Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12472800

Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, WA

Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, WA is USGS streamgage 12472800 in Washington, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17020016. It sits on the Columbia River, alongside 12 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 96,000 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1917. Typical flow runs near 138,322.6 cfs in July and 111,413.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

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Gauge details

State
Washington
Drainage area
96,000 sq mi
Gauge elevation
432 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17020016
Coordinates
46.62871, -119.86474
USGS site number
12472800
Records begin
1917-06-23 (109 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, 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.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
40,861 51,736 68,242
39,885 55,011 79,002
39,130 56,507 83,621
40,108 59,477 88,471
40,821 60,211 88,450
40,478 59,506 86,958
40,715 59,914 88,196
40,374 59,419 87,070
40,343 59,642 87,690
40,381 59,817 87,964
40,590 60,110 88,094
40,774 60,393 88,611
40,762 60,143 87,981
40,406 59,447 85,682

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 67 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 68,325.8 107,229 152,741.9
February 69,437.9 103,127.6 153,862.1
March 64,890.3 98,774.2 157,064.5
April 66,306.7 111,413.3 181,433.3
May 100,496.8 157,032.3 244,032.3
June 101,663.3 175,066.7 315,866.7
July 83,896.8 138,322.6 235,322.6
August 72,851.6 107,106.5 150,709.7
September 50,500 74,670 102,433.3
October 53,267.7 75,612.9 103,196.8
November 63,156.7 91,460 115,200
December 66,658.1 100,822.6 140,871

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, WA normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 175,066.7 cfs, against 74,670 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 Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, WA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 107,229 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 68,325.8 and 152,741.9 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, WA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12472800 begin in 1917, about 109 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 Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, 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 Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, WA?
The gauge sits at 46.62871, -119.86474, in Washington, in hydrologic subbasin 17020016, at an elevation of about 432 feet, draining roughly 96,000 square miles.
Can I use Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam, 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.

Upstream and downstream on the Columbia River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Columbia River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin