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SwedenSanta Cruz River at Cortaro water level
River gauge, Santa Cruz River, Arizona, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 18.4 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 8.43 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 11:33 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Santa Cruz River at Cortaro, where the gauge shows 7.89 ft.
It is 10.61 ft below the flood stage of 18.50 ft.
It is on the way up, by 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 8.43 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 AM. There is still 10.61 ft of room before flood stage. The 30-day range is 7.83 ft – 8.56 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 16.69 ftJuly 31, 2010
- Forecast peak
- 8.43 ftMonday, October 19 at 02:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 18.50 ft.
What happens at each level
- 20.70 ft
- Major flood stage. Homes in far northwest marana downstream of raised levees could see major damage.
- 19.50 ft
- Moderate flood stage. Far northwest marana downstream of raised levees threatened. Homes in this area may be evacuated as a precaution. Bridges on Sanders Road, Trico Road, and Trico-marana Road will be closed due to overtopping.
- 18.50 ft
- Minor flood stage. Water reaches gravel pits between rillito river and Cortaro Road in northwest tucson. Ina Road bridge closed as a precaution.
- 7.89 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.69 ft | July 31, 2010 |
| 2 | 15.06 ft | July 31, 2006 |
| 3 | 14.60 ft | January 19, 1993 |
| 4 | 13.26 ft | July 4, 2009 |
| 5 | 10.64 ft | October 23, 2000 |
| 6 | 10.62 ft | August 26, 2003 |
| 7 | 10.41 ft | August 5, 2002 |
| 8 | 10.01 ft | January 28, 2008 |
| 9 | 8.13 ft | July 23, 2000 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Santa Cruz River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz River near LochielRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 0.0 cfs | Low | ±0 | 75 mi |
| Santa Cruz River near NogalesRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 27.9 cfs | Very high | +16.5 cfs | 71 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at TubacRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 20.89 ft | Below flood stage | +0.22 ft | 51 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at ContinentalRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 1.13 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 34 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at Silverlake Road, at TucsonRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 24.46 ft | No reference yet | ±0 | 12 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at TucsonRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | −0.51 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 11 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at Trico Road, near MaranaRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 2.91 ft | Below flood stage | +0.14 ft | 15 mi |
| Santa Cruz River near LaveenRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 87 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rillito Creek at Dodge Boulevard, at TucsonRiver gauge, Rillito Creek | 3.10 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 12 mi |
| Sabino Creek near TucsonRiver gauge, Sabino Creek | 1.10 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Brawley Wash near Three PointsRiver gauge, Brawley Wash | 5.68 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 24 mi |
| Rincon Creek near TucsonRiver gauge, Rincon Creek | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 31 mi |
| Pantano Wash near VailRiver gauge, Pantano Wash | 0.2 cfs | Low | ±0 | 33 mi |
| San Pedro River at Redington Bridge near RedingtonRiver gauge, San Pedro River | 6.72 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 36 mi |
| Barrel Canyon near SonoitaRiver gauge, Barrel Canyon | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 41 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Santa Cruz River at Cortaro?
The official flood stage is 18.50 ft. The level is currently 10.61 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Santa Cruz River at Cortaro today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 06:45 AM MST, the water level was 7.89 ft. Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Santa Cruz River at Cortaro rising or falling?
Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Santa Cruz River at Cortaro normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Santa Cruz River at Cortaro?
The highest level on record is 16.69 ft on July 31, 2010.
Is Santa Cruz River at Cortaro expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 8.43 ft by Monday, October 19 at 02:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:09486500(Agency page)- Coordinates
32.35072, -111.09587(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 7.89 ft | 2026-10-19 13:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 18.4 cfs | 2026-10-19 13:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Santa Cruz River at Cortaro (usgs:09486500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/arizona/santa-cruz-river-at-cortaro
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer