Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenPurgatoire River at Madrid water level
River gauge, Purgatoire River, Colorado, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 23.4 cfs
History
What this means
The Purgatoire River at Madrid is at 2.80 ft, in the normal range.
It is 4.20 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.80 ft and 2.83 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
- 12.80 ftJuly 20, 1976
Floating and fishing near Purgatoire River at Madrid
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 7.00 ft, 4.20 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 26.50 ft
- Flood waters rise into low spots along Highway 12 between Madrid and Cokedale.
- 17.50 ft
- Flood waters reach the base of the County Road 18.3 Bridge.
- 15.00 ft
- Flood waters rise over County Road 18.3 near the bridge.
- 9.00 ft
- Water begins to inundate farm properties and dwellings near Madrid.
- 8.50 ft
- Water reaches fence line in agricultural lands near County Road 18.3 Bridge.
- 7.00 ft
- Minor agricultural flooding occurs. Water overtops the tallest banks along the river channel.
- 5.00 ft
- The river is bankfull. Water spills over the lowest banks near the County Road 18.3 Bridge.
- 2.80 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.80 ft | July 20, 1976 |
| 2 | 10.94 ft | August 10, 1981 |
| 3 | 9.00 ft | July 10, 1978 |
| 4 | 8.36 ft | August 14, 1979 |
| 5 | 8.00 ft | July 12, 1975 |
| 6 | 7.51 ft | July 31, 1992 |
| 7 | 7.37 ft | July 17, 1993 |
| 8 | 7.17 ft | August 29, 2008 |
| 9 | 7.13 ft | May 9, 2017 |
| 10 | 7.12 ft | August 5, 2004 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Purgatoire River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purgatoire River below Trinidad LakeRiver gauge, Purgatoire River | 4.01 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 5.2 mi |
| Purgatoire River near ThatcherRiver gauge, Purgatoire River | 6.7 cfs | Low | −0.3 cfs | 44 mi |
| Purgatoire River at Rock Crossing near TimpasRiver gauge, Purgatoire River | 11.7 cfs | Normal | −6.3 cfs | 67 mi |
| Purgatoire River near Las AnimasRiver gauge, Purgatoire River | 2.44 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 101 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermejo River near DawsonRiver gauge, Vermejo River | 2.91 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 32 mi |
| Eagle Tail Ditch near MaxwellCanal gauge, Eagle Tail Ditch | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 34 mi |
| Costilla Creek above Costilla DamRiver gauge, Costilla Creek | 1.4 cfs | Very low | +0.3 cfs | 37 mi |
| Casias Creek near CostillaRiver gauge, Casias Creek | 4.1 cfs | Normal | +0.2 cfs | 38 mi |
| Santistevan Creek near CostillaRiver gauge, Santistevan Creek | 0.7 cfs | Low | ±0 | 39 mi |
| Costilla Creek below Costilla DamRiver gauge, Costilla Creek | 0.1 cfs | Low | ±0 | 40 mi |
| Van Bremer Arroyo near ModelRiver gauge, Van Bremer Arroyo | 0.1 cfs | Low | ±0 | 40 mi |
| Ponil Creek near CimarronRiver gauge, Ponil Creek | 3.1 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 42 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Purgatoire River at Madrid?
The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 4.20 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 Purgatoire River at Madrid today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 05:45 AM MDT, the water level was 2.80 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Purgatoire River at Madrid rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Purgatoire River at Madrid normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Purgatoire River at Madrid?
The highest level on record is 12.80 ft on July 20, 1976.
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:07124200(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.12946, -104.63999(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NGVD29
- 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 | 2.80 ft | 2026-10-19 11:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 23.4 cfs | 2026-10-19 11:45 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Purgatoire River at Madrid (usgs:07124200). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/colorado/purgatoire-river-at-madrid
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