Major Flood
12.5 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
10 ft
Minor Flood
8 ft
Action Stage
8 ft
What Floods at Each Level
12.5 ft
River levels have risen to the top of most levees and dikes and has overtopped them in several areas of the city. The flow now exceeds that observed during the big flood of 1942.
10 ft
Significant lowland flooding is occurring mainly outside of levee protected areas. Even those areas protected by levees and dikes should be closely monitored as the river flow now exceeds any experienced since the mid 1940s.
8 ft
Dikes and levees constructed after the floods of 1942 protect developed and personal property near the river in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Levee heights range from 8 to 12 feet. Further upriver and downriver from the dikes and levees, water is flowing over natural banks flooding agricultural and grazing lowlands. Sustained flows of 8000 to 10,000 cubic feet per second over a period of 5 to 10 days would likely result in significant bank erosion outside of levee protected areas.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1942 | 12.3 ft | 25,000 cfs |
| Aug 9, 1967 | 7.82 ft | 13,300 cfs |
| Apr 23, 1985 | 7.21 ft | 9,370 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
ABQN5
River
Rio Grande
County
Bernalillo, NM
Coordinates
35.0892°N, 106.6806°W
Get Flood Alerts for Rio Grande
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Rio Grande at Albuquerque?
The Rio Grande at Albuquerque gauge is maintained by USGS (site 08330000) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Rio Grande at Albuquerque?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Rio Grande at Albuquerque is 8 feet. Action stage begins at 8 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 10 feet, and major flooding at 12.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Rio Grande rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Rio Grande at Albuquerque to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Rio Grande at Albuquerque gauge located?
The gauge is located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico at coordinates 35.0892°N, 106.6806°W. USGS site number: 08330000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 12 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.