Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12082500

Nisqually River near National, WA

Nisqually River near National, WA is USGS streamgage 12082500 in Washington, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17110015. It sits on the Nisqually River, alongside 3 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 133 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1942. Typical flow runs near 733.2 cfs in July and 719.2 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
133 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,451 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17110015
Coordinates
46.75261, -122.08372
USGS site number
12082500
Records begin
1942-06-01 (84 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Nisqually River near National, 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
283 326 361
260 344 422
266 403 592
247 359 491
223 337 458
213 326 443
205 318 434
201 321 445
204 328 454
202 328 457
198 324 453
191 318 448
203 332 466
194 325 463

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 84 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 320.3 663.5 1,748.4
February 316 610 1,510
March 328.3 567.2 1,126
April 427 719.2 1,256
May 596.2 947.2 1,632.6
June 592 954.2 1,578.3
July 500.7 733.2 1,147.9
August 385.4 533.5 741.1
September 272.5 402.3 588.2
October 211.7 364.1 813.4
November 263.6 632.7 1,652
December 329.6 689.1 1,774.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Nisqually River near National, WA normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 954.2 cfs, against 364.1 cfs in October, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Nisqually River near National, WA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 663.5 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 320.3 and 1,748.4 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Nisqually River near National, WA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12082500 begin in 1942, about 84 years, covering roughly 9,194 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Nisqually River near National, 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 Nisqually River near National, WA?
The gauge sits at 46.75261, -122.08372, in Washington, in hydrologic subbasin 17110015, at an elevation of about 1,451 feet, draining roughly 133 square miles.
Can I use Nisqually River near National, 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 Nisqually River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin