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
Maquoketa River
was last observed at
663
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,315
acre-ft of water today; about 47%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
1,397 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2019-03-16 when daily discharge volume was observed at
30,150 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa
reporting a streamflow rate of 569 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Maquoketa River, with a gauge stage of
11.68 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Maquoketa River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 920 ft, the
Maquoketa River At Manchester.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-03 |
| Discharge Volume | 1,315 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
662.9 cfs
-13.8 cfs (-2.04%) |
| Percent of Normal | 47.46% |
| Maximum |
30,150.0 cfs
2019-03-16 |
| Seasonal Avg | 1,397 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maquoketa River At Manchester
USGS 05416900 |
68 cfs | 3.85 ft | -24.13 | |||||
|
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa
USGS 05418500 |
569 cfs | 11.68 ft | -2.9 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Maquoketa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 150 miles (240 km) long, in northeastern Iowa in the United States. Its watershed covers 1,694 square miles (4,387 km2) within a rural region of rolling hills and farmland southwest of Dubuque. It is not to be confused with the Little Maquoketa River, another distinct direct tributary of the Upper Mississippi River meeting the Big River north of Dubuque. The river and its tributaries mark the border of the Driftless Area of Iowa, with the areas east of it not having been covered by ice during the last ice age. Its name derives from Maquaw-Autaw, which means "Bear River" in Meskwaki.