Salmon River at White Bird, ID
USGS gauge 13317000 · drainage 13,421 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 5:45 PM MDT · 66 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 5:45 PM MDT. Shaded band: 25th to 75th percentile of USGS daily statistics for each date; dashed: median. Flow in cfs.
Daily mean flow Live gauge
| Date (gauge-local) | Mean flow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | – | Partial day |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 3,989 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 3,941 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 3,809 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 3,535 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 3,420 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 3,397 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 3,390 cfs | |
| Oct 8, 2026 | – | Partial day |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values); each mean uses readings on that gauge-local date, shown only with at least 80% of expected readings.
The same 50 days in earlier years Historical record
━ 2026 ╌ 2025 ╌ 2024 ╌ 2023
| Year | Mean flow | Highest day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3,718 cfs | 4,510 cfs |
| 2025 | 3,679 cfs | 5,030 cfs |
| 2024 | 3,330 cfs | 4,100 cfs |
| 2023 | 4,789 cfs | 6,460 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API). Each line is the 50 days from Aug 27 to Oct 15, shifted to the same calendar dates in earlier years; gaps are days without a published value. Recent days are provisional.
Compared with this gauge’s record Historical record
| Measure | Value | When or rank |
|---|---|---|
| Peak daily flow, last 7 days | 3,990 cfs | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 4,020 cfs | Sep 23, 2026 (22 days earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | Apr 16, 2026 | 6 months earlier |
| Days above the 75th percentile for their date | 0 of 30 | last 30 days |
| October 1 to 15, mean flow | 3,566 cfs | rank 92 highest of 115 years |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1910 to 2026 (41,683 days), data through Oct 15, 2026, computed 2026-10-17; method record-v1. Percentiles are USGS daily statistics. Recent days are provisional.
Largest annual peaks Historical record
Ten largest peaks of record
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 1974 | 130,000 cfs | 35.81 ft |
| Jun 1, 1894 | 120,000 cfs | 37.50 ft |
| May 24, 1956 | 106,000 cfs | 33.05 ft |
| Jun 3, 1948 | 103,000 cfs | 32.95 ft |
| May 18, 1997 | 101,000 cfs | 32.26 ft |
| Jun 2, 1972 | 100,000 cfs | 32.23 ft |
| Jun 1, 1986 | 97,200 cfs | 32.56 ft |
| Jun 12, 1965 | 96,600 cfs | 32.18 ft |
| Jun 10, 1996 | 96,300 cfs | 31.69 ft |
| May 21, 2006 | 93,800 cfs | 31.51 ft |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2025 | 54,100 cfs | 25.79 ft |
| Jun 4, 2024 | 46,600 cfs | 24.50 ft |
| May 22, 2023 | 76,600 cfs | 29.23 ft |
| Jun 12, 2022 | 68,800 cfs | 28.11 ft |
| Jun 5, 2021 | 34,600 cfs | 22.17 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 114 annual peaks, 1894 to 2025. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Water temperature by month Historical record
Source: USGS daily mean water temperature (parameter 00010, Water Data API), 2000 to 2026, mean of all published daily values in each calendar month (days counted under each month).
Water quality sensors Live gauge
| Measure | Latest value | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 12 °C | Oct 16, 5:45 PM MDT |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values). Values as reported by the gauge, provisional.
Flood stages Official NWS
| Category | Gage height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Action | 30.0 ft |
| Minor | 32.0 ft |
| Moderate | 33.0 ft |
| Major | 35.0 ft |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point WHBI1 (Salmon River at White Bird), fetched Oct 16, 6:41 PM MDT. Compare with the gage height above; thresholds belong to that forecast point.
Historic crests Official NWS
| Date | Crest stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1894 | 37.50 ft | 120,000 cfs |
| Jun 16, 1974 | 35.81 ft | 130,000 cfs |
| May 23, 1956 | 33.05 ft | 106,000 cfs |
| Jun 2, 1948 | 32.95 ft | 103,000 cfs |
| May 31, 1986 | 32.56 ft | 97,200 cfs |
| May 17, 1997 | 32.26 ft | 101,000 cfs |
| Jun 1, 1972 | 32.23 ft | 100,000 cfs |
| Jun 11, 1965 | 32.18 ft | 96,600 cfs |
| Jun 9, 1996 | 31.56 ft | 95,280 cfs |
| May 20, 2006 | 31.51 ft | 93,800 cfs |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point WHBI1 (Salmon River at White Bird), historic crests as published by the NWS; the NWS may have recorded them on an older gauge datum.
Flood impacts by stage Official NWS
| Stage | National Weather Service impact statement |
|---|---|
| 32.0 ft | Flooding threatens Route 95 near Whitebird. |
| 33.0 ft | Flooding affects low lying areas adjacent to the river. Floooding threatens many secondary roads and comes close to inundating highway 95. Several thousand acres of low lying land are also flooded. |
| 35.0 ft | Flooding threatens some homes and businesses. Many roads flooded and impassable. |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point WHBI1 (Salmon River at White Bird). Statements are quoted from the NWS and describe that forecast point.
Sources and method
- Data: U.S. Geological Survey. Terms
- River forecasts and flood stages: National Weather Service. National Water Model guidance: NOAA.. Terms
USGS daily statistics, downloaded 2026-10-12
Percentile method: trailing 24 h mean vs USGS daily percentiles for calendar date 10-16.
Percentile is estimated from USGS published daily percentiles. Readings are provisional until USGS reviews them. Not endorsed by USGS, NOAA or the National Weather Service. Not for navigation or safety-of-life decisions; the absence of an alert is not a statement that conditions are safe.