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 Larimer, 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. 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, 242 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM this morning to midnight MST tonight. * 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
Niobrara River
was last observed at
2,247
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
4,457
acre-ft of water today; about 57%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
3,911 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2020-12-28 when daily discharge volume was observed at
24,630 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Niobrara River At Mariaville
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,290 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Niobrara River Nr. Verdel
with a gauge stage of 3.54 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Niobrara River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,295 ft, the
Niobrara River Near Sparks.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 4,457 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,247.0 cfs
-67.0 cfs (-2.9%) |
| Percent of Normal | 57.46% |
| Maximum |
24,630.0 cfs
2020-12-28 |
| Seasonal Avg | 3,911 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Niobrara River Near Sparks
USGS 06461500 |
957 cfs | 2.99 ft | 2.46 | |||||
|
Niobrara River At Mariaville
USGS 06463720 |
1290 cfs | 2.94 ft | -6.52 | |||||
|
Niobrara River Nr. Verdel
USGS 06465500 |
517 cfs | 3.54 ft | -41.78 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Niobrara River (; Omaha-Ponca: Ní Ubthátha khe, pronounced [nĩꜜ ubɫᶞaꜜɫᶞa kʰe], literally "water spread-out horizontal-the" or "The Wide-Spreading Water") is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 568 miles (914 km) long, running through the U.S. states of Wyoming and Nebraska. The river drains one of the most arid sections of the Great Plains, and has a low flow for a river of its length. The Niobrara's watershed includes the northern tier of Nebraska Sandhills, a small south-central section of South Dakota, as well as a small area of eastern Wyoming.