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Deschutes River flooding

Thurston County calls the Deschutes the fastest rising and falling river in the county, and says individual homes are threatened at about 11.5 feet on the gauge.1 It crested at 12.22 feet on December 9, 2025.2 River water is flood, which a typical home policy does not cover.3

Last reviewed October 24, 20267 sources, numbered in the textSee sources

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The data

How high the Deschutes has run

Feet on the National Weather Service gauge near Rainier, upstream of Tumwater, with the level at which Thurston County says single homes are threatened.2,1

  • NWS minor flood level11 ft
  • Single homes threatened11.5 ft
    Thurston County's figure for the same gauge. At 13.5 ft it describes a widespread threat to communities and major roads.1
  • December 9, 202512.22 ft
    The most recent crest on the gauge's list.2
  • February 9, 201713.52 ft
  • Record, January 9, 199017.01 ft
National Weather Service, Deschutes River near Rainier (DSRW1), historic and recent crests; Thurston County Emergency Management.2,1

It floods in winter

Of the twelve highest crests on the gauge's list, eleven came between November and February; the exception is April 5, 1991 (our count from the National Weather Service list).2 That matches the rain: most of Olympia's falls from October to March.4

What the levels mean

Gauge levelNational Weather Service impact statement
9 ftThe river spills into low fields and forest along Vail Cutoff and Reichel roads.2
11 ftFlooding downstream in the Tumwater Valley, including the golf course, and minor flooding in some residential areas.2
13.5 ftResidential areas flood, especially Cougar Mountain, Driftwood Valley and Falling Horseshoe.2
16.5 ftSevere, near-record flooding, with residences flooded and the Tumwater Valley deeply flooded.2

Insurance

Washington's Insurance Commissioner says a typical home policy does not cover flooding. A National Flood Insurance Program policy starts covering the building 30 days after it is written; surplus lines policies usually take effect right away.3 Buying in October means being covered before the wettest months.

If river water got inside

  • Assume it is dirty: flood water can carry sewage.5
  • Keep generators and gas pumps out of the house and garage.5
  • Photograph everything and keep damaged items for the adjuster.6
  • Stay out of moving water: 6 inches can knock you off your feet.7

How this works

What happens when you call

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Sources

Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.

  1. Thurston County Emergency Management, River flood monitoring: Deschutes River. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/river-flood-monitoring/deschutes…
  2. National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service, Deschutes River near Rainier (DSRW1): flood categories, impacts and historic crests. Read October 24, 2026; recent crests include December 9, 2025. water.noaa.gov/gauges/dsrw1
  3. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Flood insurance. No date shown. www.insurance.wa.gov/flood-insurance
  4. NOAA NCEI, U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020, Olympia Airport (station USW00024227), precipitation and days with 0.10 inch or more. 1991-2020 normals. www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00…
  5. CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. Page updated August 24, 2026. www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html
  6. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), Settling insurance claims after a disaster. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/settling-insurance-claims-after-a-disaster
  7. National Weather Service (NOAA), Turn Around Don't Drown. Undated page, read October 24, 2026. www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown
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