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.

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: NGVD29 Metadata

NOTE: Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations. NOTE: Stage may be affected by ice during winter months. NOTE: Forecasts for the South Platte River at Denver are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 15 Moderate Flood Stage: 13 Flood Stage: 11 Action Stage: 9.5 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 18.66 ft on 06/17/1965 (2) 13.48 ft on 09/10/1933 (3) 12.35 ft on 05/07/1973 (4) 11.97 ft on 05/07/1969 (5) 11.51 ft on 06/24/2015 (6) 10.90 ft on 07/25/1998 (7) 10.60 ft on 05/31/1935 (8) 10.59 ft on 04/25/1942 (9) 9.87 ft on 06/14/1949 (10) 9.63 ft on 07/08/2001 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 7.07 ft on 06/26/2021 (2) 6.62 ft on 05/24/2020 (3) 7.66 ft on 08/21/2019 (4) 7.06 ft on 07/24/2018 (5) 6.70 ft on 07/27/2017 (6) 7.74 ft on 06/28/2016 (7) 11.51 ft on 06/24/2015 (8) 7.43 ft on 07/30/2014 (9) 7.41 ft on 09/12/2013 (10) 8.02 ft on 06/07/2012 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: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

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17.9	Near record flooding occurs. This level represents a flood that has a 0.2-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click here.
16.2	This is a major life threatening flood as a wide expanse of the river spreads out horizontally across the floodplain. 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.
15	Major flooding occurs with streets and buildings inundated in lower downtown Denver. 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.
13	Buildings and streets flood near the river in lower downtown Denver.
10.9	There is considerable overbank flow along the South Platte River in lower downtown Denver. 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.
10.5	The South Platte River overflows its banks near Union Station.
9	Water begins to affect lowest sections of the bike path along the South Platte River.
Photos (1) Looking Upstream (2) Looking Downstream

About This Location

Latitude: 39.759400° N, Longitude: 105.003900° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 11 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 5157.64 5168.64 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 Observations also available from the Mile High Flood District 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