Western Flows

Mcelmo Creek Above Trail Canyon

Near Cortez, CO Stream Gauge USGS: 09371520 Provisional Data Last Updated: Aug 24, 04:26 AM PT

Current Flow

21.9 cfs
Falling

Water Temp

68.4 °F
Danger (68°F+)

Expected Weather

Temp --°F
Wind -- mph
Rain Chance --%
Pressure -- hPa

Location

Flow is within the typical range for this time of year (25th–75th percentile, based on 33 years of USGS record).

System Insights

  • Water temperature is 68°F — above the 68°F threshold.

  • Flow is running below average with no significant precipitation forecast over the next 3 days.

Verify access, permits, and local conditions before entering any waterway.

Today's Weather

Forecast Details

Morning

At 6 AM: 63°F and Overcast, wind NE at 6 mph. By 10 AM: 78°F and Overcast, wind NE at 0 mph.

Afternoon/Evening

At 2 PM: 89°F and Overcast, wind W at 7 mph. By 6 PM: 88°F and Mainly Clear, wind W at 9 mph.

Overnight

Dropping from 75°F at 10 PM to 66°F by 4 AM. Conditions Mainly Clear with wind NW at 2 mph.

3-Day Outlook

🌔 Waxing Gibbous

Today, Aug 24

☁️

90° / 63°

Chance of Rain: 4%
6:38 AM 7:55 PM

Tuesday, Aug 25

☁️

92° / 64°

Chance of Rain: 4%
6:39 AM 7:53 PM

Wednesday, Aug 26

☁️

93° / 68°

Chance of Rain: 2%
6:40 AM 7:52 PM

7-Day Flow History

Source: USGS

The current cfs of 22 CFS is running below the historical median of 71 CFS for this date, indicating lower-than-average seasonal water levels.

Current (CFS)
Historical Median
Normal Range (p25–p75)

7-Day Water Temperature (°F)

Source: USGS
Current (°F)
68°F Threshold

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Glossary & Methodology

Cubic Feet per Second (CFS)

The standard measure for streamflow. One CFS is equal to one cubic foot of water flowing past a specific point in one second (about 7.48 gallons).

Acre-Foot (AF)

The volume of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot. One acre-foot is exactly 325,851 gallons.

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)

The amount of water contained within the snowpack. It can be thought of as the depth of water that would theoretically result if you melted the entire snowpack instantaneously.

Data Sources

Live metrics and historical medians are aggregated directly from the US Geological Survey (USGS), California Data Exchange Center (CDEC), and National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Daily flow statistics represent provisional records and are subject to agency revision.