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

NOTE: Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations. NOTE: Forecasts for the Boulder Creek (CO) near Orodell 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: 6 Moderate Flood Stage: 5 Flood Stage: 4 Action Stage: 3.7 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 4.31 ft on 06/06/1921 (2) 4.27 ft on 06/02/2003 (3) 4.07 ft on 05/07/1969 (4) 4.01 ft on 07/24/1965 (5) 4.00 ft on 06/21/1947 (6) 3.99 ft on 09/12/2013 (7) 3.96 ft on 06/07/1952 (8) 3.93 ft on 06/21/1951 (9) 3.87 ft on 06/29/1957 (10) 3.86 ft on 06/21/1941 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 3.26 ft on 06/14/2021 (2) 3.16 ft on 06/02/2020 (3) 3.40 ft on 07/02/2019 (4) 3.29 ft on 06/18/2018 (5) 3.34 ft on 06/19/2017 (6) 3.31 ft on 06/14/2016 (7) 3.42 ft on 06/14/2015 (8) 3.51 ft on 05/31/2014 (9) 3.99 ft on 09/12/2013 (10) 3.38 ft on 07/07/2012 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: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
11	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.
8.8	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.
7.7	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
6	This is a life threatening flood in Boulder Canyon. There is major flooding of homes and severe damage to Highway 119. There is also extensive flooding of streets near the creek in the city of Boulder.
5.5	Roads in Boulder Canyon are threatened. Considerable flooding occurs in downtown Boulder.
5	There is moderate flooding of roads, homes and businesses in Boulder Canyon.
4.8	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.
4.5	This would be the highest flow at Orodell since records began in 1907. A number of private bridges crossing the creek in Boulder Canyon flood. The library on Canyon Avenue in the city of Boulder is affected. County Road 73 is overtopped.
4	Debris in the creek could block flow at private bridges. 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.
3.7	Water flows into the lowest areas adjacent to the creek.
3.4	Typically a tubing ban is enacted on Boulder Creek when the flow is around 700-800 cfs.
Photos (1) Looking Upstream (2) Looking Downstream

About This Location

Latitude: 40.006400° N, Longitude: 105.330800° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 4 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 5826 5830 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

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