Rivers in New Mexico

Mora River at La Cueva

Mora County, New MexicoNWS LCVN5USGS 07215500Albuquerque office

Below flood stage
7.54ftStage

Observed Wed, Sep 30, 10:15 AM MDT

Flood stage
11.00 ft
Record crest
16.00 ft1904

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood14.00 ft
Moderate flood13.00 ft
Minor flood11.00 ft
Action11.00 ft
  1. 14.00 ftThe greatest flood since at least 1913 is in progress near and downstream from La Cueva. Backwater flooding may result in water flowing onto state road 442 near its intersection with highway 518 at La Cueva, halting traffic. Nearby and downstream private river crossings may become unsafe or impassable due to high water although public bridges may remain passable. Significant inundation of pasture and range land persists.
  2. 11.00 ftPasture and range land both upstream and downstream from the La Cueva river gaging site is becoming further inundated as the river has overtopped its natural banks. Water is still passing under the state highway 518 bridge at La Cueva but smaller private bridge crossings downstream may be overtopped by high water. Irrigation systems may also be damaged.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, October to December

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 28, 2026.

Crest history

17 crests on NOAA’s list since 1904.

#DateStage
1September 29, 190416.00 ft
2June 16, 19638.33 ft
3June 17, 19658.22 ft
4September 13, 20138.08 ft
5August 1, 20107.92 ft
6June 17, 20157.63 ft
7August 1, 19517.18 ft
8July 11, 19557.07 ft
9June 7, 20146.61 ft
10July 23, 19786.58 ft
11June 24, 19796.56 ft
12May 19, 19945.89 ft
13June 19, 19955.83 ft
14April 30, 19995.56 ft
15May 22, 19915.40 ft
16July 15, 20084.65 ft
17August 5, 20044.40 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 17, 2015: 7.63 ft
  • June 7, 2014: 6.61 ft
  • September 13, 2013: 8.08 ft
  • August 1, 2010: 7.92 ft
  • July 15, 2008: 4.65 ft
  • August 5, 2004: 4.40 ft
  • April 30, 1999: 5.56 ft
  • June 19, 1995: 5.83 ft
  • May 19, 1994: 5.89 ft
  • May 22, 1991: 5.40 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. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 18 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.