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SwedenSanta Cruz River at Tubac water level
River gauge, Santa Cruz River, Arizona, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 1.9 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 21.33 ft by Friday, October 23 at 01:00 AM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 09:09 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Santa Cruz River at Tubac is at 20.81 ft, in the normal range.
It is 7.19 ft below the flood stage of 28.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.19 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 21.33 ft by Friday, October 23 at 01:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 20.59 ft and 21.49 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 26.56 ftOctober 23, 2000
- Forecast peak
- 21.33 ftFriday, October 23 at 01:00 AM
Floating and fishing near Santa Cruz River at Tubac
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 28.00 ft, 7.19 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 30.00 ft
- Homes in the Tubac area within the Santa Cruz River floodplain are flooded or threatened.
- 29.00 ft
- Homes on left bank and Tubac Golf Course threatened
- 28.00 ft
- Right bank overtopped. Fields along left bank and Ron Morriss County Park likely flood.
- 26.00 ft
- Left bank overtopped and Chavez Siding Road low water crossing inundated
- 20.81 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.56 ft | October 23, 2000 |
| 2 | 26.16 ft | August 2, 2007 |
| 3 | 25.30 ft | July 31, 2010 |
| 4 | 24.65 ft | July 31, 2005 |
| 5 | 24.56 ft | July 12, 2008 |
| 6 | 24.41 ft | July 31, 2006 |
| 7 | 24.15 ft | August 31, 2011 |
| 8 | 24.11 ft | July 8, 2004 |
| 9 | 22.91 ft | July 22, 1998 |
| 10 | 22.29 ft | July 26, 1999 |
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 | 32 mi |
| Santa Cruz River near NogalesRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 6.7 cfs | Normal | −3.9 cfs | 22 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at ContinentalRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 1.13 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at Silverlake Road, at TucsonRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 24.46 ft | No reference yet | ±0 | 41 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at TucsonRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 0.00 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 42 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at CortaroRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 8.45 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 51 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at Trico Road, near MaranaRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 2.46 ft | Below flood stage | +0.07 ft | 61 mi |
| Santa Cruz River near LaveenRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 130 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales Wash at NogalesRiver gauge, Nogales Wash | 6.2 cfs | High | ±0 | 20 mi |
| Barrel Canyon near SonoitaRiver gauge, Barrel Canyon | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 27 mi |
| Pantano Wash near VailRiver gauge, Pantano Wash | 0.2 cfs | Low | ±0 | 36 mi |
| Brawley Wash near Three PointsRiver gauge, Brawley Wash | 5.68 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 36 mi |
| Upper Babocomari River near Huachuca CityRiver gauge, Upper Babocomari River | 0.0 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 38 mi |
| Huachuca Canyon near Fort HuachucaRiver gauge, Huachuca Canyon | 0.4 cfs | High | ±0 | 39 mi |
| Garden Canyon near Fort HuachucaRiver gauge, Garden Canyon | 3.0 cfs | Very high | −0.2 cfs | 42 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Santa Cruz River at Tubac?
The official flood stage is 28.00 ft. The level is currently 7.19 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 Tubac today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:45 PM MST, the water level was 20.81 ft. Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Santa Cruz River at Tubac rising or falling?
Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Santa Cruz River at Tubac 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 Tubac?
The highest level on record is 26.56 ft on October 23, 2000.
Is Santa Cruz River at Tubac expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 21.33 ft by Friday, October 23 at 01:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:09481740(Agency page)- Coordinates
31.61304, -111.04013(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 | 20.81 ft | 2026-10-20 21:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1.9 cfs | 2026-10-20 21:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Santa Cruz River at Tubac (usgs:09481740). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/arizona/santa-cruz-river-at-tubac
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