Wenatchee River level at Peshastin
Washington · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 12459000 — WENATCHEE RIVER AT PESHASTIN, WA · NWS forecast point PESW1
Reading taken · as of 48 min ago
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 355 CFS, this gauge is running 51% of normal for mid-September — below the 690 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 97 years of record (1929–2026).
Sponsor Wenatchee River
One exclusive sponsor per river, on every gauge page for it.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flood stages at Peshastin
National Weather Service categories for gauge PESW1, WFO OTX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
-
Major flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft Major flooding is likely throughout the valley between Leavenworth and Wenatchee.
-
Moderate flood 14.0 ft
-
Minor flood 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Flooding is likely in low-lying areas, especially in the Cashmere area.
-
Action 12.0 ft
- Right now 1.50 ft
NWS forecast: 1.52 ft by .
Flow history at Peshastin
Daily values from USGS 12459000, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for PESW1 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Peshastin
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 17.89 ft | 41,300 CFS | Nov 30, 1995 |
| 17.58 ft | 40,000 CFS | Nov 25, 1990 |
| 15.88 ft | 32,300 CFS | May 28, 1948 |
| 15.03 ft | 30,300 CFS | Nov 7, 2006 |
| 14.09 ft | 27,000 CFS | Dec 27, 1980 |
| 13.77 ft | 26,000 CFS | Jun 10, 1972 |
| 13.56 ft | 26,300 CFS | Jun 17, 1974 |
| 13.54 ft | 25,200 CFS | Dec 4, 1975 |
| 13.20 ft | 24,200 CFS | May 21, 1956 |
| 12.98 ft | 23,400 CFS | Jun 13, 1955 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Wenatchee River at Peshastin
In Washington — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Largest commercial rafting volume in Washington.
Wenatchee River at Peshastin — common questions
3 questions
How fast can Wenatchee River at Peshastin 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 Wenatchee River at Peshastin high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 690 CFS, from 97 years of record (1929–2026). Today is 51% 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 12459000 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for PESW1 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.