Arkansas River at La Junta, CO
River level and flood forecast · Otero County
Normal6.9 ftas of Mon 1:15 PM
The river is 4.1 ft below flood stage (11 ft).
Forecast to fall to 6.6 ft by Sat, Oct 17, 6 AM.
Flow: 3,560 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 7:18 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 15 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 13 ft |
| Flood stage | 11 ft |
| Action stage | 10 ft |
| Record crest (May 2, 1999) | 15.55 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 15 ftMajor Flood. Flooding in La Junta and nearby areas. Homes and businesses are flooded. Flooding is especially severe in North La Junta. Water possibly overtops levees at Las Animas.
- 13 ftModerate Flood. Local residential flooding is possible in La Junta.
- 12 ftMinor Flood. Flood waters threaten Highway 194 east of La Junta.
- 11 ftMinor Flood. Minor agricultural flooding.
- 10 ftAction Stage. The river is bankfull.
Highest crests on record
- 15.55 ft — May 2, 1999
- 14.2 ft — May 20, 1955
- 13.38 ft — June 12, 2015
- 12.9 ft — June 19, 1965
- 12.73 ft — June 24, 2023
Recent crests: 11.36 ft (June 12, 2024) · 12.73 ft (June 24, 2023) · 12.66 ft (May 12, 2017) · 13.38 ft (June 12, 2015) · 12.21 ft (September 17, 2013)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (LXHC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.