COWLITZ RIVER AT RANDLE, WA
USGS 14231000 · Washington · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading COWLITZ RIVER AT RANDLE, WA…
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USGS 14231000 · Washington · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Approach the stream carefully and with a low profileIowa Department of Natural Resources
Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstreamIowa Department of Natural Resources
Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low waterMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 8:15 PM PST · provisional USGS data
Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:15 PM PDT to Nov 5, 8:15 PM PST; ranging 267 to 432 ft³/s; latest 314 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:15 PM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 PM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 PM PST | 308 | 3.62 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,060–3,960 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM PST | 273 | 3.56 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM PST | 267 | 3.55 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM PST | 273 | 3.56 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM PST | 267 | 3.55 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM PST | 273 | 3.56 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 1,130–3,940 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM PST | 285 | 3.58 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 973–3,790 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM PST | 267 | 3.55 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM PST | 290 | 3.59 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM PST | 279 | 3.57 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM PST | 296 | 3.6 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM PST | 302 | 3.61 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM PST | 308 | 3.62 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 949–4,230 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM PST | 319 | 3.64 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM PST | 314 | 3.63 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM PST | 325 | 3.65 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM PST | 331 | 3.66 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM PST | 337 | 3.67 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM PST | 342 | 3.68 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM PST | 342 | 3.68 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM PST | 342 | 3.68 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM PST | 342 | 3.68 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM PST | 342 | 3.68 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM PST | 348 | 3.69 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 943–4,720 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 943–4,720 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM PDT | 342 | 3.68 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM PDT | 337 | 3.67 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM PDT | 337 | 3.67 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM PDT | 342 | 3.68 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM PDT | 337 | 3.67 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM PDT | 337 | 3.67 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM PDT | 342 | 3.68 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM PDT | 348 | 3.69 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM PDT | 354 | 3.7 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM PDT | 359 | 3.71 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM PDT | 359 | 3.71 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM PDT | 359 | 3.71 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 905–3,510 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM PDT | 365 | 3.72 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM PDT | 371 | 3.73 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM PDT | 376 | 3.74 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM PDT | 376 | 3.74 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM PDT | 376 | 3.74 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM PDT | 376 | 3.74 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM PDT | 382 | 3.75 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM PDT | 382 | 3.75 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM PDT | 382 | 3.75 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM PDT | 388 | 3.76 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM PDT | 388 | 3.76 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM PDT | 393 | 3.77 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM PDT | 404 | 3.79 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM PDT | 404 | 3.79 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM PDT | 410 | 3.8 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM PDT | 410 | 3.8 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM PDT | 410 | 3.8 | 732–2,390 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM PDT | 416 | 3.81 | 749–2,570 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM PDT | 427 | 3.83 | 749–2,570 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM PDT | 432 | 3.84 | 749–2,570 |
Map of USGS gauge 14231000 and the river around it
Where COWLITZ RIVER AT RANDLE, WA sits, with 2 other gauges on the same river and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Washington rule: 68°F.
Normal for Nov 5: 1,060–3,960 ft³/s (middle half of 33 years of record). Now: 314 ft³/s, much below normal.
Much below normal for this date. 314 ft³/s is below the 10th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 33 years of record (1994–2026): 10th 726, 25th 1,060, median 2,180, 75th 3,960, 90th 5,540 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 279 ft³/s, highest 15,000 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+8.3% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
This gauge is on our page for Cowlitz River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 3.63 ft stage, 314 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:00 PM PST (NWS gauge RAWW1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 3:02 PM PST. Highest point: 5.57 ft, 1,330 ft³/s on Nov 14, 4:00 PM PST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 3.63 ft | 314 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 3.64 ft | 319 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 3.9 ft | 465 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 4.59 ft | 832 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 4.29 ft | 676 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 5.25 ft | 1,170 ft³/s |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 5.56 ft | 1,320 ft³/s |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 5.06 ft | 1,070 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 4.92 ft | 1,000 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 5.57 ft | 1,330 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 8:31 PM PST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.