2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FRIDAY... Critical fire weather conditions over the northeast plains will gradually ease into this evening. Strong winds will redevelop in the foothills overnight, with high winds spreading slowly east across the nearby adjacent plains west of I-25 through the afternoon. Extremely high wind gusts of 85-100 mph combined with humidities dropping into the 10-20 percent range will create potential for fast moving wildfires, should any new starts occur. Winds toward I-25 and eastward will be slower to develop, and also speeds will be considerably lighter. That said, gusts of 25-40 mph are still expected to combine with very low humidity and cured grasses to support critical fire weather conditions. Areas farther east into eastern Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, and Lincoln counties have more uncertainty if those winds even develop, so those locations remain under a Fire Weather Watch. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend well into the evening hours. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 10 AM Friday to midnight MST Friday night. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 239, 240, 241 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM Friday to midnight MST Friday night. * WINDS...West 20 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 80 mph or more immediately next to the foothills. Gusts closer to 40 mph along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a fast moving wildfire.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Russian River
was last observed at
1,338
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
2,654
acre-ft of water today; about 88%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
1,514 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-02-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at
142,150 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Russian R Nr Windsor Ca
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,960 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Russian R A Geyserville Ca
with a gauge stage of 24.39 ft.
This river is monitored from 10 different streamgauging stations along the Russian River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 622 ft, the
Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 2,654 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
1,338.0 cfs
-300.0 cfs (-18.32%) |
| Percent of Normal | 88.4% |
| Maximum |
142,150.0 cfs
2025-02-05 |
| Seasonal Avg | cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Russian R Nr Ukiah Ca
USGS 11461000 |
0 cfs | 3.95 ft | 50 | |||||
|
Russian R Nr Talmage Ca
USGS 11462080 |
411 cfs | 7.26 ft | 153.7 | |||||
|
Russian R Nr Hopland Ca
USGS 11462500 |
449 cfs | 2.3 ft | 167.26 | |||||
|
Russian R Nr Cloverdale Ca
USGS 11463000 |
478 cfs | 4.01 ft | 170.06 | |||||
|
Russian R A Geyserville Ca
USGS 11463500 |
201 cfs | 24.39 ft | 8.65 | |||||
|
Russian R A Jimtown Ca
USGS 11463682 |
197 cfs | 4.82 ft | 2.6 | |||||
|
Russian R A Digger Bend Nr Healdsburg Ca
USGS 11463980 |
229 cfs | 6.31 ft | 3.15 | |||||
|
Russian R Nr Healdsburg Ca
USGS 11464000 |
228 cfs | 0.4 ft | 2.7 | |||||
|
Russian R Nr Windsor Ca
USGS 11465390 |
1960 cfs | 8.8 ft | 612.73 | |||||
|
Russian R Nr Guerneville Ca
USGS 11467000 |
312 cfs | 2.5 ft | 0.65 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The river has a rich history and was once an important transportation route for lumber and agricultural products. Today, the river is used for a variety of recreational activities, including swimming, kayaking, and fishing. The Russian River is also an important source of water for agriculture and urban areas, with several dams and reservoirs located along its course. One notable dam is the Coyote Valley Dam, which creates Lake Mendocino and provides water for irrigation, as well as flood control. The river is home to several species of fish, including steelhead trout and chinook salmon, and is a popular spot for birdwatching. Despite its many uses, the Russian River faces challenges from drought, pollution, and the impacts of climate change.