Rivers in New Mexico

Rio Grande at Embudo

Rio Arriba County, New MexicoNWS EMBN5USGS 08279500Albuquerque office

Below flood stage
2.95ftStage

Observed Mon, Oct 5, 6:00 AM MDT

Flood stage
10.00 ft
Record crest
15.90 ft1903

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood15.00 ft
Moderate flood12.00 ft
Minor flood10.00 ft
Action8.00 ft
  1. 15.00 ftHomes along the Rio Grande banks at Embudo are subject to serious flooding as the river is approaching the all time record stage of 15.9 feet set in 1903. Lowland flooding is also occurring along the Rio Grande both above and below the Embudo gauging site. Sections of state route 570 from Pilar to the Taos Junction Bridge are inundated and impassable.
  2. 12.00 ftProperties along the west bank of the river just upstream of the gage are beginning to flood. Aguas Caliente Rd Bridge is flooded, cutting off homes on west bank of river in Pilar. Water covers parts of State Road 570 above Pilar, and day use recreational sites along the river above Pilar are flooded.
  3. 10.00 ftAccess to riverside picnic facilities above Pilar but below the Taos Junction Bridge may be affected due to flooding. Water is about to flow over the Aguas Caliente Rd Bridge in Pilar. This could impact locals living on west side of Rio Grande. No significant damages are expected until the river rises to 12 feet or higher.
  4. 8.00 ftMinor overbank flows are occurring above the Embudo gaging site. Access to riverside picnic facilities above Pilar and below the Taos Junction Bridge along State Route 570 will be limited if further rises occur. Water may be extremely close to underside of bridge over Rio Grande on Aguas Caliente Rd in Pilar. Other localized effects due to the high water levels will begin to be felt at a stage of 10 feet but no significant flooding is expected until the river rises to 12 feet.

Crest history

21 crests on NOAA’s list since 1903.

#DateStage
1June 19, 190315.90 ft
2June 16, 192114.02 ft
3May 16, 194113.95 ft
4May 28, 192012.90 ft
5May 27, 194812.32 ft
6May 20, 198712.32 ft
7June 22, 194912.17 ft
8June 9, 197912.08 ft
9May 13, 194212.02 ft
10May 11, 198511.60 ft
11July 6, 199510.87 ft
12July 3, 192710.60 ft
13May 27, 200510.15 ft
14May 22, 19919.57 ft
15May 20, 19949.25 ft
16June 3, 19839.06 ft
17June 8, 19978.64 ft
18July 31, 19828.56 ft
19May 24, 20087.69 ft
20May 11, 20097.21 ft
21May 26, 19997.09 ft

Most recent crests

  • May 11, 2009: 7.21 ft
  • May 24, 2008: 7.69 ft
  • May 27, 2005: 10.15 ft
  • May 26, 1999: 7.09 ft
  • June 8, 1997: 8.64 ft
  • July 6, 1995: 10.87 ft
  • May 20, 1994: 9.25 ft
  • May 22, 1991: 9.57 ft
  • May 20, 1987: 12.32 ft
  • May 11, 1985: 11.60 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the West Gulf River Forecast Center. 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. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 12 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.