Flood Warning Issued for Umatilla River in Umatilla County Through Saturday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pendleton, OR, has issued a Flood Warning for the Umatilla River near Gibbon. This alert is classified as a severe weather event with likely certainty, effective from Friday evening through Saturday evening.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts Umatilla County in Oregon. Affected locations along the Umatilla River include Gibbon and Pendleton, with specific impacts noted from the Bar M Ranch downstream through the Cayuse area.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers are urged to follow the safety mantra: “Turn around, don’t drown.” Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads, as most flood-related fatalities occur in vehicles. Residents in low-lying areas near the river should monitor conditions closely and avoid the water’s edge.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is forecast for the region. As of 4:15 AM PDT on Friday, the river stage was recorded at 5.8 feet, just below the bankfull stage of 6.0 feet. The river is expected to rise above the 7.0-foot flood stage late this evening.

Forecasts indicate the river will reach a crest of 8.5 feet late tonight. At a stage of 7.0 feet, flooding typically begins to affect pastures and outbuildings situated close to the river. For historical context, this expected crest of 8.5 feet is similar to a previous crest of 8.3 feet recorded in April 2013.

Timeline

• Warning Onset: Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:51 PM PDT
• Expected Crest: Late Friday night/early Saturday morning
• Warning Expiration: Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM PDT
• Recession: The river is expected to fall below flood stage by early Saturday afternoon.