Rivers in Colorado
Animas River at Durango
Below flood stage
3.18ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 20, 10:30 AM MDT
- Flood stage
- 8.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 3.19 ftSat, Sep 26, 6:00 AM MDT
- Record crest
- 11.00 ft1911
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 10.50 ft |
| Moderate flood | 9.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 8.00 ft |
| Action | 7.00 ft |
- 16.50 ftWater reaches the bottom of the East 32nd Street Bridge. Devastating flooding is occurring through Durango with many buildings near the highway 160 bridge and between the Animas River and Hwy 550 south of 15th street flooded.
- 13.00 ftFloodwaters are approaching the bases of several bridges in Durango including the West 9th Street Bridge the US 550 bridge and the Animas River Trail pedestrian bridges. Debris dams and backwater flooding is possible making these bridges unsafe.
- 12.50 ftLarge portions of the Animas River Trail and adjacent buildings and parking lots along the Animas River between the Hwy 160 bridge and the Hwy 550 bridge are flooded.
- 12.00 ftPortions of the Animas River Trail are flooded with adjacent businesses and residences threatened. Major flooding is occurring north of Durango in Trimble and Hermosa. Major Flooding is occurring at the Durango Trout Hatchery.
- 11.00 ftThe area surrounding the Durango Fish Hatchery is flooding. Water is nearing the base of the Rio Grande Western Railroad Bridge adjacent to 15th Street.
- 10.00 ftMajor flooding is occurring in the Val-Air Glider field and hangars.
- 9.69 ftThe Dalton Ranch Golf Club is beginning to flood. Some dikes topped north of Durango.
- 9.00 ftSignificant overbank flow is occurring in Durango.
- 8.50 ftFlooding of the Durango and Silverton narrow gauge railroad between Tacoma and Needleton is occurring.
- 8.00 ftMinor flooding of agricultural lands and residential structures north of Durango is occurring. Water is nearing sections of the Rio Grande Western Railroad north of Durango.
- 7.00 ftAgricultural lands north of Durango are experiencing minor flooding. Portions of the Val-Air Gliderport field are flooded.
- 6.00 ftLowland flooding is likely in the vicinity of Timble and Hermosa.
- 5.50 ftWhite water rafting on the Animas River above Durango becomes hazardous.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 19, 2026.
Crest history
106 crests on NOAA’s list since 1911.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 5, 1911 | 11.00 ft |
| 2 | June 29, 1927 | 9.65 ft |
| 3 | September 6, 1970 | 8.83 ft |
| 4 | June 19, 1949 | 8.50 ft |
| 5 | June 6, 1957 | 8.12 ft |
| 6 | May 28, 1958 | 7.53 ft |
| 7 | June 11, 1980 | 7.45 ft |
| 8 | May 14, 1941 | 7.40 ft |
| 9 | May 25, 2005 | 7.40 ft |
| 10 | June 9, 1985 | 7.38 ft |
| 11 | May 28, 1979 | 7.27 ft |
| 12 | May 19, 1948 | 7.26 ft |
| 13 | June 11, 1973 | 7.17 ft |
| 14 | June 16, 1995 | 7.08 ft |
| 15 | June 16, 1975 | 7.06 ft |
| 16 | May 25, 1984 | 7.03 ft |
| 17 | June 2, 1997 | 7.00 ft |
| 18 | June 11, 1952 | 6.98 ft |
| 19 | October 7, 2006 | 6.92 ft |
| 20 | June 9, 2019 | 6.87 ft |
| 21 | May 28, 1993 | 6.81 ft |
| 22 | June 11, 2015 | 6.69 ft |
| 23 | May 21, 2008 | 6.60 ft |
| 24 | June 10, 1922 | 6.58 ft |
| 25 | June 6, 1968 | 6.54 ft |
Most recent crests
- May 15, 2026: 3.86 ft
- October 14, 2025: 6.41 ft
- June 1, 2025: 4.79 ft
- June 7, 2024: 5.25 ft
- May 26, 2023: 5.85 ft
- May 16, 2022: 4.90 ft
- June 5, 2021: 5.05 ft
- June 7, 2020: 5.80 ft
- June 9, 2019: 6.87 ft
- May 11, 2018: 4.25 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.