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
North Platte River
was last observed at
605
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,200
acre-ft of water today; about 125%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
486 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2011-06-21 when daily discharge volume was observed at
36,130 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
North Platte River Below Glendo Reservoir
reporting a streamflow rate of 5,710 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the North Platte River, with a gauge stage of
8.94 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the North Platte River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 7,823 ft, the
North Platte River Near Northgate.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 1,200 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
605.0 cfs
+27.0 cfs (+4.67%) |
| Percent of Normal | 124.59% |
| Maximum |
36,130.0 cfs
2011-06-21 |
| Seasonal Avg | 486 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Platte River Near Northgate
USGS 06620000 |
109 cfs | 3.23 ft | -21.58 | |||||
|
North Platte River At Orin
USGS 06652000 |
605 cfs | 3.59 ft | 4.67 | |||||
|
North Platte River Below Glendo Reservoir
USGS 06652800 |
5710 cfs | 8.94 ft | ||||||
|
North Platte River Below Whalen Diversion Dam
USGS 06657000 |
5 cfs | 4.34 ft | 0 | |||||
|
North Platte River At Wyoming-Nebraska State Line
USGS 06674500 |
159 cfs | 2.16 ft | -3.05 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately 716 miles (1,152 km) long, counting its many curves. In a straight line, it travels about 550 miles (890 km), along its course through the U.S. states of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
The head of the river is essentially all of Jackson County, Colorado, whose boundaries are the continental divide on the east and south and the mountain drainage peaks on the east—the north boundary is the state of Wyoming border. The rugged Rocky Mountains surrounding Jackson County have at least twelve peaks over 11,000 feet (3,400 m) in height. From Jackson County the river flows north about 200 miles (320 km) out of the Routt National Forest and North Park (Colorado basin) near what is now Walden, Colorado, to Casper, Wyoming. Shortly after passing Casper, the river turns to the east-southeast and flows about 350 miles (560 km) to the city of North Platte, Nebraska.
The North Platte and South Platte River join to form the Platte River in western Nebraska near the city of North Platte, Nebraska. The Platte River flows to the Missouri River, which joins the Mississippi River to flow to the Gulf of Mexico. The river provides the major avenue of drainage for northern Colorado, eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. It is only navigable over most of its length at high water by canoes, kayaks and rubber rafts.
Roaring Fork (West Section Line Sec 28 T9N, R82W); Red Canyon (Nw1/4 Sec 5, T8N, R82W) To East Section Line Sec 34, T9N, R82W
South Delaney
South Delaney Lake
South Delaney Butte Lake
North Delaney
North Platte River