Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12202300

Olsen Creek near Bellingham, WA

Olsen Creek near Bellingham, WA is USGS streamgage 12202300 in Washington, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17110004. It drains a watershed of about 4 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1967. Typical flow runs near 0.7 cfs in July and 8.6 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
4 sq mi
Gauge elevation
321 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17110004
Coordinates
48.75122, -122.3535
USGS site number
12202300
Records begin
1967-11-01 (59 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Olsen Creek near Bellingham, 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
0.2 0.3 0.3
0.2 0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.3
0.1 0.2 0.3
0.1 0.2 0.3
0.1 0.2 0.3
0.1 0.2 0.3
0.2 0.5 1.9
0.3 0.9 2.9
0.3 0.9 2.8

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 59 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 5.4 12.5 46.2
February 4.4 9.7 31.5
March 4.7 10.5 29
April 3.8 8.6 21.9
May 1.6 4.1 12.1
June 0.7 1.8 9
July 0.3 0.7 3
August 0.2 0.4 1.9
September 0.2 0.6 4.3
October 0.4 2.6 14.6
November 2.7 9.6 41.5
December 3.9 11.1 37.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Olsen Creek near Bellingham, WA normally run highest?
January, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 12.5 cfs, against 0.4 cfs in August, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Olsen Creek near Bellingham, WA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 12.5 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 5.4 and 46.2 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Olsen Creek near Bellingham, WA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12202300 begin in 1967, about 59 years, covering roughly 9,075 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Olsen Creek near Bellingham, 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 Olsen Creek near Bellingham, WA?
The gauge sits at 48.75122, -122.3535, in Washington, in hydrologic subbasin 17110004, at an elevation of about 321 feet, draining roughly 4 square miles.
Can I use Olsen Creek near Bellingham, 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.

Other gauges in this subbasin