Skykomish River level at Gold Bar
Washington · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 12134500 — SKYKOMISH RIVER NEAR GOLD BAR, WA · NWS forecast point GLBW1
Reading taken · as of 33 min ago
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 354 CFS, this gauge is running 45% of normal for mid-September — below the 788 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 97 years of record (1929–2026).
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Flood stages at Gold Bar
National Weather Service categories for gauge GLBW1, WFO SEW. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
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Major flood 19.0 ft
- 19.0 ft the Skykomish River will cause major flooding from near Index downstream through Sultan to the Snoqualmie. Flood waters will inundate portions of downtown Sultan...most roads and the Tualco Valley area near Monroe. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Skykomish River Basin. A stage of 19 feet on the Skykomish River corresponds to a Phase 4 in the Snohomish County flood program.
- 21.0 ft the Skykomish River will cause major flooding from near Index downstream through Sultan to the Snoqualmie River confluence. Deep and swift flood waters will inundate roads...residential areas...and farm land. Extensive bank erosion is likely. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Skykomish River Basin. A stage of 21 feet on the Skykomish River corresponds to a Phase 4 in the Snohomish County flood program.
- 22.0 ft the Skykomish River will cause severe...near record flooding from Index downstream to Monroe. The river will flood many homes...cover much of the farmland...close most roads and overtop most dikes. Flooding will occur all along the river including headwaters...tributaries...and other streams within and near the Skykomish River Basin. A stage of 22 feet on the Skykomish River corresponds to a Phase 4 in the Snohomish County flood program.
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Moderate flood 17.0 ft
- 17.0 ft the Skykomish River will cause flooding from near Index downstream through Sultan to the Snoqualmie. Flood waters will cover numerous roads...including Ben Howard Rd...Index-Galena Rd and Tualco Loop Rd. Flooding in the town of Sultan will begin. A stage of 17 feet on the Skykomish River corresponds to a Phase 3 in the Snohomish County flood program.
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Minor flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft the Skykomish River will cause minor flooding of low pasture lands and low lying roads...including Index-Galena Rd and Tualco Loop Rd. A stage of 15 feet on the Skykomish River corresponds to a Phase 2 in the Snohomish County flood program.
- 16.0 ft the Skykomish River will cause minor flooding of low pasture lands and some roads along the river...including Ben Howard road...Index-Galena Rd and Tualco Loop Rd. A stage of 16 feet on the Skykomish River corresponds to a Phase 3 in the Snohomish County flood program.
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Action 12.2 ft
- Right now 4.12 ft
NWS forecast: 4.69 ft by .
Flow history at Gold Bar
Daily values from USGS 12134500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for GLBW1 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Gold Bar
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 24.51 ft | 129,000 CFS | Nov 6, 2006 |
| 24.03 ft | 114,215 CFS | Dec 11, 2025 |
| 22.49 ft | 102,000 CFS | Nov 24, 1990 |
| 22.23 ft | 101,838 CFS | Nov 17, 2015 |
| 21.34 ft | 90,100 CFS | Dec 26, 1980 |
| 21.28 ft | 88,700 CFS | Dec 21, 1933 |
| 21.01 ft | 86,800 CFS | Nov 10, 1990 |
| 20.73 ft | 86,500 CFS | Oct 20, 2003 |
| 20.70 ft | 83,300 CFS | Feb 26, 1932 |
| 20.32 ft | 73,503 CFS | Dec 9, 2025 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Skykomish River at Gold Bar
In Washington — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Boulder Drop; Washington's flagship Class IV day trip.
Skykomish River at Gold Bar — common questions
3 questions
How fast can Skykomish River at Gold Bar come up?
Fast. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Skykomish River at Gold Bar high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 788 CFS, from 97 years of record (1929–2026). Today is 45% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 12134500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for GLBW1 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.