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.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Kinnickinnic River
was last observed at
114
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
226
acre-ft of water today; about 102%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
112 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2019-09-13 when daily discharge volume was observed at
4,943 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Kinnickinnic River Near River Falls
reporting a streamflow rate of 114 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Kinnickinnic River, with a gauge stage of
8.16 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Kinnickinnic River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 703 ft, the
Kinnickinnic River Near River Falls.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 226 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
114.0 cfs
-3.0 cfs (-2.56%) |
| Percent of Normal | 101.74% |
| Maximum |
4,943.0 cfs
2019-09-13 |
| Seasonal Avg | 112 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kinnickinnic River Near River Falls
USGS 05342000 |
114 cfs | 8.16 ft | -2.56 | |||||
|
Kinnickinnic River @ S. 11th Street @ Milwaukee
USGS 04087159 |
12 cfs | 6.28 ft | 25.41 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Kinnickinnic River is one of three primary rivers that flows into the harbor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at Lake Michigan, along with the Menomonee River and Milwaukee River. It is locally called the "KK River".Kinnickinnic is an Ojibwe word which literally means "what is mixed", referring to the mixing of indigenous plants and tobaccos. Often called Milwaukee's forgotten river, it is the smallest within the Milwaukee River Basin, yet is the most urbanized and densely populated, as it winds through the Lincoln Village neighborhood, and the heavily industrialized Inner Harbor.