Red Flag Warning
2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FRIDAY... Critical fire weather conditions over the northeast plains will gradually ease into this evening. Strong winds will redevelop in the foothills overnight, with high winds spreading slowly east across the nearby adjacent plains west of I-25 through the afternoon. Extremely high wind gusts of 85-100 mph combined with humidities dropping into the 10-20 percent range will create potential for fast moving wildfires, should any new starts occur. Winds toward I-25 and eastward will be slower to develop, and also speeds will be considerably lighter. That said, gusts of 25-40 mph are still expected to combine with very low humidity and cured grasses to support critical fire weather conditions. Areas farther east into eastern Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, and Lincoln counties have more uncertainty if those winds even develop, so those locations remain under a Fire Weather Watch. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend well into the evening hours. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 10 AM Friday to midnight MST Friday night. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 239, 240, 241 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM Friday to midnight MST Friday night. * WINDS...West 20 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph or more immediately next to the foothills. Gusts closer to 40 mph along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a fast moving wildfire.


Clearwater River River Levels

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

The Clearwater River is a major tributary of the Snake River, spanning approximately 74 miles in length.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Clearwater River was last observed at 53,702 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 106,517 acre-ft of water today; about 365% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 14,702 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2022-06-12 when daily discharge volume was observed at 263,553 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Clearwater River At Spalding Id reporting a streamflow rate of 18,300 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Clearwater River Nr Peck Id with a gauge stage of 8.87 ft. This river is monitored from 7 different streamgauging stations along the Clearwater River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 3,909 ft, the Clearwater R Ab Trap Cr Nr T Falls.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-18
Discharge Volume 106,517 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 53,702.3 cfs
+6552.5 cfs (+13.9%)
Percent of Normal 365.26%
Maximum 263,553.0 cfs
2022-06-12
Seasonal Avg 14,702 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Clearwater R Ab Trap Cr Nr T Falls
USGS 14314500
51 cfs 3.47 ft 2.61
Clearwater R Blw Mowich Creek
USGS 14314700
51 cfs 4.7 ft 3.23
Clearwater River At Plummer
USGS 05078000
49 cfs 3.75 ft 24.36
Clearwater River At Orofino Id
USGS 13340000
17100 cfs 8.18 ft 15.54
Clearwater River At Red Lake Falls
USGS 05078500
98 cfs 4.83 ft 31.68
Clearwater River Nr Peck Id
USGS 13341050
18200 cfs 8.87 ft 14.47
Clearwater River At Spalding Id
USGS 13342500
18300 cfs 7.35 ft 11.59
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

A clearwater river is classified based on its chemistry, sediments and water colour. Clearwater rivers have a low conductivity, relatively low levels of dissolved solids, typically have a neutral to slightly acidic pH and are very clear with a greenish colour. Clearwater rivers often have fast-flowing sections.The main clearwater rivers are South American and have their source in the Brazilian Plateau or the Guiana Shield. Outside South America the classification is not commonly used, but rivers with clearwater characteristics are found elsewhere.Amazonian rivers fall into three main categories: clearwater, blackwater and whitewater. This classification system was first proposed by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1853 based on water colour, but the types were more clearly defined according to chemistry and physics by Harald Sioli (de) from the 1950s to the 1980s. Although many Amazonian rivers fall clearly into one of these categories, others show a mix of characteristics and may vary depending on season and flood levels.