Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Columbia River system

Nf Payette River flows and levels

Nf Payette River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Idaho, each tracked by Rivermatics. It feeds the North Fork Payette River. It drains into the Columbia River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 144 square miles at NF Payette River at McCall, ID up to 921 at NF Payette River near Banks, ID. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 2 of them.

Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream

Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
NF Payette River at McCall, ID ID 144 — 279.7 160.3 14-day
NF Payette River at Cascade, ID ID 616 — 791 1,532.6 —
NF Payette River near Banks, ID ID 921 — 1,465.5 1,674.5 14-day

Typical flow by month at NF Payette River near Banks, ID

The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. 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.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 257.3 396.3 1,346.8
February 265.7 428.4 1,713.4
March 328 620.1 2,809.7
April 519.1 1,465.5 3,524.3
May 617.7 1,804.2 3,717.7
June 664.9 2,147.7 4,498.3
July 850.8 1,674.5 2,537.7
August 1,179.7 1,755.8 2,333.2
September 770.7 1,317 2,291.7
October 249.4 512.1 1,369.8
November 237.9 316.9 936.5
December 241.2 358.5 1,198.1

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Nf Payette River run highest?
June, on the long-term record at NF Payette River near Banks, ID — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 2,147.7 cfs that month, against 316.9 cfs in November, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
How many gauges are on the Nf Payette River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the Nf Payette River, across Idaho. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
Is there a flow forecast for the Nf Payette River?
Yes, at 2 of the 3 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
What river system is the Nf Payette River part of?
The Nf Payette River drains into the Columbia River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
Can I use Nf Payette River 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 rivers in the Columbia River system

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