2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... Strong northwest winds will spread across the northeast plains after sunrise today, with gusts 45 to 65 mph creating critical fire weather conditions despite somewhat marginal humidity values near 20%. Early Friday, westerly downslope winds will bring strong gusts to the Front Range mountains and foothills, with potential for these to spread into wind-favored portions of the adjacent lower elevations. Peak gusts of 70-90 mph are increasing in likelihood for the windiest locations (considerably lower for areas along and east of I-25). With a warmer and drier air mass in place, humidity values in the teens look to extend into much of the foothills, and certainly across the lower elevations. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend into the evening hours prior to the arrival of a front. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 215, 216, 241, 243, 245, 246 and 247. * TIMING...From Friday morning through late Friday evening. * WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 80 mph in and near the foothills. West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph for areas roughly along and east of I-25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15%. * 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
Shetucket River
was last observed at
747
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,482
acre-ft of water today; about 31%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
2,444 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2021-07-10 when daily discharge volume was observed at
19,310 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Shetucket River At Taftville
reporting a streamflow rate of 396 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Shetucket River, with a gauge stage of
5.58 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Shetucket River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 156 ft, the
Shetucket River Near Willimantic.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 1,482 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
747.0 cfs
-8.0 cfs (-1.06%) |
| Percent of Normal | 30.56% |
| Maximum |
19,310.0 cfs
2021-07-10 |
| Seasonal Avg | 2,444 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shetucket River Near Willimantic
USGS 01122500 |
351 cfs | 2.75 ft | 1.15 | |||||
|
Shetucket River At Taftville
USGS 011230695 |
396 cfs | 5.58 ft | -2.94 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Shetucket River is a tributary of the Thames River, 20.4 miles (32.8 km) long, in eastern Connecticut in the United States.
It is formed at Willimantic by the junction of the Willimantic and Natchaug rivers. It flows southeast and south. Approximately 4 miles (6 km) northeast of Norwich it receives the Quinebaug River and broadens into a wide estuary which stretches southeast for approximately 5 miles (8 km) and joins the Thames estuary on the south side of Norwich.
The river flows through a rural section of New England, despite the historical presence of industry in the surrounding region. Parts of the rivers have been designated by the federal government as the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. The National Park Service describes the river valley as the "last green valley" in the Boston-to-Washington megalopolis. In nighttime satellite photos, the valley appears distinctively dark amidst the lights of the surrounding urban and suburban regions.