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
Tuckasegee River
was last observed at
1,492
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
2,959
acre-ft of water today; about 54%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
2,757 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2022-05-27 when daily discharge volume was observed at
43,830 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Tuckasegee River At Bryson City
reporting a streamflow rate of 937 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee
with a gauge stage of 4.46 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Tuckasegee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,116 ft, the
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 2,959 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
1,492.0 cfs
+117.0 cfs (+8.51%) |
| Percent of Normal | 54.11% |
| Maximum |
43,830.0 cfs
2022-05-27 |
| Seasonal Avg | 2,757 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee
USGS 03508050 |
158 cfs | 4.46 ft | -3.07 | |||||
|
Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek
USGS 03510577 |
397 cfs | 3.55 ft | 18.15 | |||||
|
Tuckasegee River At Bryson City
USGS 03513000 |
937 cfs | 2.27 ft | 6.96 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Tuckasegee River (variant spellings include Tuckaseegee and Tuckaseigee) flows entirely within western North Carolina. It begins its course in Jackson County above Cullowhee at the confluence of Panthertown and Greenland creeks. It flows in a northwesterly direction into Swain County where it joins the Oconaluftee before heading through the center of Bryson City, North Carolina. The river passes around the Bryson City Island Park, where it then enters Fontana Lake and then the Little Tennessee River.
The name Tuckasegee may be an anglicisation of the Cherokee language word daksiyi—[takhšiyi] in the local Cherokee variety—'Turtle Place.' The river is dotted with stone fishing weirs built by Native Americans; this practice may have preceded the Cherokee in the area. The weirs are most easily viewed when water levels are low.Fishing, hiking and paddling are among the recreational opportunities along the river.