USGS Streamgage 14159500
South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR
South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR is USGS streamgage 14159500 in Oregon, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17090004. It drains a watershed of about 208 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1945. Typical flow runs near 394 cfs in July and 673 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, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.
View live conditions & forecast →
Gauge details
- State
- Oregon
- Drainage area
- 208 sq mi
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 17090004
- Coordinates
- 44.13596, -122.24839
- USGS site number
- 14159500
- Records begin
- 1945-12-28 (81 years)
- Rivermatics forecast
- 14-day flow outlook + water temperature
14-day flow forecast
Based on observations through for South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 340 | 347 | 355 | ||
| 337 | 349 | 371 | ||
| 339 | 356 | 395 | ||
| 335 | 355 | 398 | ||
| 331 | 354 | 402 | ||
| 327 | 353 | 404 | ||
| 325 | 353 | 412 | ||
| 322 | 353 | 418 | ||
| 320 | 356 | 439 | ||
| 319 | 356 | 445 | ||
| 317 | 357 | 457 | ||
| 315 | 356 | 455 | ||
| 313 | 356 | 456 | ||
| 311 | 355 | 468 |
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 79 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 | 390.3 | 979.5 | 2,564.5 | |
| February | 277.9 | 488.6 | 2,017.9 | |
| March | 262.9 | 472.1 | 1,577.1 | |
| April | 272.9 | 673 | 1,705.7 | |
| May | 293.6 | 914.5 | 1,820.3 | |
| June | 305 | 625 | 1,331.1 | |
| July | 284.6 | 394 | 661.1 | |
| August | 257.4 | 546.9 | 892.4 | |
| September | 241 | 631.4 | 888.4 | |
| October | 268.4 | 758.7 | 1,117.7 | |
| November | 319 | 996.8 | 2,025.3 | |
| December | 390.9 | 992.5 | 2,807.7 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR normally run highest?
- November, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 996.8 cfs, against 394 cfs in July, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 979.5 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 390.3 and 2,564.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 14159500 begin in 1945, about 81 years, covering roughly 9,201 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Is there a flow forecast for South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR?
- 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. A companion model forecasts each day's water-temperature high and low. 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 South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR?
- The gauge sits at 44.13596, -122.24839, in Oregon, in hydrologic subbasin 17090004, draining roughly 208 square miles.
- Can I use South Fork McKenzie River near Rainbow, OR 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.