Yakima River at Horlick

Highest listed crest 39.30 ftFlood stage 36.0 ft10 crests since 1995

The Yakima River at Horlick crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 10 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1995 to 2025. The highest, 39.30 ft on February 9, 1996, was major flooding, 3.30 feet above flood stage. 4 other gauges on the Yakima River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest: 39.30 ft; February 9, 1996
Flood stage: 36.0 ft; Major flooding from 38.5 ft
Crests at major: 2; 36th of 70 gauges in Washington
Most recent flood crest: December 11, 2025; 38.08 ft, moderate flooding
Location: Kittitas County; Near Ellensburg (12.4 mi)
Identifiers: NWS HLKW1; No USGS station

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Yakima River at Horlick

Action stage	35.5	0	—	The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)	36.0	3	Dec 9, 2015	Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage	37.0	2	Dec 11, 2025	Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage	38.5	2	Jan 8, 2009	Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

10 crests from 1995 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Yakima River at Horlick

1	Feb 9, 1996	39.30	+3.30	Major	—
2	Jan 8, 2009	39.11	+3.11	Major	19,800
3	Nov 29, 1995	38.08	+2.08	Moderate	—
4	Dec 11, 2025	38.08	+2.08	Moderate	—
5	Jan 17, 2011	36.99	+0.99	Minor	—
6	Mar 31, 2011	36.50	+0.50	Minor	—
7	Dec 9, 2015	36.11	+0.11	Minor	13,805
8	Mar 12, 2007	34.67	−1.33	Below flood stage	—
9	Dec 16, 1999	34.62	−1.38	Below flood stage	—
10	May 12, 1997	34.52	−1.48	Below flood stage	—

The worst floods along the Yakima River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Yakima River that crested above flood stage within a week.

February 9, 1996: 39.30 ft here, major flooding

KionaWA · Feb 11, 1996 · 20.98 ft · Major
ParkerWA · Feb 9, 1996 · 16.21 ft · Major · its highest
UmtanumWA · Feb 9, 1996 · 38.77 ft · Moderate
EastonWA · Feb 8, 1996 · 53.23 ft · Minor

January 8, 2009: 39.11 ft here, major flooding

KionaWA · Jan 11, 2009 · 15.55 ft · Moderate
ParkerWA · Jan 9, 2009 · 13.03 ft · Moderate
UmtanumWA · Jan 8, 2009 · 37.84 ft · Minor

November 29, 1995: 38.08 ft here, moderate flooding

ParkerWA · Nov 30, 1995 · 14.61 ft · Major
KionaWA · Dec 2, 1995 · 15.88 ft · Moderate
EastonWA · Nov 29, 1995 · 54.01 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Yakima River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Yakima River

Easton	WA	51.3	57.01 ft, Dec 9, 2025	0
Horlick this gauge	WA	36.0	39.30 ft, Feb 9, 1996	2
Kiona	WA	13.0	21.57 ft, Dec 23, 1933	8
Umtanum	WA	35.5	41.10 ft, Nov 15, 1906	1
Parker	WA	10.0	16.21 ft, Feb 9, 1996	4

Other gauges in Kittitas County

Flood gauges in Kittitas County

Easton	51.3	57.01 ft, Dec 9, 2025	0
Umtanum	35.5	41.10 ft, Nov 15, 1906	1

Kittitas County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Washington

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HLKW1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.