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
Middle Raccoon River
was last observed at
121
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
240
acre-ft of water today; about 144%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
84 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-06-24 when daily discharge volume was observed at
3,367 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard
reporting a streamflow rate of 121 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Middle Raccoon River, with a gauge stage of
9.97 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Middle Raccoon River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,054 ft, the
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-03 |
| Discharge Volume | 240 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
121.0 cfs
-2.0 cfs (-1.63%) |
| Percent of Normal | 143.96% |
| Maximum |
3,367.0 cfs
2025-06-24 |
| Seasonal Avg | cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard
USGS 05483450 |
121 cfs | 9.97 ft | -1.63 | |||||
|
Middle Raccoon River At Panora
USGS 05483600 |
92 cfs | 4.4 ft | 11.15 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
It has played a significant role in the history of Iowa, serving as a source of water for irrigation, transportation, and industry. The river flows through several counties, including Carroll, Dallas, and Guthrie. The hydrology of the Middle Raccoon River is influenced by several dams and reservoirs, such as the Saylorville Reservoir and the Red Rock Reservoir. These structures help regulate the river's flow, provide flood control, and support recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and camping. The river also supports agricultural activities, including crop irrigation and livestock watering. Despite facing challenges such as pollution and habitat loss, the Middle Raccoon River remains an important natural resource for the state of Iowa.