River stage
John Day, John Day River
- River level
- 3.55 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.03 ft
- Recent high
- 3.55 ft
- Recent low
- 3.10 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS JHNO3
- 30-day change
- +0.11 ft
- Average
- 3.31 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 10.80 ft
In brief
The John Day River at John Day, OR read 3.55 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.95 ft below action stage. That is 0.11 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge JHNO3
Water 42 °F (6 °C) · -5 °F in 24 hours
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.80 ft | 1969-06-09 |
| 2 | 10.06 ft | 1997-01-31 |
| 3 | 9.16 ft | 1991-05-19 |
| 4 | 8.92 ft | 1971-01-17 |
| 5 | 8.60 ft | 1982-02-16 |
| 6 | 8.50 ft | 2011-05-16 |
| 7 | 8.42 ft | 2011-01-17 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 8.00 ft
Minor flooding of lowland fields and pastures throughout the valley.
- 9.00 ft
At this level, there will be extensive pasture and field flooding near the fairgrounds in John Day. Some homes near Bridge Street will be threatened. There will likely be backwater flooding upstream of Picture Gorge. There will be high water velocities with substantial bank erosion.
- 10.00 ft
Major field flooding wtih some homes flooded in the lower sections of John Day.
- 10.50 ft
Extensive flooding of the lower west side of John Day.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the John Day River flooding at John Day?
No. The John Day River at John Day is at 3.55 ft, 3.95 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at John Day?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 7.5 ft, minor flooding 8 ft, moderate flooding 9 ft and major flooding 10.5 ft.
What is the highest the John Day River has been at John Day?
The highest crest on record is 10.8 ft, on 1969-06-09.
Is the John Day River high or low right now at John Day?
At 3.55 ft it is higher than 99% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at John Day, John Day River?
The water temperature at John Day, John Day River is 42 °F (5.8 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS. It has fallen 5.3 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge JHNO3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 14038530). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.