Payette River at Payette, ID
River level and flood forecast · Payette County
The river is 7.3 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Forecast to fall to 4.5 ft by Mon, Oct 19, 6 PM.
Flow: 876 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 Payette to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 14 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12.8 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 11.5 ft |
| Record crest (January 2, 1997) | 14.5 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 14 ftMajor flooding will occur near the river in Payette County. Water will flow over the top of levees near the river. Water will be near the top of the embankment surrounding the Shady River Mobile Home Community. Houses along Highway 52 in the vicinity New Plymouth will flood. Water will flow over the road to a depth of at least 1 foot near the intersection of Highway 52 and Black Bridge Road. Portions of the industrial area in Payette will flood and water will cover portions of Park and River Streets.
- 13.5 ftWater will approach the top of Carpenter and Girlock Levees. Some flooding along Killebrew Dr. near Payette is likely. Water will flow over the road near the intersection of Hwy 52 and Black Bridge Rd. Several houses along Hwy 52 near New Plymouth will flood. Portions of River St.and Park St. in Payette may flood. Flooding of low lying areas in the industrial section of Payette is possible. Extensive flooding of agricultural land will occur. Homes at the south end of Dutch Lane may be impacted by flooding.
- 12.5 ftFlood waters will approach Highway 52 in the vicinity of New Plymouth threatening several houses in low areas near the river. Houses near Faulks Bridge may also be threatened. Large areas of pastureland near the river will be flooded and livestock should be moved to higher ground. Sections of the greenbelt path in Payette may be flooded.
- 12 ftMinor flooding of pasture and farm fields will occur near the river in Payette County. High water may begin to affect portions of the greenbelt in Payette.
Highest crests on record
- 14.5 ft — January 2, 1997
- 13.8 ft — December 24, 1964
- 13.69 ft — June 6, 2010
- 12.75 ft — December 23, 1955
- 12.66 ft — April 10, 2019
Recent crests: 9.24 ft (May 12, 2025) · 9.16 ft (June 4, 2024) · 10.42 ft (May 23, 2023) · 10.29 ft (June 14, 2022) · 6.68 ft (April 6, 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 (PRPI1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.