Arkansas River at Lamar, CO
River level and flood forecast · Prowers County
Normal5.5 ftas of Mon 2 PM
The river is 5.5 ft below flood stage (11 ft).
Flow: 18 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Fri, Oct 2, 6:59 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 | 9 ft |
| Record crest (May 27, 1996) | 13.06 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 25 ftMajor flooding occurs in Lamar. Multiple homes and businesses are impacted. Water reaches the base of the Highway 287 Bridge.
- 19 ftFlood waters inundate the industrial park on the north side of Lamar. Multiple businesses are impacted. Flood waters threaten The Days Inn, The Cow Palace, Ranchers Supply Company and Opals Pub. Gravel and paving operations and North Gateway Park near the Highway 287 Bridge are inundated.
- 18 ftFlood waters threaten the All Rite Paving and Redi Mix operation on the northwest side of the Highway 287 Bridge.
- 17 ftFlood waters reach the parking areas near the Ace Tire operation on the northeast side of the Highway 287 Bridge.
- 15 ftMajor agricultural flooding occurs. Lowlands are completely inundated. Waters begin to threaten North Gateway Park southeast of the Highway 50 bridge.
- 13 ftModerate lowland agricultural flooding occurs near Lamar.
- 11 ftMinor lowland agricultural flooding occurs near Lamar.
- 10 ftThe river is bankfull. Minor overbank flow into lowlands along the river occurs near Lamar. Water flows into low lying meadows near County Road 13.
- 9 ftMinor overbank flow into low spots along the river occurs near Lamar.
Highest crests on record
- 13.06 ft — May 27, 1996
- 12.79 ft — August 12, 1997
- 12.47 ft — July 31, 1998
- 11.41 ft — July 30, 2014
- 11.13 ft — July 22, 2023
Recent crests: 11.13 ft (July 22, 2023) · 11.01 ft (July 26, 2018) · 11.41 ft (July 30, 2014) · 11.01 ft (July 27, 2009) · 9.29 ft (August 29, 2002)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (LMAC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.