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South Platte River at Atwood

Highest listed crest 15.52 ftFlood stage 11.5 ft18 crests since 2006

The South Platte River at Atwood crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 18 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2006 to 2023. The highest, 15.52 ft on September 15, 2013, was major flooding, 4.02 feet above flood stage. 8 other gauges on the South Platte River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 7 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
15.52 ft
September 15, 2013
Flood stage
11.5 ft
Major flooding from 14.5 ft
Crests at major
1
6th of 100 gauges in Colorado
Most recent flood crest
September 15, 2013
15.52 ft, major flooding
Location
Logan County
Near Sterling (6.9 mi)
Identifiers
NWS ATWC2
Out of service

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Platte River at Atwood
Action stage9.54May 13, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)11.51Jun 18, 2010Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage14.51Sep 15, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

18 crests from 2006 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Platte River at Atwood, 2006 to 2023 05101520ft Flood stage 11.5 ftMajor 14.5 ft Jul 13, 2006: 5.92 ft, below flood stageMay 26, 2007: 8.12 ft, below flood stageAug 20, 2008: 6.25 ft, below flood stage; 847 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2009: 9.59 ft, action stageJun 18, 2010: 11.62 ft, minor flooding; 8,820 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 2011: 11.09 ft, action stage; 8,370 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2012: 6.29 ft, below flood stage; 1,150 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2013: 15.52 ft, major floodingJun 6, 2014: 9.69 ft, action stage; 8,890 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2015: 11.23 ft, action stage; 15,200 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2016: 7.73 ft, below flood stage; 6,060 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2017: 8.05 ft, below flood stage; 3,880 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2018: 5.51 ft, below flood stage; 2,060 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2019: 6.56 ft, below flood stage; 3,240 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 2020: 4.54 ft, below flood stage; 1,120 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2021: 6.09 ft, below flood stage; 2,620 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 2022: 3.29 ft, below flood stage; 433 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2023: 9.49 ft, below flood stage; 10,200 cubic feet per second Highest, 15.52 ft, Sep 15, 2013 201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Platte River at Atwood 2000s: 0 2010s: 2 2 2020s: 0 2000s2010s2020s
  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, South Platte River at Atwood
1Sep 15, 201315.52+4.02Major—
2Jun 18, 201011.62+0.12Minor8,820
3May 13, 201511.23−0.27Action15,200
4Jul 18, 201111.09−0.41Action8,370
5Jun 6, 20149.69−1.81Action8,890
6Jun 7, 20099.59−1.91Action—
7Jun 15, 20239.49−2.01Below flood stage10,200
8May 26, 20078.12−3.38Below flood stage—
9May 21, 20178.05−3.45Below flood stage3,880
10May 19, 20167.73−3.77Below flood stage6,060
11Jun 25, 20196.56−4.94Below flood stage3,240
12Jan 1, 20126.29−5.21Below flood stage1,150
13Aug 20, 20086.25−5.25Below flood stage847
14Jun 3, 20216.09−5.41Below flood stage2,620
15Jul 13, 20065.92−5.58Below flood stage—
16May 21, 20185.51−5.99Below flood stage2,060
17Jan 30, 20204.54−6.96Below flood stage1,120
18Aug 20, 20223.29−8.21Below flood stage433

The worst floods along the South Platte River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the South Platte River that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 15, 2013: 15.52 ft here, major flooding

  • Fort MorganCO · Sep 15, 2013 · 25.73 ft · Major · its highest
  • WeldonaCO · Sep 14, 2013 · 19.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • KerseyCO · Sep 14, 2013 · 15.09 ft · Major · its highest
  • BalzacCO · Sep 15, 2013 · 13.71 ft · Major · its highest
  • RoscoeNE · Sep 21, 2013 · 12.21 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • CrookCO · Sep 17, 2013 · 10.13 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • HendersonCO · Sep 12, 2013 · 11.65 ft · Minor
  • JulesburgCO · Sep 18, 2013 · 10.74 ft · Minor · its highest

June 18, 2010: 11.62 ft here, minor flooding

  • KerseyCO · Jun 14, 2010 · 10.39 ft · Minor
  • RoscoeNE · Jun 23, 2010 · 10.20 ft · Minor

Gauges on the South Platte River

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

Flood gauges on the South Platte River
Atwood this gaugeCO11.515.52 ft, Sep 15, 20131
DenverCO11.018.66 ft, Jun 17, 19651
Fort MorganCO17.525.73 ft, Sep 15, 20131
HendersonCO11.017.67 ft, May 6, 19732
North PlatteNE13.014.54 ft, Sep 23, 20130
RoscoeNE9.012.21 ft, Sep 21, 20130
South PlatteCO7.011.20 ft, Jul 12, 19961
WatertonCO5.55.68 ft, Apr 23, 19420
Cheesman ReservoirCO7.013.40 ft, Apr 29, 19701
BalzacCO10.013.71 ft, Sep 15, 20131
CrookCO9.810.13 ft, Sep 17, 20130
JulesburgCO10.010.74 ft, Sep 18, 20130
KerseyCO10.015.09 ft, Sep 14, 20131
Lake GeorgeCO7.08.34 ft, Apr 28, 19700
WeldonaCO10.019.20 ft, Sep 14, 20131

Other gauges in Logan County

Flood gauges in Logan County
Crook9.810.13 ft, Sep 17, 20130

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ATWC2, 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.