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 of 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 85 mph in the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson Counties will continue until early evening. Relative humidity values had dropped into the upper single digits and lower teens. Thus, the Particularly Dangerous Situation will remain in place til around 5-6 pm, with only a slow improvement thereafter as winds slowly weaken. Red Flag conditions, however, will persist through the rest of the evening as we remain in a near record warm, dry, and windy airmass along the Front Range through midnight. In fact, strong, gusty winds will persist through much of the night with only a slow improvement in humidity values. Thus, near critical Red Flag conditions will occur into early Saturday morning. While most of the Denver metro area has seen lighter winds prevail most of the day, a period of strong, gusty winds is expected to develop this evening and likely last past midnight, producing Red Flag conditions there. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243. * TIMING...Until midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 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
North Loup River
was last observed at
3,079
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
6,107
acre-ft of water today; about 134%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
2,294 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-06-26 when daily discharge volume was observed at
5,433 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
North Loup River Nr St Paul Nebr
reporting a streamflow rate of 2,580 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
North Loup River At Taylor
with a gauge stage of 2.9 ft.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the North Loup River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,253 ft, the
North Loup River At Taylor.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-06 |
| Discharge Volume | 6,107 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
3,079.0 cfs
+1094.0 cfs (+55.11%) |
| Percent of Normal | 134.25% |
| Maximum |
5,433.0 cfs
2025-06-26 |
| Seasonal Avg | cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Loup River At Taylor
USGS 06786000 |
487 cfs | 2.9 ft | -15.16 | |||||
|
North Loup River Nr St Paul Nebr
USGS 06790500 |
2580 cfs | 2.76 ft | 88.32 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
It is approximately 68 miles long and has a drainage area of about 1,250 square miles. The North Loup River was an important water source for Native American tribes, and later became a popular route for pioneers traveling westward. The river flows through several reservoirs, including the Calamus Reservoir and the Davis Creek Reservoir. These reservoirs provide irrigation water for agriculture and serve as recreational destinations for fishing, boating, and camping. The river also supports a variety of wildlife, including fish, birds, and mammals. Despite being used for agricultural and recreational purposes, the North Loup River is considered healthy and well-maintained by local conservation groups.