Columbia River at The Dalles, OR
USGS gauge 14105700 · drainage 237,000 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 6:15 PM PDT · 65 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 6:15 PM PDT. Shaded band: 25th to 75th percentile of USGS daily statistics for each date; dashed: median. Flow in cfs.
Rate of rise and fall Live gauge
| Window | Flow then | Change to latest | Gage height then | Gage height change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 78,400 cfs | ▼ -1,300 cfs (-1.7%) | 76.23 ft | -0.07 ft |
| 3 h | 80,300 cfs | ▼ -3,200 cfs (-4.0%) | 75.92 ft | +0.24 ft |
| 6 h | 91,900 cfs | ▼ -14,800 cfs (-16.1%) | 76.22 ft | -0.06 ft |
| 12 h | 91,500 cfs | ▼ -14,400 cfs (-15.7%) | 75.96 ft | +0.20 ft |
| 24 h | 90,600 cfs | ▼ -13,500 cfs (-14.9%) | 75.75 ft | +0.41 ft |
Last 7 days
| Measure | Flow | Time | Relative to latest reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest reading | 118,000 cfs | Oct 16, 9:45 AM PDT | 8 h earlier |
| Lowest reading | 73,800 cfs | Oct 14, 2:00 AM PDT | 64 h earlier |
Source: computed from USGS continuous readings (Water Data API) to Oct 16, 6:15 PM PDT. Each row compares the latest reading with the reading closest to that many hours earlier; the arrow is steady (▬) when the change is within 1%.
Daily mean flow Live gauge
| Date (gauge-local) | Mean flow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | – | Partial day |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 84,731 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 81,772 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 82,295 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 79,992 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 78,527 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 83,703 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 93,975 cfs | |
| Oct 8, 2026 | – | Partial day |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values); each mean uses readings on that gauge-local date, shown only with at least 80% of expected readings.
The same 50 days in earlier years Historical record
━ 2026 ╌ 2025 ╌ 2024 ╌ 2023
| Year | Mean flow | Highest day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 87,600 cfs | 129,000 cfs |
| 2025 | 93,574 cfs | 118,000 cfs |
| 2024 | 93,040 cfs | 128,000 cfs |
| 2023 | 96,807 cfs | 119,000 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API). Each line is the 50 days from Aug 27 to Oct 15, shifted to the same calendar dates in earlier years; gaps are days without a published value. Recent days are provisional.
Compared with this gauge’s record Historical record
| Measure | Value | When or rank |
|---|---|---|
| Peak daily flow, last 7 days | 93,500 cfs | Oct 9, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 98,600 cfs | Sep 1, 2026 (38 days earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | Mar 21, 2026 | 7 months earlier |
| Peak daily mean compared with annual instantaneous peaks of record | Below the lowest of 168 | lowest annual peak 181,000 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1878 to 2026 (50,000 days), data through Oct 15, 2026, computed 2026-10-17; method record-v1. Percentiles are USGS daily statistics. Recent days are provisional.
Largest annual peaks Historical record
Ten largest peaks of record
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 1894 | 1,240,000 cfs | 59.60 ft |
| May 31, 1948 | 1,010,000 cfs | 154.56 ft |
| Jan 1, 1876 | 958,000 cfs | – |
| Jan 1, 1862 | 948,000 cfs | – |
| Jun 30, 1880 | 914,000 cfs | 48.50 ft |
| Jun 19, 1887 | 896,000 cfs | 39.30 ft |
| Jun 13, 1882 | 883,000 cfs | 40.80 ft |
| Jan 1, 1871 | 856,000 cfs | – |
| Jan 1, 1859 | 847,000 cfs | – |
| Jan 1, 1866 | 839,000 cfs | – |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2025 | 324,000 cfs | 79.72 ft |
| May 17, 2024 | 342,000 cfs | 77.67 ft |
| May 21, 2023 | 432,000 cfs | 83.88 ft |
| Jun 18, 2022 | 433,000 cfs | 83.05 ft |
| Jun 8, 2021 | 347,000 cfs | 80.22 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 168 annual peaks, 1858 to 2025. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Snow water equivalent at nearby SNOTEL stations Weather station
| Station | Distance | Elevation | Snow water now | Median for date | Of median | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifteenmile | 24 mi | 5,970 ft | 0.0 in | – | – | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Greenpoint | 25 mi | 3,320 ft | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | – | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Red Hill | 27 mi | 4,410 ft | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | – | Oct 15, 2026 |
Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL stations within 37 miles of the gauge (AWDB web service), fetched Oct 16, 6:42 PM PDT. Provisional data; stations may not drain to this gauge.
Water temperature by month Historical record
Source: USGS daily mean water temperature (parameter 00010, Water Data API), 1996 to 2026, mean of all published daily values in each calendar month (days counted under each month; (few) means fewer than 150 daily values).
Water quality sensors Live gauge
| Measure | Latest value | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 63.7 °F (17.6 °C) | Oct 16, 6:00 PM PDT |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values). Values as reported by the gauge, provisional.
Sources and method
- Data: U.S. Geological Survey. Terms
- Snow data: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Terms
USGS daily statistics, downloaded 2026-10-12
Percentile method: trailing 24 h mean vs USGS daily percentiles for calendar date 10-16.
Percentile is estimated from USGS published daily percentiles. Readings are provisional until USGS reviews them. Not endorsed by USGS, NOAA or the National Weather Service. Not for navigation or safety-of-life decisions; the absence of an alert is not a statement that conditions are safe.