River stage
Salem, Willamette River
- River level
- 5.36 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.06 ft
- Recent high
- 5.85 ft
- Recent low
- 4.72 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS SLMO3
- 30-day change
- +0.12 ft
- Average
- 5.08 ft
- Readings
- 119
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 47.00 ft
In brief
The Willamette River at Salem, OR read 5.36 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 15.84 ft below action stage. That is 0.12 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge SLMO3
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47.00 ft | 1861-12-04 |
| 2 | 47.00 ft | 1891-12-04 |
| 3 | 45.10 ft | 1890-02-05 |
| 4 | 43.30 ft | 1880-01-16 |
| 5 | 37.78 ft | 1964-12-23 |
| 6 | 35.09 ft | 1996-02-08 |
| 7 | 32.32 ft | 1974-01-17 |
| 8 | 31.50 ft | 1901-01-15 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 15.00 ft
the Wheatland and Buena Vista ferries will likely cease operation due to safety concerns.
- 18.00 ft
numerous sloughs are filled, and a few secondary roads begin to flood at this point.
- 20.00 ft
access roads to the islands on the Willamette River near Salem begin to flood.
- 23.00 ft
minor flooding occurs on Grand Island and other islands in the mid Willamette River. Access roads to these islands are also likely flooded at this point.
- 26.00 ft
expect flooding of numerous roads along the Willamette in the Salem area. Homes on Browns Island begin flooding at this level.
- 28.00 ft
widespread lowland flooding begins along the banks of the Willamette and islands on the mid Willamette, such as Browns, Minto, and Windsor islands. Numerous secondary roads begin flooding at this point.
- 30.00 ft
expect widespread flooding of lowland agricultural areas and rural and secondary roads. Also expect flooding along some creeks which drain into the Willamette in and near Salem due to backwater from the Willamette. The Willow Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant is threatened with flood water above this level.
- 32.00 ft
expect widespread flooding. Numerous roads and structures in the Salem/Keizer vicinity are flooded. The Willow Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant is likely flooded at this level.
- 35.00 ft
numerous roads and structures are flooded. The Willamette River also backs up water from tributary streams and creeks, which in turn produces flooding of residential neighborhoods along these creeks in Salem and Keizer.
- 37.00 ft
Keizer begins to flood. Also expect major widespread flooding from Santiam confluence to Oregon City.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Willamette River flooding at Salem?
No. The Willamette River at Salem is at 5.36 ft, 15.84 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Salem?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 21.2 ft, minor flooding 28 ft, moderate flooding 30 ft and major flooding 32 ft.
What is the highest the Willamette River has been at Salem?
The highest crest on record is 47.0 ft, on 1861-12-04.
Is the Willamette River high or low right now at Salem?
At 5.36 ft it is higher than 86% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge SLMO3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 14191000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.