Rivers in Colorado

Arkansas River at Salida

Chaffee County, ColoradoNWS SALC2USGS 07091500Pueblo office

Below flood stage
2.82ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 12:15 AM MDT

Flood stage
8.00 ft
Record crest
7.43 ft2015

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood10.00 ft
Moderate flood9.00 ft
Minor flood8.00 ft
Action6.00 ft
  1. 13.50 ftMajor Flood. Flood waters are street level at F Street Bridge.
  2. 10.00 ftMajor Flood. Water threatens homes along the river.
  3. 9.50 ftModerate Flood. Water begins to flood residential properties in low lying areas upstream of F Street Bridge.
  4. 9.00 ftModerate Flood. Waters rise into buildings at F Street Bridge.
  5. 8.50 ftMinor Flood. Water reaches base of F Street Bridge.
  6. 8.00 ftMinor Flood. Water reaches lowest railroad tracks west of F Street Bridge.
  7. 7.50 ftAction Stage. Water rises over low spots in path under Highway 291 Bridge.
  8. 6.00 ftAction Stage. Water rises over the road into a farm near the confluence with the South Fork of the Arkansas River.
  9. 5.50 ftThe river is bankfull.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2024.

Crest history

10 crests on NOAA’s list since 2006.

#DateStage
1June 18, 20157.43 ft
2June 6, 20106.97 ft
3June 9, 20246.95 ft
4June 15, 20196.74 ft
5June 20, 20086.52 ft
6June 20, 20176.39 ft
7June 4, 20146.37 ft
8July 10, 20116.28 ft
9August 11, 20065.90 ft
10June 27, 20095.79 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 9, 2024: 6.95 ft
  • June 15, 2019: 6.74 ft
  • June 20, 2017: 6.39 ft
  • June 18, 2015: 7.43 ft
  • June 4, 2014: 6.37 ft
  • July 10, 2011: 6.28 ft
  • June 6, 2010: 6.97 ft
  • June 27, 2009: 5.79 ft
  • June 20, 2008: 6.52 ft
  • August 11, 2006: 5.90 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

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.