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 March 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS.

Experimental National Water Center Products: The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, and Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations, as described in the StoryMap 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 (MDT) Datum: NGVD29 Metadata

NOTE: Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations. NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the Cherry Creek (CO) at Denver. Only observed stages are available for this point.

Default Hydrograph Scale to Flood Categories   Return to Area Map

Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 13 Moderate Flood Stage: 12 Flood Stage: 9.5 Action Stage: 6 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 10.10 ft on 06/24/2015 (2) 9.97 ft on 08/08/2008 (3) 9.60 ft on 08/18/2004 (4) 9.32 ft on 07/08/2001 (5) 8.57 ft on 07/19/2003 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 7.18 ft on 06/25/2021 (2) 6.34 ft on 05/24/2020 (3) 7.87 ft on 08/21/2019 (4) 7.86 ft on 09/05/2018 (5) 6.75 ft on 05/08/2017 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:14 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
17	Major flooding escapes the walled channel and floods Speer Boulevard along the channel in downtown Denver.
13.3	This level represents a flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click here.
12.1	The floodwaters are over halfway up the Cherry Creek channel walls. This level represents a flood that has a 2-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click here.
9.5	Deep fast flowing water in the walled channel is extremely dangerous for anyone trapped between the floodwalls. This level represents a flood that has a 10-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click here.
7	Water is wall-to-wall in the flood channel along Speer Boulevard in downtown Denver and a foot above bankfull. This is a dangerous water depth and flow for anyone trapped between the floodwalls without an easy exit.
6.5	There is extensive flooding of pedestrian paths and foot bridges along Cherry Creek.
6	Water overflows the pedestrian paths and foot bridges at numerous locations along Cherry Creek in Denver.
5.5	Cherry Creek overtops a number of pedestrian path crossings and lower sections of the path primarily under roadway bridges.
5	Water reaches sections of the pedestrian path, and is at the bottom of several foot bridges crossing the creek.
Photos (1) Looking Upstream (2) Looking Downstream

About This Location

Latitude: 39.742500° N, Longitude: 104.999400° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 9.5 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 5180.48 5189.98 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 U.S. Geological Survey. Observations also available from the Mile High Flood District.

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