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South Platte River at Denver

Highest listed crest 18.66 ftFlood stage 11.0 ft82 crests since 1932

The South Platte River at Denver crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 82 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1932 to 2021. The highest, 18.66 ft on June 17, 1965, was major flooding, 7.66 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the South Platte River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
18.66 ft
June 17, 1965; 40,300 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
11.0 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
1
6th of 100 gauges in Colorado
Most recent flood crest
June 24, 2015
11.51 ft, minor flooding
Location
Denver County
Near Wheat Ridge (5.4 mi), Denver (6.5 mi), Federal Heights (7.3 mi)
Identifiers
NWS DNVC2
No USGS station

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 Denver
Action stage9.56Jul 8, 2001The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)11.03Jun 24, 2015Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.01Sep 10, 1933Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.01Jun 17, 1965Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

82 crests from 1932 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Platte River at Denver, 1932 to 2021 5101520ft Flood stage 11.0 ftMajor 15.0 ft Jul 13, 1932: 5.94 ft, below flood stage; 2,000 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 1933: 13.48 ft, moderate flooding; 22,000 cubic feet per secondAug 9, 1934: 5.80 ft, below flood stage; 1,300 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1935: 10.60 ft, action stage; 12,320 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1936: 7.29 ft, below flood stage; 4,020 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1937: 7.85 ft, below flood stage; 5,280 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1938: 8.10 ft, below flood stage; 5,870 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1939: 7.60 ft, below flood stage; 4,790 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 1940: 6.64 ft, below flood stage; 2,480 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1941: 7.48 ft, below flood stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1942: 10.59 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1943: 5.70 ft, below flood stage; 1,400 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1944: 6.82 ft, below flood stage; 2,500 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1945: 8.64 ft, below flood stage; 6,280 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1946: 7.36 ft, below flood stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1947: 7.48 ft, below flood stage; 3,920 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1948: 6.95 ft, below flood stage; 3,440 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1949: 9.87 ft, action stage; 8,800 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1950: 7.89 ft, below flood stage; 4,290 cubic feet per secondAug 3, 1951: 8.23 ft, below flood stage; 5,470 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 1953: 7.73 ft, below flood stage; 4,290 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1955: 7.53 ft, below flood stage; 3,800 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 1956: 8.59 ft, below flood stage; 5,920 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1957: 8.33 ft, below flood stage; 4,920 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1959: 5.78 ft, below flood stage; 1,930 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1960: 6.37 ft, below flood stage; 2,820 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 1961: 6.32 ft, below flood stage; 2,200 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1962: 6.08 ft, below flood stage; 1,610 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1963: 8.01 ft, below flood stage; 4,700 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1964: 6.60 ft, below flood stage; 3,020 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1965: 18.66 ft, major flooding; 40,300 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1966: 6.68 ft, below flood stage; 2,670 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 1967: 8.13 ft, below flood stage; 5,460 cubic feet per secondAug 13, 1968: 6.75 ft, below flood stage; 2,780 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1969: 11.97 ft, minor flooding; 21,100 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 1971: 6.47 ft, below flood stage; 3,130 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1972: 6.55 ft, below flood stage; 3,380 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1973: 12.35 ft, minor flooding; 17,600 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1974: 6.85 ft, below flood stage; 3,390 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 1975: 9.38 ft, below flood stage; 7,600 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 1976: 6.29 ft, below flood stage; 2,140 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1977: 6.19 ft, below flood stage; 2,120 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1978: 5.93 ft, below flood stage; 1,720 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 1979: 7.59 ft, below flood stage; 4,260 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1980: 8.09 ft, below flood stage; 4,890 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1981: 6.08 ft, below flood stage; 1,740 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1982: 7.07 ft, below flood stage; 3,220 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1983: 8.79 ft, below flood stage; 6,600 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1984: 8.82 ft, below flood stage; 6,840 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1985: 9.20 ft, below flood stage; 8,280 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1990: 8.60 ft, below flood stage; 5,200 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1991: 9.51 ft, action stage; 7,460 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 1992: 8.42 ft, below flood stage; 6,170 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1993: 6.33 ft, below flood stage; 2,720 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 1994: 7.92 ft, below flood stage; 5,460 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1995: 9.42 ft, below flood stage; 8,440 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1996: 7.40 ft, below flood stage; 3,750 cubic feet per secondAug 11, 1997: 8.64 ft, below flood stage; 6,220 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1998: 10.90 ft, action stage; 13,800 cubic feet per secondAug 5, 1999: 8.37 ft, below flood stage; 5,146 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 2000: 8.31 ft, below flood stage; 5,410 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2001: 9.63 ft, action stage; 8,620 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 2002: 6.15 ft, below flood stage; 2,090 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 2003: 6.59 ft, below flood stage; 2,590 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 2004: 8.83 ft, below flood stage; 6,660 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 2005: 8.16 ft, below flood stage; 4,980 cubic feet per secondAug 13, 2006: 6.68 ft, below flood stage; 2,860 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2007: 8.87 ft, below flood stage; 7,010 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 2008: 8.52 ft, below flood stage; 5,880 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2009: 8.13 ft, below flood stage; 5,260 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2010: 8.57 ft, below flood stage; 6,170 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2011: 8.72 ft, below flood stage; 6,590 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2012: 8.02 ft, below flood stage; 4,990 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 2013: 7.41 ft, below flood stage; 3,930 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2014: 7.43 ft, below flood stage; 3,690 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2015: 11.51 ft, minor flooding; 11,300 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2016: 7.74 ft, below flood stage; 4,220 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 2017: 6.70 ft, below flood stage; 2,870 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 2018: 7.06 ft, below flood stage; 3,390 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2019: 7.66 ft, below flood stage; 4,090 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2020: 6.62 ft, below flood stage; 2,750 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2021: 7.07 ft, below flood stage; 3,290 cubic feet per second Highest, 18.66 ft, Jun 17, 1965 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Platte River at Denver 1930s: 1 1940s: 0 1950s: 0 1960s: 2 2 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 0 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 2020s: 0 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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

