Dark Canyon at Carlsbad, NM
River level and flood forecast · Eddy County
The National Weather Service has no current reading for this gauge, so its flood status isn't known right now.
Flow: 0 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 | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (August 23, 1966) | 22 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 ftthe canyon reaches major flood stage, and begins flooding residences and businesses in the vicinity of Canal Street and Dark Canyon Draw in Carlsbad begins. U.S. Highway 285 (Canal Street) is likely to flood, and numerous other city streets will be inundated.
- 18 ftthe canyon reaches moderate flood stage. A few residences and businesses nearest to the bank near the U.S. Highway 285 bridge (Canal Street) in Carlsbad begin to flood.
- 15 ftthe canyon reaches minor flood stage, with banks near capacity near the U.S. Highway 285 bridge in Carlsbad. Water is likely to reach the railroad bridge just downstream from the highway bridge. Water should remain under the highway bridge, but numerous city and outlying roads will flood, primarily upstream. Individuals near the Canal Street bridge should be alert to rising water under the bridge.
- 9 ftthe canyon reaches bankfull, and banks will begin to overflow about 1 mile upstream from the U.S. Highway 285 bridge around San Jose Blvd and Fiesta Drive in Carlsbad. Several secondary roads and a few city streets will likely flood and become impassable.
Highest crests on record
- 22 ft — August 23, 1966
- 21.62 ft — September 22, 2014
- 20.45 ft — April 4, 2004
- 19.26 ft — June 29, 2021
- 17.85 ft — September 12, 2013
Recent crests: 19.26 ft (June 29, 2021) · 15.02 ft (September 22, 2014) · 21.62 ft (September 22, 2014) · 17.85 ft (September 12, 2013) · 20.45 ft (April 4, 2004)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamDark Canyon 8 miles N of Whites City, NM
- DownstreamPecos River 2 miles E of Carlsbad below Dark Canyon, NM
- Pecos River below Avalon Reservoir, NM
- Pecos River 3 miles NNW of Carlsbad North, NM
- Pecos River at Avalon Reservoir Dam, NM
- Pecos River 9 miles NW of Carlsbad, NM
- Rocky Arroyo 7 miles S of Lakewood, NM
- Pecos River below Brantley Reservoir, NM
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DACN5); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.