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
Yadkin River
was last observed at
3,409
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
6,761
acre-ft of water today; about 37%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
9,141 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2020-02-07 when daily discharge volume was observed at
124,652 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Yadkin River At Yadkin College
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,290 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Yadkin River At Enon
with a gauge stage of 2.86 ft.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Yadkin River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,216 ft, the
Yadkin River At Patterson.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-18 |
| Discharge Volume | 6,761 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
3,408.6 cfs
+54.0 cfs (+1.61%) |
| Percent of Normal | 37.29% |
| Maximum |
124,652.0 cfs
2020-02-07 |
| Seasonal Avg | 9,141 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yadkin River At Patterson
USGS 02111000 |
24 cfs | 1.09 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Yadkin River At Wilkesboro
USGS 02112000 |
412 cfs | 2.28 ft | -1.2 | |||||
|
Yadkin River At Elkin
USGS 02112250 |
673 cfs | 1.51 ft | -7.55 | |||||
|
Yadkin River At Enon
USGS 02115360 |
1010 cfs | 2.86 ft | 4.55 | |||||
|
Yadkin River At Yadkin College
USGS 02116500 |
1290 cfs | 1.17 ft | 5.74 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina, flowing 215 miles (346 km). It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee River at the confluence of the Uwharrie River south of the community of Badin and east of the town of Albemarle. The river flows into South Carolina near Cheraw, which is at the Fall Line. The entirety of the Yadkin River and the Great Pee Dee River is part of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin.