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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Probability Information Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental)

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (MST) Datum: NAVD88 Metadata

NOTE: Stage may be affected by ice during winter months. NOTE: Forecasts for the South Platte River near Balzac are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

Default Hydrograph Scale to Flood Categories   Return to Area Map

Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 12.5 Moderate Flood Stage: 11 Flood Stage: 10 Action Stage: 8 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 13.71 ft on 09/15/2013 (2) 10.43 ft on 06/12/1995 (3) 10.39 ft on 05/13/2015 (4) 10.38 ft on 05/03/1999 (5) 9.75 ft on 06/17/2010 (6) 9.25 ft on 06/16/1997 (7) 9.06 ft on 07/17/2011 (8) 9.06 ft on 06/05/2014 (9) 7.51 ft on 06/14/2009 (10) 6.85 ft on 06/16/2016 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 5.25 ft on 06/09/2021 (2) 3.50 ft on 03/22/2020 (3) 5.39 ft on 06/24/2019 (4) 4.12 ft on 05/21/2018 (5) 6.30 ft on 05/29/2017 (6) 6.85 ft on 06/16/2016 (7) 10.39 ft on 05/13/2015 (8) 9.06 ft on 06/05/2014 (9) 13.71 ft on 09/15/2013 (10) 3.95 ft on 02/08/2012 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:11 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
13.5	Businesses and residences flood along the river in eastern Sterling.
12.5	Numerous roads and structures flood along the river.
12	Water flows over Colorado Highway 71 near Snyder.
11	There is extensive flooding of agricultural land near the river. Water flows over State Highway 63 near Atwood.
10	Agricultural land floods along the river near Sterling.
8	The river is out of its banks and into fields and meadows.
Photos (1) Looking Upstream (2) Looking Downstream

About This Location

Latitude: 40.357700° N, Longitude: 103.528600° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 10 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 4135.02 ft 4145.02 ft Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 4132.93 ft 4142.93 ft Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other Not Available Not Available Colorado Division of Water Resources

Additional Information

Observations provided by the Colorado Division of Water Resources How low could the river get?

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