Columbia River at Birchbank
Water level and flow at gauge 08NE049, British Columbia. The flow is well below normal for October (79% of the median). In the last 24 hours it has been steady.
Latest reading Oct 25, 5 AM local standard time (about an hour ago) · data checked · we check every 30 minutes
Compared with a normal October
Normal for October (middle half of 89 years of monthly averages): 1,140 m³/s40,259 cfs – 1,510 m³/s53,325 cfs, median 1,270 m³/s44,850 cfs. Right now it is at 79% of the median.
June 9, 1961 · approved records 1938–2025 (HYDAT). Right now the flow is 9% of that record.
29% lower than on October 25, 2025 (1,400 m³/s49,441 cfs)
approved daily mean (HYDAT)
Last 30 days
Hourly readings · shaded: normal range for this month
This year compared with past years
Daily flow
Normal range: monthly averages of 88 years (lighter band: 10th–90th percentile). Past years: approved daily means from HYDAT, the Water Survey of Canada archive (the latest year published is 2025). 2026: daily means of the provisional real-time readings collected by Canada River Levels since October 22, 2026.
Weather near this gauge
Cloudy. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this morning. Wind becoming north 20 km/h gusting to 40 near noon. High 11. UV index 2 or low.
Partly cloudy. Wind north 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this evening. Low plus 4.
A mix of sun and cloud. Becoming cloudy near noon then periods of rain. Snow level 1600 metres. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h in the afternoon. High 10. UV index 1 or low.
Periods of rain. Low plus 5.
Forecast for Trail (9 km away) from Environment and Climate Change Canada, issued . Full official forecast ↗ · we check for new forecasts every 2 hours.
Nearby gauges
| Big Sheep CreekRossland · 25 km | 0.40 m1.31 ft | Below normal |
| Slocan RiverCrescent Valley · 33 km | 0.72 m2.36 ft | Below normal |
| Salmo RiverSalmo · 34 km | 0.48 m1.57 ft | Very low |
| Hidden CreekThe Mouth · 35 km | 0.23 m0.74 ft | Very low |
| Deer CreekDeer Park · 38 km | 0.13 m0.43 ft | Normal |
| Anderson CreekNelson · 49 km | 0.03 m0.10 ft | Very low |
About this gauge
Station: 08NE049 · Columbia River at Birchbank
Location: 49.1778, -117.7177 · British Columbia
Water levels are measured from a local reference point at each gauge, not from sea level, so they cannot be compared between gauges.
Official sources
For flood warnings, advisories and approved data, always use these official services:
Questions
What is the water level of the Columbia River at Birchbank today?
The latest reading (Oct 25, 5 AM, local standard time) is 2.87 m (9.41 ft) with a flow of 998 m³/s (35,244 cfs).
Is the Columbia River at Birchbank high right now?
The flow is well below normal for October (79% of the median).
Is the Columbia River rising or falling?
In the last 24 hours it has been steady.
What is the highest flow ever recorded on the Columbia River at Birchbank?
10,700 m³/s (377,867 cfs) on June 9, 1961, the highest instantaneous flow in the approved records of the Water Survey of Canada (1938–2025). Events after 2025 are not yet in the approved archive.
How does the Columbia River at Birchbank compare with a year ago?
The flow is 29% lower than on October 25, 2025 (1,400 m³/s (49,441 cfs), approved daily mean (HYDAT)).
Where does this data come from?
Gauge 08NE049 of the Water Survey of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada). Real-time data are provisional and may be revised. We check for new readings every 30 minutes. Canada River Levels is not an official source.