Arkansas River above Pueblo, CO

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 5 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 22 ftSerious flooding occurs. Homes are flooded. Water hits the base of the Colorado 227 Bridge in east Pueblo.
• 16 ftSerious flooding occurs. Homes are threatened. Water reaches the base of the Juniper Road Bridge below the Pueblo Dam.
• 13.5 ftSerious flooding occurs. Homes are threatened. Water threatens homes on Moffat and Lansing Streets in southeast Pueblo just east of the Highway 50 Business Loop interchange.
• 13 ftSerious flooding occurs. Homes are threatened. Water flows over the banks near the Juniper Road Bridge just below the Pueblo Dam. Considerable inundation of low lands below the Pueblo Dam occurs. Portions of the Rock Canyon Swim Area, the Redtail Picnic Area, and the Marsh Hawk Picnic Area below the Pueblo Dam, including the bike route, become inundated.
• 12.5 ftSerious flooding occurs. Homes are threatened. Considerable flooding of agricultural lands occurs near the Colorado 231 Bridge, 36th Lane.
• 12 ftSerious flooding occurs. Homes are threatened. Water flows over parking lot of Cottonwood Picnic Area below the Pueblo Dam.
• 11 ftSerious flooding occurs from east of Pueblo to Avondale. Homes threatened east of Pueblo. Flooding occurs near the confluence of the Arkansas River and Wildhorse Creek about 2 miles east of Pueblo Boulevard in Pueblo.
• 10 ftWater begins to inundate the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, including Coyotes Coffee Den along side the river.
• 9.5 ftWater begins to inundate Cottonwood and Osprey Picnic Areas below the Pueblo Dam, between the dam and Pueblo Boulevard. Waters spills into fishing access area along Highway 96 about 2 miles west of Pueblo Boulevard.
• 9 ftConsiderable overbank flow occurs along Highway 233, Baxter Road, near the bridge. Water begins to threaten homes from just east of Pueblo to Avondale.
• 8 ftWater begins to threaten low spots in some local roads. Minor overbank flow into low spots along the river occurs.
• 7.5 ftMinor overbank flow occurs. Damage to irrigation works is possible.
• 7 ftMinor overbank flow into low spots along the river occurs near Avondale.
• 6 ftThe river is bankfull from east of Pueblo to Avondale.

Highest crests on record

1. 8.29 ft — June 10, 2024
2. 8.21 ft — June 21, 2015
3. 7.7 ft — June 8, 2010
4. 7.64 ft — June 2, 2014
5. 7.2 ft — June 3, 2003

Recent crests: 8.29 ft (June 10, 2024) · 8.21 ft (June 21, 2015) · 7.64 ft (June 2, 2014) · 6.37 ft (July 3, 2011) · 7.7 ft (June 8, 2010)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamArkansas River at Portland, CO
• DownstreamArkansas River near Avondale, CO
• Fountain Creek at 8th Street at Pueblo, CO
• Fountain Creek at Pueblo, CO
• Fountain Creek near Piñon, CO
• St Charles River at Vineland, CO
• St Charles River at Burnt Mill, CO
• Fountain Creek near Fountain, CO