2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS, BETWEEN 5500 AND 9000 FEET, FOR BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES ON FRIDAY... Strong west winds, sustained 45-55 mph with gusts upwards of 85- 105 mph, are expected in the foothills of Larimer, Boulder and Jefferson Counties beginning early Friday morning. Relative humidity values are expected to drop into the low teens, possibly upper single digits. While Red Flag conditions, critical fire weather, are expected across a larger area in northern Colorado, the most extreme conditions are expected to be along Highway 93 from Jefferson County into Boulder County and along US-36 north of Boulder to the Larimer County line and westward. There will be a high 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. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend well into the evening hours. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM this morning to midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible west of I-25, and gusts to 40 mph possible along and east of I- 25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent. * 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
Santee River
was last observed at
2,509
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
4,977
acre-ft of water today; about 22%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
11,384 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2016-01-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at
166,900 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Santee River Nr Jamestown
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,840 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Santee River, with a gauge stage of
2.51 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Santee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 25 ft, the
Santee River Near Pineville.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 4,977 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,509.0 cfs
-1298.0 cfs (-34.1%) |
| Percent of Normal | 22.04% |
| Maximum |
166,900.0 cfs
2016-01-05 |
| Seasonal Avg | 11,384 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santee River Near Pineville
USGS 02171500 |
669 cfs | 2.12 ft | 10.21 | |||||
|
Santee River Nr Jamestown
USGS 02171700 |
1840 cfs | 2.51 ft | -42.5 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Santee River is a river in South Carolina in the United States, and is 143 miles (230 km) long. The Santee and its tributaries provide the principal drainage for the coastal areas of southeastern South Carolina and navigation for the central coastal plain of South Carolina, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 440 miles (708 km) from its farthest headwater on the Catawba River in North Carolina. The Santee River is the second largest river on the eastern coast of the United States, second only to the Susquehanna River in drainage area and flow. Much of the upper river is impounded by the expansive, horn-shaped Lake Marion reservoir, formed by the 8-mile (13 km)-long Santee Dam. The dam was built during the Great Depression of the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project to provide a major source of hydroelectric power for the state of South Carolina.