Cache La Poudre River (CO) above Fort Collins
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/27/2025 1:45 PM MDTRecord: 10.3 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 10.5 ft Moderate Flooding 9 ft Minor Flooding 7.5 ft Action 6.5 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 11 - This is a major-life threatening flood with numerous streets and highways damaged and homes and businesses inundated.
- 10.4 - Buildings flood in and near the town of Laporte. Numerous bridges...streets and highways along the river in Laporte and Fort Collins are impacted by flooding. This level represents a flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
- 10 - Numerous bridges crossing the river in Laporte and Fort Collins may be inaccessible as river levels rise to the base of the bridges. Water approaches several neighborhoods and North College Avenue from Vine to Conifer Streets on the north side of Fort Collins.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 40.6645, -105.224 |
| RFC | MBRFC |
| State | CO |
| WFO | BOU |
| County | Larimer |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| CO Division of Water Resources | Colorado Division of Water Resources |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 6.07 ft | on 05-23-2021 |
| 2. | 6.16 ft | on 06-01-2020 |
| 3. | 5.92 ft | on 07-01-2019 |
| 4. | 5.53 ft | on 05-27-2018 |
| 5. | 6.57 ft | on 06-11-2017 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 6.07 ft | on 05-23-2021 |
| 2. | 6.16 ft | on 06-01-2020 |
| 3. | 5.92 ft | on 07-01-2019 |
| 4. | 5.53 ft | on 05-27-2018 |
| 5. | 6.57 ft | on 06-11-2017 |
| 6. | 6.80 ft | on 06-12-2016 |
| 7. | 6.95 ft | on 06-12-2015 |
| 8. | 8.08 ft | on 05-31-2014 |
| 9. | 10.29 ft | on 09-13-2013 |
| 10. | 3.90 ft | on 06-06-2012 |
| 11. | 6.72 ft | on 07-01-2011 |
| 12. | 6.94 ft | on 06-12-2010 |
| 13. | 4.74 ft | on 05-25-2009 |
| 14. | 5.30 ft | on 06-03-2008 |
| 15. | 4.78 ft | on 06-16-2007 |
| 16. | 4.63 ft | on 05-23-2006 |
| 17. | 4.97 ft | on 05-26-2005 |
| 18. | 4.31 ft | on 07-01-2004 |
| 19. | 5.86 ft | on 06-01-2003 |
| 20. | 3.54 ft | on 05-31-2002 |
| 21. | 4.88 ft | on 05-30-2001 |
| 22. | 4.93 ft | on 05-30-2000 |
| 23. | 7.56 ft | on 04-30-1999 |
| 24. | 5.01 ft | on 06-04-1998 |
| 25. | 6.03 ft | on 07-09-1997 |
| 26. | 5.73 ft | on 06-13-1996 |
| 27. | 7.03 ft | on 06-18-1995 |
| 28. | 4.83 ft | on 06-01-1994 |
| 29. | 5.49 ft | on 06-19-1993 |
| 30. | 4.71 ft | on 05-27-1992 |
| 31. | 6.52 ft | on 06-02-1991 |
| 32. | 5.33 ft | on 06-12-1990 |
| 33. | 4.54 ft | on 05-31-1989 |
| 34. | 5.47 ft | on 06-11-1988 |
| 35. | 4.70 ft | on 06-09-1987 |
| 36. | 6.25 ft | on 06-07-1986 |
| 37. | 6.00 ft | on 06-09-1985 |
| 38. | 6.27 ft | on 05-25-1984 |
| 39. | 7.72 ft | on 06-21-1983 |
| 40. | 5.48 ft | on 06-30-1982 |
| 41. | 4.92 ft | on 06-08-1981 |
| 42. | 5.77 ft | on 06-12-1980 |
| 43. | 5.46 ft | on 06-17-1979 |
| 44. | 5.78 ft | on 06-16-1978 |
| 45. | 4.23 ft | on 06-06-1977 |
| 46. | 7.86 ft | on 08-01-1976 |
| 47. | 4.94 ft | on 07-03-1975 |
| 48. | 5.22 ft | on 06-17-1974 |
| 49. | 5.78 ft | on 06-14-1973 |
| 50. | 5.52 ft | on 06-04-1972 |
| 51. | 5.84 ft | on 06-17-1971 |
| 52. | 5.36 ft | on 06-26-1970 |
| 53. | 4.85 ft | on 05-31-1969 |
| 54. | 4.96 ft | on 06-21-1968 |
| 55. | 4.63 ft | on 06-23-1967 |
| 56. | 3.66 ft | on 05-31-1966 |
| 57. | 6.42 ft | on 06-11-1965 |
| 58. | 4.36 ft | on 05-27-1964 |
| 59. | 3.90 ft | on 06-16-1963 |
| 60. | 4.73 ft | on 06-30-1962 |
| 61. | 5.17 ft | on 06-10-1961 |
| 62. | 4.87 ft | on 06-05-1960 |
| 63. | 4.97 ft | on 06-08-1959 |
| 64. | 5.78 ft | on 05-29-1958 |
| 65. | 6.10 ft | on 06-30-1957 |
| 66. | 5.07 ft | on 05-25-1956 |
| 67. | 4.19 ft | on 06-09-1955 |
| 68. | 3.52 ft | on 05-21-1954 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 10.29 ft | on 09-13-2013 |