The 50 highest of 82 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, South Platte River at Denver
1Jun 17, 196518.66+7.66Major40,300
2Sep 10, 193313.48+2.48Moderate22,000
3May 7, 197312.35+1.35Minor17,600
4May 7, 196911.97+0.97Minor21,100
5Jun 24, 201511.51+0.51Minor11,300
6Jul 25, 199810.90−0.10Action13,800
7May 31, 193510.60−0.40Action12,320
8Apr 25, 194210.59−0.41Action10,200
9Jun 14, 19499.87−1.13Action8,800
10Jul 8, 20019.63−1.37Action8,620
11Jun 1, 19919.51−1.49Action7,460
12Jun 4, 19959.42−1.58Below flood stage8,440
13Jul 20, 19759.38−1.62Below flood stage7,600
14Jul 19, 19859.20−1.80Below flood stage8,280
15May 14, 20078.87−2.13Below flood stage7,010
16Aug 18, 20048.83−2.17Below flood stage6,660
17Aug 20, 19848.82−2.18Below flood stage6,840
18Jun 27, 19838.79−2.21Below flood stage6,600
19Jul 12, 20118.72−2.28Below flood stage6,590
20Aug 6, 19458.64−2.36Below flood stage6,280
21Aug 11, 19978.64−2.36Below flood stage6,220
22May 29, 19908.60−2.40Below flood stage5,200
23Aug 1, 19568.59−2.41Below flood stage5,920
24Apr 23, 20108.57−2.43Below flood stage6,170
25Aug 8, 20088.52−2.48Below flood stage5,880
26Aug 24, 19928.42−2.58Below flood stage6,170
27Aug 5, 19998.37−2.63Below flood stage5,146
28May 15, 19578.33−2.67Below flood stage4,920
29Aug 17, 20008.31−2.69Below flood stage5,410
30Aug 3, 19518.23−2.77Below flood stage5,470
31Aug 4, 20058.16−2.84Below flood stage4,980
32Jul 7, 19678.13−2.87Below flood stage5,460
33May 26, 20098.13−2.87Below flood stage5,260
34Aug 28, 19388.10−2.90Below flood stage5,870
35May 7, 19808.09−2.91Below flood stage4,890
36Jun 7, 20128.02−2.98Below flood stage4,990
37Jun 15, 19638.01−2.99Below flood stage4,700
38Aug 10, 19947.92−3.08Below flood stage5,460
39Jun 16, 19507.89−3.11Below flood stage4,290
40Jun 1, 19377.85−3.15Below flood stage5,280
41Jun 28, 20167.74−3.26Below flood stage4,220
42Jul 9, 19537.73−3.27Below flood stage4,290
43Aug 21, 20197.66−3.34Below flood stage4,090
44Mar 10, 19397.60−3.40Below flood stage4,790
45Aug 16, 19797.59−3.41Below flood stage4,260
46Aug 28, 19557.53−3.47Below flood stage3,800
47Jun 22, 19417.48−3.52Below flood stage4,000
48Jun 22, 19477.48−3.52Below flood stage3,920
49Jul 30, 20147.43−3.57Below flood stage3,690
50Sep 12, 20137.41−3.59Below flood stage3,930

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.

June 17, 1965: 18.66 ft here, major flooding

  • HendersonCO · Jun 17, 1965 · 16.93 ft · Major
  • KerseyCO · Jun 18, 1965 · 10.75 ft · Minor
  • WeldonaCO · Jun 19, 1965 · 10.33 ft · Minor

May 7, 1973: 12.35 ft here, minor flooding

  • HendersonCO · May 6, 1973 · 17.67 ft · Major · its highest
  • KerseyCO · May 8, 1973 · 11.73 ft · Moderate
  • WeldonaCO · May 8, 1973 · 11.68 ft · Moderate

May 7, 1969: 11.97 ft here, minor flooding

  • HendersonCO · May 8, 1969 · 14.91 ft · Moderate
  • KerseyCO · May 8, 1969 · 10.70 ft · Minor
  • WeldonaCO · May 10, 1969 · 10.30 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
AtwoodCO11.515.52 ft, Sep 15, 20131
Denver this gaugeCO11.018.66 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 Denver County

Flood gauges in Denver County
Denver303.5303.73 ft, Jun 8, 20230
Denver9.510.10 ft, Jun 24, 20150
Cherry Hills Village6.08.40 ft, Jul 28, 19970

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DNVC2, 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.