Rio Grande at Embudo, NM

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

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 15 ftHomes along the Rio Grande banks at Embudo are subject to serious flooding as the river is approaching the all time record stage of 15.9 feet set in 1903. Lowland flooding is also occurring along the Rio Grande both above and below the Embudo gauging site. Sections of state route 570 from Pilar to the Taos Junction Bridge are inundated and impassable.
• 12 ftProperties along the west bank of the river just upstream of the gage are beginning to flood. Aguas Caliente Rd Bridge is flooded, cutting off homes on west bank of river in Pilar. Water covers parts of State Road 570 above Pilar, and day use recreational sites along the river above Pilar are flooded.
• 10 ftAccess to riverside picnic facilities above Pilar but below the Taos Junction Bridge may be affected due to flooding. Water is about to flow over the Aguas Caliente Rd Bridge in Pilar. This could impact locals living on west side of Rio Grande. No significant damages are expected until the river rises to 12 feet or higher.
• 8 ftMinor overbank flows are occurring above the Embudo gaging site. Access to riverside picnic facilities above Pilar and below the Taos Junction Bridge along State Route 570 will be limited if further rises occur. Water may be extremely close to underside of bridge over Rio Grande on Aguas Caliente Rd in Pilar. Other localized effects due to the high water levels will begin to be felt at a stage of 10 feet but no significant flooding is expected until the river rises to 12 feet.

Highest crests on record

1. 15.9 ft — June 19, 1903
2. 14.02 ft — June 16, 1921
3. 13.95 ft — May 16, 1941
4. 12.9 ft — May 28, 1920
5. 12.32 ft — May 27, 1948

Recent crests: 7.21 ft (May 11, 2009) · 7.69 ft (May 24, 2008) · 10.15 ft (May 27, 2005) · 7.09 ft (May 26, 1999) · 8.64 ft (June 8, 1997)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamRio Grande below Taos, NM
• DownstreamRio Grande at Otowi, NM
• Embudo Creek below Dixon, NM
• Rio Ojo Caliente below La Madera, NM
• Rio Chama near Chamita, NM
• Rio Pueblo De Taos below Taos, NM
• Rio Chama below Abiquiu, NM
• Rio Chama at Abiquiu Dam, NM