Yampa River below Craig, CO
River level and flood forecast · Moffat County
Normal0.7 ftas of Mon 2:15 PM
The river is 10.1 ft below flood stage (10.8 ft).
Forecast to rise to 1.0 ft Fri 4 AM, below the 10.8 ft flood stage.
Flow: 83 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:54 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12.1 ft |
| Flood stage | 10.8 ft |
| Action stage | 9.4 ft |
| Record crest (June 8, 2011) | 11.36 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 18 ftSome roads along and over the Yampa River are impassable. Portions of the Craig Moffat County Airport are flooded.
- 16 ftWater is near the bottom of bridges along the Yampa River, especially on South Ranney Street affecting access to the airport. Portions of the railroad along the river are beginning to flood. Water is flowing over the runaways at Craig Moffat County Airport.
- 13.5 ftMajor flooding is occurring along the Yampa causing major erosion of agricultural land and river banks. Water is cutting across oxbows in the river and oxbow lakes are flooding. Homes and buildings along the river are beginning to flood.
- 12.5 ftModerate flooding is occurring along the Yampa River especially along agricultural land. Water is flowing through retention ponds south of Craig. Water is cutting across the oxbow bends in the river and flowing through oxbow lakes. Homes near the oxbow lakes are beginning to flood.
- 11.5 ftMinor flooding is occurring along the Yampa River. Water is flowing onto the Craig Golf Course by the Craig Moffat County Airport. Water is nearing some homes and buildings. Water is nearing the Craig Water Plant at the end of Water Plant Road.
- 10 ftMinor flooding of agricultural land along the Yampa River is occurring. River banks have become unstable and dangerous to walk along.
- 9 ftThe Yampa River reaches bankfull in some locations in the vicinity of Craig. Some minor flooding of low-lying agricultural and pastoral land is occurring.
Highest crests on record
- 11.36 ft — June 8, 2011
- 10.21 ft — May 23, 2008
- 9.9 ft — June 9, 2010
- 9.71 ft — May 17, 2023
- 9.6 ft — May 31, 2014
Recent crests: 5.12 ft (May 15, 2026) · 6.57 ft (June 1, 2025) · 6.26 ft (May 14, 2025) · 8.37 ft (June 7, 2024) · 9.71 ft (May 17, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CGGC2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.