Arkansas River at Avondale, CO
USGS gauge 07109500 · drainage 6,254 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT · 20 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT. Shaded band: 25th to 75th percentile of USGS daily statistics for each date; dashed: median. Flow in cfs.
Rate of rise and fall Live gauge
| Window | Flow then | Change to latest | Gage height then | Gage height change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 235 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 2.68 ft | +0.00 ft |
| 3 h | 235 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 2.68 ft | +0.00 ft |
| 6 h | 235 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 2.68 ft | +0.00 ft |
| 12 h | 232 cfs | ▲ +3.0 cfs (+1.3%) | 2.67 ft | +0.01 ft |
| 24 h | 229 cfs | ▲ +6.0 cfs (+2.6%) | 2.66 ft | +0.02 ft |
Last 7 days
| Measure | Flow | Time | Relative to latest reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest reading | 245 cfs | Oct 15, 2:00 AM MDT | 42 h earlier |
| Lowest reading | 208 cfs | Oct 13, 10:30 PM MDT | 70 h earlier |
Source: computed from USGS continuous readings (Water Data API) to Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT. Each row compares the latest reading with the reading closest to that many hours earlier; the arrow is steady (▬) when the change is within 1%.
Daily mean flow Live gauge
| Date (gauge-local) | Mean flow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | 235 cfs | |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 235 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 219 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 225 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 227 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 226 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 231 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 237 cfs | |
| Oct 8, 2026 | – | Partial day |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values); each mean uses readings on that gauge-local date, shown only with at least 80% of expected readings.
The same 50 days in earlier years Historical record
━ 2026 ╌ 2025 ╌ 2024 ╌ 2023
| Year | Mean flow | Highest day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 254 cfs | 676 cfs |
| 2025 | 500 cfs | 1,970 cfs |
| 2024 | 428 cfs | 707 cfs |
| 2023 | 455 cfs | 1,030 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API). Each line is the 50 days from Aug 27 to Oct 15, shifted to the same calendar dates in earlier years; gaps are days without a published value. Recent days are provisional.
Compared with this gauge’s record Historical record
| Measure | Value | When or rank |
|---|---|---|
| Peak daily flow, last 7 days | 236 cfs | Oct 9, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 255 cfs | Sep 28, 2026 (11 days earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | Nov 25, 2025 | 10 months earlier |
| Days above the 75th percentile for their date | 5 of 30 | last 30 days |
| October 1 to 15, mean flow | 350 cfs | rank 43 highest of 74 years |
| Peak daily mean compared with annual instantaneous peaks of record | Below the lowest of 74 | lowest annual peak 1,270 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1939 to 2026 (27,072 days), data through Oct 15, 2026, computed 2026-10-17; method record-v1. Percentiles are USGS daily statistics. Recent days are provisional.
Largest annual peaks Historical record
Ten largest peaks of record
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 1965 | 50,000 cfs | 9.77 ft |
| May 1, 1999 | 20,900 cfs | 10.60 ft |
| Jul 30, 1978 | 15,400 cfs | 8.93 ft |
| Aug 4, 1972 | 15,000 cfs | 8.05 ft |
| Apr 24, 1942 | 13,900 cfs | 7.79 ft |
| Jul 20, 1969 | 13,300 cfs | 7.88 ft |
| Jun 13, 1948 | 13,100 cfs | 8.83 ft |
| Jun 23, 2023 | 11,700 cfs | 10.53 ft |
| Jul 26, 1950 | 11,600 cfs | 8.26 ft |
| Jul 10, 1996 | 11,600 cfs | 8.90 ft |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2025 | 3,610 cfs | 6.83 ft |
| Jun 10, 2024 | 6,870 cfs | 8.97 ft |
| Jun 23, 2023 | 11,700 cfs | 10.53 ft |
| Jul 27, 2022 | 3,000 cfs | 6.11 ft |
| Aug 1, 2021 | 4,870 cfs | 7.30 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 74 annual peaks, 1939 to 2025. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Historic crests Official NWS
| Date | Crest stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1999 | 10.60 ft | 20,900 cfs |
| Jun 21, 2023 | 10.53 ft | 11,700 cfs |
| May 19, 2015 | 9.49 ft | 10,700 cfs |
| Sep 13, 2013 | 9.46 ft | 11,100 cfs |
| Jun 12, 2023 | 9.30 ft | 7,990 cfs |
| May 8, 2015 | 9.19 ft | 10,200 cfs |
| Jun 9, 2024 | 8.97 ft | 6,910 cfs |
| Jul 9, 1996 | 8.90 ft | 11,600 cfs |
| Jun 2, 1994 | 8.86 ft | 10,600 cfs |
| Sep 15, 2011 | 8.38 ft | 8,540 cfs |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point ADLC2 (Arkansas River near Avondale), historic crests as published by the NWS; the NWS may have recorded them on an older gauge datum. The USGS annual peaks above are a separate record and can differ in date, flow and datum.
Gage height to flow rating Historical record
Line: current USGS rating, gage height (ft, horizontal) to flow (cfs, vertical). ● latest reading, 2.68 ft and 235 cfs.
Source: USGS rating table for the gauge (NWIS rating depot, expanded shifted rating, 1,073 rows, thinned to 99 points), fetched Oct 16, 8:12 PM MDT. Ratings are provisional and change with the channel.
Water temperature by month Historical record
Source: USGS daily mean water temperature (parameter 00010, Water Data API), 1990 to 2026, mean of all published daily values in each calendar month (days counted under each month; (few) means fewer than 150 daily values).
Water quality sensors Live gauge
| Measure | Latest value | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 58.3 °F (14.6 °C) | Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT |
| Dissolved oxygen | 8.3 mg/L | Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT |
| pH | 8.3 pH units | Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT |
| Specific conductance | 1,040 µS/cm | Oct 16, 8:00 PM MDT |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values). Values as reported by the gauge, provisional.
Flood stages Official NWS
| Category | Gage height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Action | 6.0 ft |
| Minor | 7.0 ft |
| Moderate | 10.0 ft |
| Major | 12.0 ft |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point ADLC2 (Arkansas River near Avondale), fetched Oct 16, 8:15 PM MDT. Compare with the gage height above; thresholds belong to that forecast point.
Flood impacts by stage Official NWS
| Stage | National Weather Service impact statement |
|---|---|
| 6.0 ft | The river is bankfull near Avondale. |
| 7.0 ft | Minor lowland flooding occurs near Avondale. |
| 10.0 ft | Water begins to flow over dirt roads and agriculture fields to the north of the river. Approaches to Hwy 209 bridge begin to be impacted. |
| 12.0 ft | Considerable inundation of agriculture fields and roads to the north of the river. Stretch of U.S. Hwy 50 northwest of Avondale possibly impacted. |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point ADLC2 (Arkansas River near Avondale). Statements are quoted from the NWS and describe that forecast point.
Sources and method
- Data: U.S. Geological Survey. Terms
- River forecasts and flood stages: National Weather Service. National Water Model guidance: NOAA. Terms
USGS daily statistics, downloaded 2026-10-12
Percentile method: trailing 24 h mean vs USGS daily percentiles for calendar date 10-16.
Percentile is estimated from USGS published daily percentiles. Readings are provisional until USGS reviews them. Not endorsed by USGS, NOAA or the National Weather Service. Not for navigation or safety-of-life decisions; the absence of an alert is not a statement that conditions are safe.