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SwedenSanta Cruz River near Nogales water level
River gauge, Santa Cruz River, Arizona, United States
Right now
Very high for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 62.6 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.64 ft by Monday, October 26 at 03:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 07:29 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The gauge at Santa Cruz River near Nogales shows 2.15 ft, well above normal for mid-October.
The record high is 15.50 ft, set on October 9, 1977.
The water is rising: up 0.27 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.64 ft by Monday, October 26 at 03:00 AM. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.65 ft and 5.36 ft.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 15.50 ftOctober 9, 1977
- Forecast peak
- 1.70 ftThursday, October 22 at 08:00 PM
High water at Santa Cruz River near Nogales
The National Weather Service splits flooding into minor, moderate and major flood stage, each tied to what starts to go under water at this particular gauge. Minor flooding usually means low roads, parks and farmland; major flooding reaches homes and businesses.
Keep children and dogs well back from the edge, and stay off flooded footpaths and towpaths.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.50 ft | October 9, 1977 |
| 2 | 13.71 ft | August 20, 1955 |
| 3 | 13.50 ft | December 20, 1967 |
| 4 | 13.27 ft | July 10, 1954 |
| 5 | 12.94 ft | August 1, 1974 |
| 6 | 12.40 ft | October 2, 1983 |
| 7 | 12.30 ft | August 31, 1935 |
| 8 | 12.03 ft | July 26, 1946 |
| 9 | 11.40 ft | July 27, 1967 |
| 10 | 11.16 ft | July 20, 1950 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
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 | 15 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at TubacRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 20.86 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 22 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at ContinentalRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 1.13 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 37 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at Silverlake Road, at TucsonRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 24.46 ft | No reference yet | ±0 | 60 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at TucsonRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 0.00 ft | Below flood stage | +0.51 ft | 61 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at CortaroRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 7.97 ft | Below flood stage | +0.10 ft | 71 mi |
| Santa Cruz River at Trico Road, near MaranaRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 2.77 ft | Below flood stage | −0.14 ft | 82 mi |
| Santa Cruz River near LaveenRiver gauge, Santa Cruz River | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 151 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales Wash at NogalesRiver gauge, Nogales Wash | 5.5 cfs | High | ±0 | 4.7 mi |
| Huachuca Canyon near Fort HuachucaRiver gauge, Huachuca Canyon | 0.4 cfs | High | −0.5 cfs | 30 mi |
| Garden Canyon near Fort HuachucaRiver gauge, Garden Canyon | 3.2 cfs | Very high | −42.6 cfs | 31 mi |
| Ramsey Canyon near Sierra VistaRiver gauge, Ramsey Canyon | 3.4 cfs | Very high | −0.1 cfs | 33 mi |
| Upper Babocomari River near Huachuca CityRiver gauge, Upper Babocomari River | 0.0 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 33 mi |
| Barrel Canyon near SonoitaRiver gauge, Barrel Canyon | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 37 mi |
| Babocomari River near TombstoneRiver gauge, Babocomari River | 0.2 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 44 mi |
Questions and answers
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 near Nogales today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 07:00 AM MST, the water level was 2.15 ft. Up 0.27 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Santa Cruz River near Nogales rising or falling?
Up 0.27 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Santa Cruz River near Nogales normal?
Very high for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Santa Cruz River near Nogales?
The highest level on record is 15.50 ft on October 9, 1977.
Is Santa Cruz River near Nogales expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.64 ft by Monday, October 26 at 03:00 AM.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:09480500(Agency page)- Coordinates
31.34457, -110.85151(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 | 2.15 ft | 2026-10-20 14:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 62.6 cfs | 2026-10-20 14:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Santa Cruz River near Nogales (usgs:09480500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/arizona/santa-cruz-river-near-nogales
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