2026-01-09T11:00:00-07:00
* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches, with locally higher totals. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Palmer Divide. * WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST Friday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday evening and Friday morning commutes.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Roaring Fork River
was last observed at
642
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,273
acre-ft of water today; about 112%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
573 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2011-07-01 when daily discharge volume was observed at
15,517 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs
reporting a streamflow rate of 373 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Roaring Fork River Near Emma
with a gauge stage of 4.95 ft.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Roaring Fork River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 10,528 ft, the
Roaring Fork River Ab Lost Man C.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-01-08 |
| Discharge Volume | 1,273 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
641.9 cfs
+15.83 cfs (+2.53%) |
| Percent of Normal | 112.01% |
| Maximum |
15,516.7 cfs
2011-07-01 |
| Seasonal Avg | 573 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Roaring Fork River Ab Lost Man C
USGS 09072550 |
0 cfs | 1.34 ft | None | |||||
|
Roaring Fork River Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen
USGS 09073300 |
9 cfs | 0.94 ft | 15.13 | |||||
|
Roaring Fork River Near Aspen
USGS 09073400 |
18 cfs | 0.61 ft | 3.98 | |||||
|
Roaring Fork River Near Emma
USGS 09081000 |
242 cfs | 4.95 ft | 8.04 | |||||
|
Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs
USGS 09085000 |
373 cfs | 1.52 ft | -1.06 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
Roaring Fork River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 70 miles (110 km) long, in west central Colorado in the United States. The river drains a populated and economically vital area of the Colorado Western Slope called the Roaring Fork Valley or Roaring Fork Watershed, which includes the resort city of Aspen and the resorts of Aspen/Snowmass.
It rises in the Sawatch Range in eastern Pitkin County, on the west side of Independence Pass on the continental divide. It flows northwest past Aspen, Woody Creek, and Snowmass. It receives the Fryingpan River at Basalt. 1.5 miles (2 km) below Carbondale, it receives the Crystal River from the south. It joins the Colorado in Glenwood Springs. The entire area that drains into the Roaring Fork River is known as the Roaring Fork Watershed. This area is 1,451 square miles (3,760 km2) and about the same size as the state of Rhode Island. The river flows through canyons along most of its route and is a popular destination for recreation whitewater rafting. The river supplies water through the Sawatch Range to the Twin Lakes Reservoir via the Twin Lakes Tunnel. Roaring Fork Conservancy is the watershed conservation organization for the Roaring Fork River and its tributaries.
The Roaring Fork is a swift, deep, powerful river with very clear water. It is navigable by small craft throughout most of its length to its confluence with the Colorado. The mean annual flow is 1,206 cu ft/s (34.2 m3/s).