Purgatoire River at Madrid, CO
River level and flood forecast · Las Animas County
Normal2.8 ftas of Mon 1:45 PM
The river is 4.2 ft below flood stage (7 ft).
Flow: 23 cubic feet per second (USGS).
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
| Major flood stage | 11 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9 ft |
| Flood stage | 7 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (July 20, 1976) | 12.8 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 26.5 ftFlood waters rise into low spots along Highway 12 between Madrid and Cokedale.
- 17.5 ftFlood waters reach the base of the County Road 18.3 Bridge.
- 15 ftFlood waters rise over County Road 18.3 near the bridge.
- 9 ftWater begins to inundate farm properties and dwellings near Madrid.
- 8.5 ftWater reaches fence line in agricultural lands near County Road 18.3 Bridge.
- 7 ftMinor agricultural flooding occurs. Water overtops the tallest banks along the river channel.
- 5 ftThe river is bankfull. Water spills over the lowest banks near the County Road 18.3 Bridge.
Highest crests on record
- 12.8 ft — July 20, 1976
- 10.94 ft — August 10, 1981
- 9 ft — July 10, 1978
- 8.36 ft — August 14, 1979
- 8 ft — July 12, 1975
Recent crests: 7.13 ft (May 9, 2017) · 6.82 ft (August 13, 2015) · 6.71 ft (August 26, 2014) · 6.82 ft (May 8, 2013) · 6.47 ft (July 25, 2009)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PGMC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.