Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12101500

Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA

Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA is USGS streamgage 12101500 in Washington, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17110014. It sits on the Puyallup River, alongside 5 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 948 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1914. Typical flow runs near 2,817.4 cfs in July and 3,164.3 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.

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Gauge details

State
Washington
Drainage area
948 sq mi
Gauge elevation
20 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17110014
Coordinates
47.20843, -122.32707
USGS site number
12101500
Records begin
1914-05-01 (112 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Puyallup River at Puyallup, 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
968 1,031 1,096
961 1,070 1,211
1,184 1,574 2,255
1,339 1,809 2,559
1,257 1,655 2,270
1,151 1,469 1,946
1,066 1,338 1,764
1,019 1,266 1,648
979 1,210 1,567
963 1,190 1,534
937 1,155 1,473
910 1,130 1,444
875 1,097 1,405
875 1,093 1,397

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 112 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 1,791 3,348.7 8,060
February 1,750.3 3,064.5 6,819
March 1,765.2 2,879.4 5,200
April 2,020.7 3,164.3 5,181.3
May 2,290.3 3,781.3 6,018.7
June 2,461 4,039 6,706
July 1,939.7 2,817.4 4,526.5
August 1,462.6 1,981.9 2,728.1
September 1,081.5 1,553.7 2,294.7
October 930.4 1,557.1 3,351.6
November 1,177.3 2,577.3 6,765.3
December 1,590.3 3,280 8,154.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 4,039 cfs, against 1,553.7 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 Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 3,348.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 1,791 and 8,060 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12101500 begin in 1914, about 112 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 Puyallup River at Puyallup, 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 Puyallup River at Puyallup, WA?
The gauge sits at 47.20843, -122.32707, in Washington, in hydrologic subbasin 17110014, at an elevation of about 20 feet, draining roughly 948 square miles.
Can I use Puyallup River at Puyallup, 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 Puyallup River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin