2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS, BETWEEN 5500 AND 9000 FEET, FOR BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES ON FRIDAY... Strong west winds of 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 85 mph in the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson Counties will continue until early evening. Relative humidity values had dropped into the upper single digits and lower teens. Thus, the Particularly Dangerous Situation will remain in place til around 5-6 pm, with only a slow improvement thereafter as winds slowly weaken. Red Flag conditions, however, will persist through the rest of the evening as we remain in a near record warm, dry, and windy airmass along the Front Range through midnight. In fact, strong, gusty winds will persist through much of the night with only a slow improvement in humidity values. Thus, near critical Red Flag conditions will occur into early Saturday morning. While most of the Denver metro area has seen lighter winds prevail most of the day, a period of strong, gusty winds is expected to develop this evening and likely last past midnight, producing Red Flag conditions there. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243. * TIMING...Until midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 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.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Fall River
was last observed at
98
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
194
acre-ft of water today; about 153%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
64 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-03-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at
5,375 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Fall R At Fredonia
reporting a streamflow rate of 65.7 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Fall River, with a gauge stage of
3.3 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Fall River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 7,734 ft, the
Fall River Near Idaho Springs.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 194 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
97.7 cfs
-4.0 cfs (-3.93%) |
| Percent of Normal | 153.25% |
| Maximum |
5,375.0 cfs
2025-03-05 |
| Seasonal Avg | cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fall River Near Idaho Springs
USGS 06717000 |
-999 cfs | -999.00 ft | -16.25 | |||||
|
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd
USGS 06402000 |
32 cfs | 0.74 ft | -2.14 | |||||
|
Fall R At Fredonia
USGS 07169500 |
66 cfs | 3.3 ft | -4.78 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
It has a rich history, having been utilized for water power by early settlers in the 18th century. Today, the river is used for recreational purposes, including fishing and kayaking. It is also home to several reservoirs, including the Watuppa Reservoir and the North Watuppa Pond. These reservoirs serve as a source of drinking water for the surrounding communities. Additionally, there are several dams along the river, including the Copicut Reservoir Dam and the Tiverton Dam. These dams play a crucial role in managing water levels and preventing flooding. The Fall River is an important resource for both agricultural and recreational purposes, and its management and conservation are crucial for the surrounding communities.