USGS Streamgage 12488500
American River near Nile, WA
American River near Nile, WA is USGS streamgage 12488500 in Washington, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17030002. It drains a watershed of about 79 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1909. Typical flow runs near 205.9 cfs in July and 266.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.
View live conditions & forecast →
Gauge details
- State
- Washington
- Drainage area
- 79 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 2,777 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 17030002
- Coordinates
- 46.97762, -121.1687
- USGS site number
- 12488500
- Records begin
- 1909-04-25 (117 years)
- Rivermatics forecast
- 14-day flow outlook
14-day flow forecast
Based on observations through for American River near Nile, WA. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.
| Date | Low p10 | Expected p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.5 | 36.7 | 37.7 | ||
| 36.2 | 38.4 | 42.3 | ||
| 41.9 | 52.7 | 81.2 | ||
| 41.3 | 51.6 | 73.8 | ||
| 39.8 | 46.6 | 59.7 | ||
| 38.1 | 42.9 | 51.2 | ||
| 36.7 | 40.6 | 46.8 | ||
| 35.7 | 39.1 | 44.2 | ||
| 34.9 | 38 | 42.4 | ||
| 34.1 | 37.1 | 41.1 | ||
| 33.6 | 36.6 | 40.4 | ||
| 33.2 | 36.1 | 39.7 | ||
| 32.7 | 35.6 | 39.1 | ||
| 32.3 | 35.4 | 39 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 87 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50.8 | 109.9 | 287.5 | |
| February | 55.8 | 106.2 | 343.5 | |
| March | 70.2 | 130.5 | 320.6 | |
| April | 138.9 | 266.3 | 533.8 | |
| May | 306.2 | 551.5 | 1,060.8 | |
| June | 277.8 | 543.6 | 1,008 | |
| July | 94.5 | 205.9 | 530.5 | |
| August | 45.9 | 72.1 | 150.8 | |
| September | 35.8 | 50.8 | 84.1 | |
| October | 34.1 | 55.2 | 122 | |
| November | 48.9 | 93.9 | 301.4 | |
| December | 49.2 | 114.7 | 340.6 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does American River near Nile, WA normally run highest?
- May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 551.5 cfs, against 50.8 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for American River near Nile, WA?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 109.9 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 50.8 and 287.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has American River near Nile, WA been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 12488500 begin in 1909, about 117 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Is there a flow forecast for American River near Nile, WA?
- Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
- Where is American River near Nile, WA?
- The gauge sits at 46.97762, -121.1687, in Washington, in hydrologic subbasin 17030002, at an elevation of about 2,777 feet, draining roughly 79 square miles.
- Can I use American River near Nile, WA data for flood or safety decisions?
- No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.