Red Flag Warning
2026-04-23T00:00:00-06:00

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 214, 216, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250 and 251. * TIMING...For the Red Flag Warning, from 10 AM Wednesday to midnight MDT Wednesday night. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Thursday morning through Thursday evening. * WINDS...For the Red Flag Warning, west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. For the Fire Weather Watch, northwest winds gusting up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For the Red Flag Warning, 5 to 8 percent. For the Fire Weather Watch, as low as 10 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.

Agua Fria River

Last Updated: April 22, 2026

Total streamflow across the Agua Fria River was last observed at 3 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 6 acre-ft of water today; about 10% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 29 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-03-22 when daily discharge volume was observed at 9,485 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Agua Fria River Near Humboldt reporting a streamflow rate of 2.83 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Agua Fria River, with a gauge stage of 3.38 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Agua Fria River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 4,381 ft, the Agua Fria River Near Humboldt.

The Agua Fria River is a tributary of the Gila River in Arizona that stretches for approximately 120 miles.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-04-22
Discharge Volume 6 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 2.83 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -0.13 cfs (-4.39%)
Percent of Normal 9.83%
Maximum 9,485.0 cfs
2023-03-22
Seasonal Avg 29 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Agua Fria River Near Humboldt
USGS 09512450
3 cfs 3.38 ft -4.39
Agua Fria River Near Mayer
USGS 09512500
2 cfs 2.65 ft 0
Agua Fria River Near Rock Springs
USGS 09512800
0 cfs 2.87 ft -11.9
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Agua Fria River is a 120-mile (190 km) long intermittent stream which flows generally south from 20 miles (32 km) east-northeast of Prescott in the U.S. state of Arizona. Prescott draws much of its municipal water supply from the upper Agua Fria drainage. The Agua Fria runs through the Agua Fria National Monument. The river then flows through a small canyon called "Black Canyon" into Lake Pleasant, a popular recreation area near Peoria, Arizona.
(There is a large "Black Canyon" on the Colorado River along the Arizona–Nevada border.)

During rainy weather and at times when water is flowing in the intermittent Agua Fria River, it discharges into the Gila River, which also only flows during wet periods of the year.
The Central Arizona Water Conservation District of the Central Arizona Project operates the Agua Fria Recharge Project, which is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the New Waddell Dam. It serves to recharge underground aquifers in this area, and ends at Lake Pleasant, Phoenix.