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, sustained 45-55 mph with gusts upwards of 85-105 mph, are expected in the foothills of Boulder and Jefferson Counties beginning early Friday morning. Relative humidity values are expected to drop into the low teens, possibly upper single digits. While Red Flag conditions, critical fire weather, are expected across a larger area in northern Colorado, the most extreme conditions are expected to be along Highway 93 from Jefferson County into Boulder County and along US-36 north of Boulder to the Larimer County line and westward. There will be a high 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. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM Friday to midnight MST Friday night. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible west of I-25, and gusts to 40 mph possible along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 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
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.