Fire Weather Watch
2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... Strong northwest winds will spread across the northeast plains after sunrise today, with gusts 45 to 65 mph creating critical fire weather conditions despite somewhat marginal humidity values near 20%. Early Friday, westerly downslope winds will bring strong gusts to the Front Range mountains and foothills, with potential for these to spread into wind-favored portions of the adjacent lower elevations. Peak gusts of 70-90 mph are increasing in likelihood for the windiest locations (considerably lower for areas along and east of I-25). With a warmer and drier air mass in place, humidity values in the teens look to extend into much of the foothills, and certainly across the lower elevations. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend into the evening hours prior to the arrival of a front. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 215, 216, 241, 243, 245, 246 and 247. * TIMING...From Friday morning through late Friday evening. * WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 80 mph in and near the foothills. West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph for areas roughly along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15%. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.


James River River Levels

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

The James River is a 348-mile-long river that flows from the Appalachian Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.


Summary

Total streamflow across the James River was last observed at 7,788 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 15,447 acre-ft of water today; about 17% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 45,214 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2025-02-17 when daily discharge volume was observed at 438,949 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the James River Near Richmond reporting a streamflow rate of 1,610 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the James River At Nd-Sd State Line with a gauge stage of 89.01 ft. This river is monitored from 25 different streamgauging stations along the James River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,464 ft, the James River Nr Grace City.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-18
Discharge Volume 15,447 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 7,787.6 cfs
+83.0 cfs (+1.08%)
Percent of Normal 17.22%
Maximum 438,948.7 cfs
2025-02-17
Seasonal Avg 45,214 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
James River Nr Grace City
USGS 06468170
46 cfs 4.74 ft -15.65
James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal
USGS 06468250
56 cfs 2.17 ft 3.72
James River At Jamestown
USGS 06470000
205 cfs 3.88 ft 2.5
James River At Lamoure
USGS 06470500
217 cfs 7.97 ft 10.71
James River At Nd-Sd State Line
USGS 06470878
194 cfs 89.01 ft -17.8
James R At Columbia Sd
USGS 06471000
268 cfs 8.17 ft 5.93
James R Near Stratford Sd
USGS 06472000
409 cfs 9.13 ft -1.45
James R At Ashton Sd
USGS 06473000
418 cfs 5.94 ft -2.11
James R Near Redfield Sd
USGS 06475000
468 cfs 5.89 ft -23.03
James R At Huron Sd
USGS 06476000
548 cfs 9.56 ft 0
James R Near Forestburg Sd
USGS 06477000
560 cfs 6.78 ft -2.78
James R Near Mitchell Sd
USGS 06478000
659 cfs 12.01 ft -2.23
James R Near Scotland Sd
USGS 06478500
706 cfs 5.22 ft 1
James River Nr Yankton Sd
USGS 06478513
752 cfs 2.55 ft -1.57
James River Near Springfield
USGS 07050700
19 cfs 4.5 ft 12.14
James River Near Boaz
USGS 07052250
61 cfs 2.43 ft -7.69
James River At Lick Run
USGS 02016500
417 cfs 1.92 ft 1.21
James River At Galena
USGS 07052500
145 cfs 4.15 ft 0
James River At Buchanan
USGS 02019500
574 cfs 2.33 ft 12.77
James River At Holcomb Rock
USGS 02025500
910 cfs 4.31 ft 7.44
James River At Bent Creek
USGS 02026000
1090 cfs 3.1 ft 10.44
James River At Scottsville
USGS 02029000
1270 cfs 2.96 ft 11.4
James River At Cartersville
USGS 02035000
1560 cfs 1.18 ft -15.22
James River And Kanawha Canal Near Richmond
USGS 02037000
131 cfs 6.75 ft 0
James River Near Richmond
USGS 02037500
1610 cfs 3.88 ft 0
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows 348 miles (560 km) to Chesapeake Bay. The river length extends to 444 miles (715 km) if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. It is the longest river in Virginia and the 12th longest river in the United States that remains entirely within a single state. Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia’s first colonial capitals, and Richmond, Virginia's current capital, lie on the James River.