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
Thompson River
was last observed at
1,160
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
2,301
acre-ft of water today; about 143%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
814 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2014-09-11 when daily discharge volume was observed at
89,587 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Thompson River Near Thompson Falls Mt
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,160 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Thompson River At Trenton
with a gauge stage of 10.58 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Thompson River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,440 ft, the
Thompson River Near Thompson Falls Mt.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 2,301 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
1,160.0 cfs
-140.0 cfs (-10.77%) |
| Percent of Normal | 142.56% |
| Maximum |
89,587.0 cfs
2014-09-11 |
| Seasonal Avg | 814 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Thompson River Near Thompson Falls Mt
USGS 12389500 |
1160 cfs | 4.39 ft | -10.77 | |||||
|
Thompson River At Davis City
USGS 06898000 |
22 cfs | 0.8 ft | 4.67 | |||||
|
Thompson River At Trenton
USGS 06899500 |
111 cfs | 10.58 ft | -26.97 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Thompson River is the largest tributary of the Fraser River, flowing through the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches, the South Thompson River and the North Thompson River. The river is home to several varieties of Pacific salmon and trout. The area's geological history was heavily influenced by glaciation, and the several large glacial lakes have filled the river valley over the last 12,000 years. Archaeological evidence shows human habitation in the watershed dating back at least 8,300 years. The Thompson was named by Fraser River explorer, Simon Fraser, in honour of his friend, Columbia Basin explorer David Thompson. Recreational use of the river includes whitewater rafting and angling.