| 2. | 8.08 ft | on 05-31-2014 |
| 3. | 7.86 ft | on 08-01-1976 |
| 4. | 7.72 ft | on 06-21-1983 |
| 5. | 7.56 ft | on 04-30-1999 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 10.29 ft | on 09-13-2013 |
| 2. | 8.08 ft | on 05-31-2014 |
| 3. | 7.86 ft | on 08-01-1976 |
| 4. | 7.72 ft | on 06-21-1983 |
| 5. | 7.56 ft | on 04-30-1999 |
| 6. | 7.03 ft | on 06-18-1995 |
| 7. | 6.95 ft | on 06-12-2015 |
| 8. | 6.94 ft | on 06-12-2010 |
| 9. | 6.80 ft | on 06-12-2016 |
| 10. | 6.72 ft | on 07-01-2011 |
| 11. | 6.57 ft | on 06-11-2017 |
| 12. | 6.52 ft | on 06-02-1991 |
| 13. | 6.42 ft | on 06-11-1965 |
| 14. | 6.27 ft | on 05-25-1984 |
| 15. | 6.25 ft | on 06-07-1986 |
| 16. | 6.16 ft | on 06-01-2020 |
| 17. | 6.10 ft | on 06-30-1957 |
| 18. | 6.07 ft | on 05-23-2021 |
| 19. | 6.03 ft | on 07-09-1997 |
| 20. | 6.00 ft | on 06-09-1985 |
| 21. | 5.92 ft | on 07-01-2019 |
| 22. | 5.86 ft | on 06-01-2003 |
| 23. | 5.84 ft | on 06-17-1971 |
| 24. | 5.78 ft | on 05-29-1958 |
| 25. | 5.78 ft | on 06-16-1978 |
| 26. | 5.78 ft | on 06-14-1973 |
| 27. | 5.77 ft | on 06-12-1980 |
| 28. | 5.73 ft | on 06-13-1996 |
| 29. | 5.53 ft | on 05-27-2018 |
| 30. | 5.52 ft | on 06-04-1972 |
| 31. | 5.49 ft | on 06-19-1993 |
| 32. | 5.48 ft | on 06-30-1982 |
| 33. | 5.47 ft | on 06-11-1988 |
| 34. | 5.46 ft | on 06-17-1979 |
| 35. | 5.36 ft | on 06-26-1970 |
| 36. | 5.33 ft | on 06-12-1990 |
| 37. | 5.30 ft | on 06-03-2008 |
| 38. | 5.22 ft | on 06-17-1974 |
| 39. | 5.17 ft | on 06-10-1961 |
| 40. | 5.07 ft | on 05-25-1956 |
| 41. | 5.01 ft | on 06-04-1998 |
| 42. | 4.97 ft | on 05-26-2005 |
| 43. | 4.97 ft | on 06-08-1959 |
| 44. | 4.96 ft | on 06-21-1968 |
| 45. | 4.94 ft | on 07-03-1975 |
| 46. | 4.93 ft | on 05-30-2000 |
| 47. | 4.92 ft | on 06-08-1981 |
| 48. | 4.88 ft | on 05-30-2001 |
| 49. | 4.87 ft | on 06-05-1960 |
| 50. | 4.85 ft | on 05-31-1969 |
| 51. | 4.83 ft | on 06-01-1994 |
| 52. | 4.78 ft | on 06-16-2007 |
| 53. | 4.74 ft | on 05-25-2009 |
| 54. | 4.73 ft | on 06-30-1962 |
| 55. | 4.71 ft | on 05-27-1992 |
| 56. | 4.70 ft | on 06-09-1987 |
| 57. | 4.63 ft | on 06-23-1967 |
| 58. | 4.63 ft | on 05-23-2006 |
| 59. | 4.54 ft | on 05-31-1989 |
| 60. | 4.36 ft | on 05-27-1964 |
| 61. | 4.31 ft | on 07-01-2004 |
| 62. | 4.23 ft | on 06-06-1977 |
| 63. | 4.19 ft | on 06-09-1955 |
| 64. | 3.90 ft | on 06-16-1963 |
| 65. | 3.90 ft | on 06-06-2012 |
| 66. | 3.66 ft | on 05-31-1966 |
| 67. | 3.54 ft | on 05-31-2002 |
| 68. | 3.52 ft | on 05-21-1954 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NGVD29 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 5230.50 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 5229.00 ft |
| minor Flooding | 5227.50 ft |
| action | 5226.50 ft |
| Latest Value | 5224.29 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 5220.00 ft |
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
Resources
Hydrologic Resource Links
- River Forecast Centers
- Text Products
- Past Precipitation
- Forecast Precipitation
- NE/NC Colorado Graphical Forecasts
- Precipitation & Temperature Outlooks
- CoCoRaHS Precipitation Observation Maps
- HPRCC Climate Maps
- Cooperative Observer Monthly Precipitation
- Drought Monitor - Colorado
- CCC NIDIS Weekly Drought Summary
- Seasonal Drought Outlook
- Colorado Snow Maps & Graphs
- U.S. Snowfall Analysis Map
- National Snow Cover Analyses
- Probabilistic Winter Precipitation Guidance
- Turn Around Don't Drown
Additional Resource Links
- NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting
- Area Hydrographs
- Colorado DWR Real-time Streamflow
- CWCB Drought, Flood & Water Supply
- Denver Water Reservoir Levels
- Fort Collins Stormwater Warning System
- NRCS SNOTEL & Snow Course
- MHFD ALERT Rainfall & Streamflow
- USBR Central CO Lakes & Reservoirs
- USGS Current Colorado Streamflow
- USGS WaterWatch Colorado
- Inundation Mapping Locations