SNOFLO- Login
- Climate ►
- Recreation ►
- Tools ►
Total streamflow across the
Purgatoire River
was last observed at
38
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
76
acre-ft of water today; about 58%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
66 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2017-05-13 when daily discharge volume was observed at
11,568 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Purgatoire River Near Thatcher
reporting a streamflow rate of 19.3 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Purgatoire River At Rock Crossing Nr Timpas
with a gauge stage of 6.41 ft.
This river is monitored from 7 different streamgauging stations along the Purgatoire River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 6,265 ft, the
Purgatoire River At Madrid.
| Last Updated | 2025-03-29 |
| Discharge Volume | 76 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
38.1 cfs
-1.1 cfs (-2.81%) |
| Percent of Normal | 57.73% |
| Maximum |
11,568.0 cfs
2017-05-13 |
| Seasonal Avg | 66 cfs |
The Purgatoire River is a river in southeastern Colorado, United States. The river is also known locally as the Purgatory River or the Picketwire River. Purgatoire means Purgatory in French. French trappers named the river to commemorate Spanish explorers killed in a Native American attack.The Purgatoire River originates at the confluence of the North Fork Purgatoire and Middle Fork Purgatoire rivers near Weston in Las Animas County, Colorado, and flows generally east-northeastward approximately 196 miles (315 km) to a confluence with the Arkansas River in John Martin Reservoir State Park near Las Animas in Bent County, Colorado. The Purgatoire River drains an area of 3,447 square miles (8,930 km2). 96.4% of this area is in Colorado, the remaining 3.6% is in New Mexico.The Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site is a large military base located along the western bank of the Purgatoire River. Citizens groups opposed plans of the U.S. Army to expand the base. On November 25, 2013, the U.S. Army announced that its plan to expand the Piñon Canyon Maneuver site had been cancelled.
