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Big Thompson River (CO) at Loveland

Highest listed crest 11.93 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft41 crests since 1979

The Big Thompson River (CO) at Loveland crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 41 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1979 to 2021. The highest, 11.93 ft on September 13, 2013, was major flooding, 1.93 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Big Thompson River (CO) crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
11.93 ft
September 13, 2013; 19,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 11.5 ft
Crests at major
1
6th of 100 gauges in Colorado
Most recent flood crest
September 13, 2013
11.93 ft, major flooding
Location
Larimer County
Near Loveland (2.6 mi), Berthoud (8.2 mi), Johnstown (9.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Big Thompson River (CO) at Loveland
Action stage9.01May 30, 1995The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.02Apr 30, 1999Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage11.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage11.51Sep 13, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

41 crests from 1979 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Big Thompson River (CO) at Loveland, 1979 to 2021 24681012ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 11.5 ft Aug 19, 1979: 3.04 ft, below flood stage; 248 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1980: 10.10 ft, minor flooding; 6,970 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 1981: 3.62 ft, below flood stage; 349 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 1982: 7.17 ft, below flood stage; 2,270 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1983: 7.65 ft, below flood stage; 2,240 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1984: 5.43 ft, below flood stage; 985 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1985: 4.24 ft, below flood stage; 542 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 1986: 4.79 ft, below flood stage; 707 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1987: 3.84 ft, below flood stage; 422 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1988: 3.36 ft, below flood stage; 292 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1989: 5.58 ft, below flood stage; 1,070 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1990: 4.67 ft, below flood stage; 689 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1991: 5.44 ft, below flood stage; 873 cubic feet per secondAug 7, 1992: 4.08 ft, below flood stage; 274 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1993: 4.62 ft, below flood stage; 446 cubic feet per secondAug 11, 1994: 8.23 ft, below flood stage; 2,710 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1995: 9.73 ft, action stage; 3,780 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1996: 3.56 ft, below flood stage; 368 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1997: 6.61 ft, below flood stage; 1,790 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1998: 3.33 ft, below flood stage; 349 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1999: 10.48 ft, minor flooding; 4,960 cubic feet per secondOct 24, 2000: 3.26 ft, below flood stage; 468 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2002: 2.37 ft, below flood stage; 238 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2003: 3.92 ft, below flood stage; 679 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 2004: 3.62 ft, below flood stage; 577 cubic feet per secondAug 25, 2006: 3.02 ft, below flood stage; 357 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 2007: 3.24 ft, below flood stage; 284 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2008: 2.66 ft, below flood stage; 240 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2009: 3.30 ft, below flood stage; 400 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2010: 6.61 ft, below flood stage; 1,800 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 2011: 4.06 ft, below flood stage; 627 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 2012: 6.27 ft, below flood stage; 1,600 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 2013: 11.93 ft, major flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2014: 6.85 ft, below flood stage; 1,500 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2015: 7.22 ft, below flood stage; 2,240 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2016: 3.94 ft, below flood stage; 881 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2017: 3.47 ft, below flood stage; 628 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2018: 2.89 ft, below flood stage; 419 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2019: 2.97 ft, below flood stage; 444 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2020: 3.66 ft, below flood stage; 774 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2021: 4.61 ft, below flood stage; 1,010 cubic feet per second Highest, 11.93 ft, Sep 13, 2013 19801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Big Thompson River (CO) at Loveland 1970s: 0 1980s: 1 1 1990s: 1 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 2020s: 0 1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Big Thompson River (CO) at Loveland
1Sep 13, 201311.93+1.93Major19,000
2Apr 30, 199910.48+0.48Minor4,960
3Apr 30, 198010.10+0.10Minor6,970
4May 30, 19959.73−0.27Action3,780
5Aug 11, 19948.23−1.77Below flood stage2,710
6Jun 12, 19837.65−2.35Below flood stage2,240
7May 19, 20157.22−2.78Below flood stage2,240
8Sep 14, 19827.17−2.83Below flood stage2,270
9May 31, 20146.85−3.15Below flood stage1,500
10Jun 10, 19976.61−3.39Below flood stage1,790
11Jun 12, 20106.61−3.39Below flood stage1,800
12Jul 7, 20126.27−3.73Below flood stage1,600
13Jun 3, 19895.58−4.42Below flood stage1,070
14Jun 2, 19915.44−4.56Below flood stage873
15May 16, 19845.43−4.57Below flood stage985
16Jul 6, 19864.79−5.21Below flood stage707
17May 29, 19904.67−5.33Below flood stage689
18May 24, 19934.62−5.38Below flood stage446
19Jun 7, 20214.61−5.39Below flood stage1,010
20Jun 18, 19854.24−5.76Below flood stage542
21Aug 7, 19924.08−5.92Below flood stage274
22Jul 13, 20114.06−5.94Below flood stage627
23Jun 12, 20163.94−6.06Below flood stage881
24Jun 18, 20033.92−6.08Below flood stage679
25Jun 9, 19873.84−6.16Below flood stage422
26Jun 1, 20203.66−6.34Below flood stage774
27Aug 8, 19813.62−6.38Below flood stage349
28Jul 24, 20043.62−6.38Below flood stage577
29Jun 23, 19963.56−6.44Below flood stage368
30Jun 23, 20173.47−6.53Below flood stage628
31Jun 5, 19883.36−6.64Below flood stage292
32Jul 11, 19983.33−6.67Below flood stage349
33May 22, 20093.30−6.70Below flood stage400
34Oct 24, 20003.26−6.74Below flood stage468
35Jul 27, 20073.24−6.76Below flood stage284
36Aug 19, 19793.04−6.96Below flood stage248
37Aug 25, 20063.02−6.98Below flood stage357
38Jun 8, 20192.97−7.03Below flood stage444
39May 28, 20182.89−7.11Below flood stage419
40Jun 5, 20082.66−7.34Below flood stage240
41Jun 10, 20022.37−7.63Below flood stage238

The worst floods along the Big Thompson River (CO)

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Big Thompson River (CO) that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 13, 2013: 11.93 ft here, major flooding

  • Lake EstesCO · Sep 12, 2013 · 9.05 ft · Major · its highest

April 30, 1999: 10.48 ft here, minor flooding

  • La SalleCO · May 1, 1999 · 9.54 ft · Moderate

April 30, 1980: 10.10 ft here, minor flooding

  • La SalleCO · May 1, 1980 · 9.91 ft · Moderate · its highest

Gauges on the Big Thompson River (CO)

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

Flood gauges on the Big Thompson River (CO)
Loveland this gaugeCO10.011.93 ft, Sep 13, 20131
Lake EstesCO6.59.05 ft, Sep 12, 20131
La SalleCO8.09.91 ft, May 1, 19800

Other gauges in Larimer County

Flood gauges in Larimer County
Lake Estes6.59.05 ft, Sep 12, 20131
Masonville11.514.82 ft, Sep 13, 20131
Fort Collins7.510.29 ft, Sep 13, 20130
Fort Collins10.011.56 ft, Sep 13, 20130

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BTLC2, 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.