Yakima River at Umtanum, WA
River level and flood forecast · Kittitas County
The river is 4.6 ft below flood stage (35.5 ft).
Forecast to hold near 30.9 ft through Mon, Oct 19, 11 PM.
Flow: 903 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:43 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Yakima River at Umtanum to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 39 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 38 ft |
| Flood stage | 35.5 ft |
| Action stage | 33.5 ft |
| Record crest (November 15, 1906) | 41.1 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 39 ftThis will produce major flooding of residential and commercial areas, highways and pastures from Teanaway downstream to Ellensburg, especially in the town of Thorp.
- 38 ftAt this level, flooding of roads and pastures in the vicinity of the river will occur. The Ellensburg water supply pumphouse is threatened.
- 36.5 ftThere will be flooding in pastures along the river.
- 35.5 ftAt this level, there will be minor flooding in areas along the river from Teanaway to Ellensburg including Irene Rienhart Park in Ellensburg.
- 33.5 ftAt this stage, the river is near bankfull at Ellensburg. Lowland flooding is possible in the low areas along the river.
Highest crests on record
- 41.1 ft — November 15, 1906
- 38.98 ft — May 29, 1948
- 38.77 ft — February 9, 1996
- 37.93 ft — November 25, 1990
- 37.84 ft — January 8, 2009
Recent crests: 36.89 ft (December 11, 2025) · 35.67 ft (February 16, 2016) · 35.7 ft (December 10, 2015) · 36.5 ft (May 16, 2011) · 36.69 ft (January 17, 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 (UMTW1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.