Winter Storm Watch
2026-05-06T15:00:00-06:00

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 8 inches possible, heaviest on colder surfaces and west of I-25. * WHERE...Fort Collins, Boulder and the western suburbs of Denver, Denver, and Castle Rock. * WHEN...From Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon. Heaviest Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...Heavy wet snow will accumulate on tree branches and powerlines, possibly causing them to break and lead to power outages. Despite lesser accumulations on roadways, slick and hazardous conditions are still possible for the Wednesday morning commute.

Roaring Fork River

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Total streamflow across the Roaring Fork River was last observed at 697 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,382 acre-ft of water today; about 43% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,637 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 420 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Roaring Fork River Near Emma with a gauge stage of 4.82 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.

The Roaring Fork River is a tributary of the Colorado River that flows through central Colorado.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-05-04
Discharge Volume 1,382 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 696.9 cfs
Past 24 Hours: +31.9 cfs (+4.8%)
Percent of Normal 42.58%
Maximum 15,516.7 cfs
2011-07-01
Seasonal Avg 1,637 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
29 cfs 1.28 ft 0
Roaring Fork River Near Aspen
USGS 09073400
44 cfs 0.89 ft -2.44
Roaring Fork River Near Emma
USGS 09081000
204 cfs 4.82 ft 4.62
Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs
USGS 09085000
420 cfs 1.62 ft 6.06
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).