 ft (May 22, 2023) · 9.51 ft (June 13, 2022) · 5.85 ft (June 2, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (EMMI1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.