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 The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.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
Tuolumne River
was last observed at
3,379
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
6,702
acre-ft of water today; about 157%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
2,148 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2023-05-26 when daily discharge volume was observed at
51,230 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca
reporting a streamflow rate of 3,000 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Tuolumne R A Modesto Ca
with a gauge stage of 37.16 ft.
This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Tuolumne River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 3,831 ft, the
Tuolumne R A Grand Cyn Of Tuolumne Ab Hetch Hetchy.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 6,702 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
3,379.0 cfs
+2500.8 cfs (+284.76%) |
| Percent of Normal | 157.35% |
| Maximum |
51,230.0 cfs
2023-05-26 |
| Seasonal Avg | cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuolumne R A Grand Cyn Of Tuolumne Ab Hetch Hetchy
USGS 11274790 |
107 cfs | 8.11 ft | 22.71 | |||||
|
Tuolumne R Nr Hetch Hetchy Ca
USGS 11276500 |
44 cfs | 2.81 ft | 8.56 | |||||
|
Tuolumne R Ab Early Intake Nr Mather Ca
USGS 11276600 |
36 cfs | 12.15 ft | -5.28 | |||||
|
Tuolumne R Bl Early Intake Nr Mather Ca
USGS 11276900 |
36 cfs | 3.18 ft | -2.17 | |||||
|
Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca
USGS 11289650 |
3000 cfs | 9.38 ft | 393.42 | |||||
|
Tuolumne R A Modesto Ca
USGS 11290000 |
272 cfs | 37.16 ft | 48.63 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The river has a rich history, having been home to indigenous communities for thousands of years and later serving as a vital transportation route during the California Gold Rush. Today, the river is used for agricultural irrigation and hydropower generation. It is also home to several reservoirs and dams, including the Don Pedro Dam, the New Don Pedro Reservoir, and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. These provide drinking water to the San Francisco Bay Area and irrigation water to the Central Valley. The Tuolumne River is also popular for recreational activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting.