Web Portal Changes: The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS), with a target of Spring 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS. The NWS is now accepting feedback on NWPS. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information.

Experimental National Water Center Products: Flood Inundation Mapping services are now available for 10% of the U.S. population. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information. The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via the URL above, as described in the StoryMap here.

DID YOU KNOW... Please try our new TEST hydrograph page link at: https://preview.water.noaa.gov/gauges/abcde - Just replace “abcde” with your local hydrograph five character ID found in the lower left corner of the hydrograph.  In late March of 2024, the base URL path will become water.noaa.gov.  Feedback can be provided HERE

Weather Forecast Office Denver/Boulder, CO

Missouri Basin River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (MST) Datum: NGVD29 Metadata

NOTE: Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations. NOTE: Stage may be affected by ice during winter months. NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the Big Thompson River (CO) below Lake Estes. Only observed stages are available for this point.

Default Hydrograph Scale to Flood Categories   Return to Area Map

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 8 Moderate Flood Stage: 7 Flood Stage: 6.5 Action Stage: 6 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 9.05 ft on 09/12/2013 (2) 6.14 ft on 06/03/1997 (3) 6.08 ft on 06/07/2010 (4) 5.83 ft on 05/31/2014 (5) 5.73 ft on 07/13/1995 (6) 5.72 ft on 06/16/1999 (7) 5.62 ft on 06/06/2011 (8) 5.55 ft on 06/07/1996 (9) 5.52 ft on 05/30/2003 (10) 5.45 ft on 06/01/2020 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 5.21 ft on 06/07/2021 (2) 5.45 ft on 06/01/2020 (3) 5.83 ft on 05/31/2014 (4) 9.05 ft on 09/12/2013 (5) 5.62 ft on 06/06/2011 (6) 6.08 ft on 06/07/2010 (7) 5.52 ft on 05/30/2003 (8) 5.72 ft on 06/16/1999 (9) 6.14 ft on 06/03/1997 (10) 5.55 ft on 06/07/1996 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records Currently none available. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map? Possible reasons: There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Note: Your zoom level may have changed. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers.

Zoom Level:13 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
8	Widespread flooding of U.S. Highway 34 occurs between Drake and Loveland.
7	Houses and businesses flood along the river in Big Thompson Canyon. Flooding occurs along sections of U.S. Highway 34.
6.5	Flooding impacts private bridges, yards and is into basements between Olympus Heights and Loveland.
6	The river is out of its banks near buildings just east of Estes Park.

About This Location

Latitude: 40.376400° N, Longitude: 105.485600° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 6.5 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 0) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 7422.5 7429 Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other Not Available Not Available

Additional Information

Observations provided by the Colorado Division of Water Resources in cooperation with Northern Water, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary 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 Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management 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

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. NWS Information National Weather Service Denver/Boulder Weather Forecast Office 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305-3328 (303) 494-4221 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:28 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities