Big Thompson River at Loveland water level

Name: Big Thompson River at Loveland water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Big Thompson River, Colorado, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

0.62ft Down 0.25 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 02:30 PM MDT (57 min ago)

Flow: 4.5 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The Big Thompson River at Loveland is at 0.62 ft, in the normal range.

It is 9.38 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft.

It has dropped 0.25 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 0.60 ft and 1.28 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 11.93 ftSeptember 13, 2013

Floating and fishing near Big Thompson River at Loveland

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 10.00 ft, 9.38 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

12.00 ft: Extensive, life-threatening flooding occurs with roads crossing the Big Thompson River likely impassable. This level represents a flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
11.50 ft: Widespread, major flooding occurs with many roads, homes and businesses impacted. This level represents a flood that has a 2-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
11.00 ft: Numerous streets along and bridges crossing the Big Thompson River in Loveland flood.
10.50 ft: Lincoln Avenue, Rossum Drive, 1st Street, Railroad Avenue, and the railroad tracks near the Big Thompson River are overtopped. This level represents a flood that has a 10-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. For more information click <a href="inundation/faq_google.php">here</a>.
10.00 ft: Low lying roads along the river in Loveland begin to be impacted by flooding.
9.00 ft: The river overflows its banks in several areas including Barnes Park.
0.62 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.93 ft	September 13, 2013
2	10.48 ft	April 30, 1999
3	10.10 ft	April 30, 1980
4	9.73 ft	May 30, 1995
5	8.23 ft	August 11, 1994
6	7.65 ft	June 12, 1983
7	7.22 ft	May 19, 2015
8	7.17 ft	September 14, 1982
9	6.85 ft	May 31, 2014
10	6.61 ft	June 12, 2010

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:16 AM Sunset 06:16 PM Daylight 11 hr First quarter 62%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Carter Lake ReservoirReservoir	5,708.92 ft	Normal		9 mi
Flatiron ReservoirReservoir	5,463.87 ft	Very low		9 mi
Pinewood Reservoir and RattlesnakeReservoir	6,558.09 ft	Very low		12 mi
Cache La Poudre River above Boxelder Creek near TimnathRiver gauge, Cache La Poudre River	18.4 cfs	Normal	+0.9 cfs	12 mi
Cache La Poudre River at Fort CollinsRiver gauge, Cache La Poudre River	0.82 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	14 mi
St Vrain Creek below Boulder Creek at Highway 119 near LongmontRiver gauge, St Vrain Creek	9.68 ft	Below flood stage	+0.03 ft	15 mi
Horsetooth ReservoirReservoir	5,412.04 ft	Very high		16 mi
Boulder Creek at Mouth near LongmontRiver gauge, Boulder Creek	0.6 cfs	Very low	−0.1 cfs	17 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Big Thompson River at Loveland?

The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 9.38 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 Big Thompson River at Loveland today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 02:30 PM MDT, the water level was 0.62 ft. Down 0.25 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Thompson River at Loveland rising or falling?

Down 0.25 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Big Thompson River at Loveland normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Big Thompson River at Loveland?

The highest level on record is 11.93 ft on September 13, 2013.

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:06741510 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 40.37874, -105.06082 (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	0.62 ft	2026-10-19 20:30	Provisional
Flow	4.5 cfs	2026-10-19 20:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Big Thompson River at Loveland (usgs:06741510). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/big-thompson-river-at-loveland

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