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
Withlacoochee River
was last observed at
2,280
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
4,522
acre-ft of water today; about 30%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
7,510 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2013-03-02 when daily discharge volume was observed at
84,630 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Withlacoochee River Nr Lee
reporting a streamflow rate of 655 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Withlacoochee River Nr Dade City
with a gauge stage of 68.31 ft.
This river is monitored from 18 different streamgauging stations along the Withlacoochee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 136 ft, the
Withlacoochee River At Mcmillan Rd.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 4,522 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,280.0 cfs
-13.5 cfs (-0.59%) |
| Percent of Normal | 30.36% |
| Maximum |
84,630.0 cfs
2013-03-02 |
| Seasonal Avg | 7,510 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Withlacoochee River At Mcmillan Rd
USGS 023177483 |
56 cfs | 2.95 ft | -8.22 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River At Us 84
USGS 02318500 |
25 cfs | 1.76 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Near Cumpressco
USGS 02310947 |
0 cfs | 5.37 ft | -7.84 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Dade City
USGS 02311500 |
5 cfs | 68.31 ft | -11.65 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River At Trilby
USGS 02312000 |
50 cfs | 1.04 ft | -4.92 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Near Pinetta
USGS 02319000 |
111 cfs | 6.2 ft | -2.63 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Pineola
USGS 02312598 |
54 cfs | 39.56 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River At Rital Fl
USGS 02312300 |
59 cfs | 45.85 ft | -3.74 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River At Croom
USGS 02312500 |
81 cfs | 2.13 ft | -2.76 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Floral City
USGS 02312600 |
30 cfs | 39.53 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River At Nobleton Fl
USGS 02312558 |
64 cfs | 38.66 ft | -2.89 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee R At Wysong Dam At Carlson
USGS 02312720 |
93 cfs | 36.02 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Rutland
USGS 02312722 |
149 cfs | 34 ft | -2.61 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Inverness
USGS 02312762 |
147 cfs | 20.94 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Holder
USGS 02313000 |
247 cfs | 0.59 ft | 0.82 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee River Nr Lee
USGS 02319394 |
655 cfs | 29.15 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Withlacoochee R At Inglis Dam Nr Dunnellon
USGS 02313230 |
0 cfs | 27.43 ft | None | |||||
|
Withlacoochee R Bypass Channel Nr Inglis Fla
USGS 02313250 |
618 cfs | 27.36 ft | 0.49 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Withlacoochee River (or Crooked River) originates in central Florida's Green Swamp, east of Polk City. It flows west, then north, and then turns northwest and finally west again before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown. The river is 141 miles (227 km) long and has a drainage basin of 1,170 square miles (3,000 km2). It is believed to have been named after the Withlacoochee River to the north.
Along its route are the 46-mile-long (74 km) Withlacoochee State Trail, the longest paved rail trail in Florida, the Cypress Lake Preserve, a 324-acre (1.31 km2) park with approximately 600 feet (180 m) of frontage, and Nobleton Wayside Park, a 2-acre (8,100 m2) park in Nobleton that includes a boat ramp, shelter, basketball court, and picnic tables.
The Withlacoochee River flows through Pasco and Hernando counties, and then forms part of the boundary between Hernando County and Sumter County, and all of the boundary between Citrus County and Sumter County, between Citrus County and Marion County and between Citrus County and Levy County (including Lake Rousseau). The largest city close to the river is Dade City.