Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Arkansas River at Lamar

Highest listed crest 13.06 ftFlood stage 11.0 ft15 crests since 1987

The Arkansas River at Lamar crested above flood stage 9 times among the 15 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1987 to 2023. The highest, 13.06 ft on May 27, 1996, was moderate flooding, 2.06 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
13.06 ft
May 27, 1996; 5,030 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
11.0 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
0
9 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
July 22, 2023
11.13 ft, minor flooding
Location
Prowers County
Colorado

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Arkansas River at Lamar
Action stage9.04Aug 29, 2002The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)11.08Jul 22, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.01May 27, 1996Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

15 crests from 1987 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Arkansas River at Lamar, 1987 to 2023 810121416ft Flood stage 11.0 ftMajor 15.0 ft May 25, 1987: 10.74 ft, action stage; 3,220 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 1988: 8.82 ft, below flood stage; 1,750 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1992: 8.95 ft, below flood stage; 1,790 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 1994: 10.02 ft, action stage; 2,350 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1995: 11.09 ft, minor flooding; 3,160 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1996: 13.06 ft, moderate flooding; 5,030 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1997: 12.79 ft, minor flooding; 3,820 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 1998: 12.47 ft, minor flooding; 3,230 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1999: 11.11 ft, minor flooding; 2,770 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2001: 10.63 ft, action stage; 2,290 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 2002: 9.29 ft, action stage; 1,570 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 2009: 11.01 ft, minor flooding; 2,280 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2014: 11.41 ft, minor flooding; 2,190 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 2018: 11.01 ft, minor flooding; 1,890 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 2023: 11.13 ft, minor flooding; 2,130 cubic feet per second Highest, 13.06 ft, May 27, 1996 1990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Arkansas River at Lamar 1980s: 0 1990s: 5 5 2000s: 1 2010s: 2 2020s: 1 1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Arkansas River at Lamar
1May 27, 199613.06+2.06Moderate5,030
2Aug 12, 199712.79+1.79Minor3,820
3Jul 31, 199812.47+1.47Minor3,230
4Jul 30, 201411.41+0.41Minor2,190
5Jul 22, 202311.13+0.13Minor2,130
6Jun 7, 199911.11+0.11Minor2,770
7Jun 4, 199511.09+0.09Minor3,160
8Jul 27, 200911.01+0.01Minor2,280
9Jul 26, 201811.01+0.01Minor1,890
10May 25, 198710.74−0.26Action3,220
11Jun 8, 200110.63−0.37Action2,290
12Aug 14, 199410.02−0.98Action2,350
13Aug 29, 20029.29−1.71Action1,570
14Jul 21, 19928.95−2.05Below flood stage1,790
15Sep 15, 19888.82−2.18Below flood stage1,750

Gauges on the Arkansas River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Arkansas River
PuebloCO8.08.29 ft, Jun 10, 20240
Cañon CityCO10.010.90 ft, Jun 18, 19950
Catlin DamCO8.011.30 ft, May 1, 19992
CoolidgeKS8.08.85 ft, Aug 17, 20150
Garden CityKS10.022.30 ft, Jun 19, 19654
La JuntaCO11.015.55 ft, May 2, 19991
Lamar this gaugeCO11.013.06 ft, May 27, 19960
ParkdaleCO9.09.13 ft, Jun 9, 19850
PortlandCO9.012.94 ft, Jul 6, 20062
SyracuseKS10.021.80 ft, Jun 17, 19653
AvondaleCO7.010.60 ft, Apr 30, 19990
FowlerCO13.513.65 ft, Jun 24, 20230
NepestaCO16.516.66 ft, Jun 23, 20230

Prowers County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Colorado

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge LMAC2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.