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South Platte River at Fort Morgan

Highest listed crest 25.73 ftFlood stage 17.5 ft20 crests since 2002

The South Platte River at Fort Morgan crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 20 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2002 to 2021. The highest, 25.73 ft on September 15, 2013, was major flooding, 8.23 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
25.73 ft
September 15, 2013; 60,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
17.5 ft
Major flooding from 21.5 ft
Crests at major
1
6th of 100 gauges in Colorado
Most recent flood crest
June 15, 2015
17.91 ft, minor flooding
Location
Morgan County
Near Fort Morgan (1.3 mi)

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 Fort Morgan
Action stage15.03Jun 4, 2014The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)17.51Jun 15, 2015Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage19.50—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage21.51Sep 15, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

20 crests from 2002 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Platte River at Fort Morgan, 2002 to 2021 1015202530ft Flood stage 17.5 ftMajor 21.5 ft Mar 3, 2002: 11.83 ft, below flood stage; 1,680 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2003: 12.47 ft, below flood stage; 2,520 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2004: 12.22 ft, below flood stage; 2,210 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2005: 14.62 ft, below flood stage; 4,940 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2006: 12.25 ft, below flood stage; 1,890 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2007: 13.37 ft, below flood stage; 3,260 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 2008: 13.08 ft, below flood stage; 2,960 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2009: 13.78 ft, below flood stage; 3,730 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2010: 17.08 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 2011: 16.03 ft, action stage; 8,450 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2012: 10.74 ft, below flood stage; 1,160 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2013: 25.73 ft, major flooding; 60,000 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2014: 15.90 ft, action stage; 9,810 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2015: 17.91 ft, minor flooding; 15,300 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2016: 13.97 ft, below flood stage; 6,210 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2017: 14.27 ft, below flood stage; 6,730 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2018: 11.62 ft, below flood stage; 2,830 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2019: 12.55 ft, below flood stage; 4,150 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2020: 10.35 ft, below flood stage; 1,400 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2021: 12.01 ft, below flood stage; 3,420 cubic feet per second Highest, 25.73 ft, Sep 15, 2013 2005201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Platte River at Fort Morgan 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 Fort Morgan
1Sep 15, 201325.73+8.23Major60,000
2Jun 15, 201517.91+0.41Minor15,300
3Jun 16, 201017.08−0.42Action10,500
4Jul 17, 201116.03−1.47Action8,450
5Jun 4, 201415.90−1.60Action9,810
6Jun 6, 200514.62−2.88Below flood stage4,940
7May 20, 201714.27−3.23Below flood stage6,730
8Jun 15, 201613.97−3.53Below flood stage6,210
9Jun 5, 200913.78−3.72Below flood stage3,730
10May 26, 200713.37−4.13Below flood stage3,260
11Aug 18, 200813.08−4.42Below flood stage2,960
12Jun 24, 201912.55−4.95Below flood stage4,150
13Jun 3, 200312.47−5.03Below flood stage2,520
14Jul 11, 200612.25−5.25Below flood stage1,890
15Aug 21, 200412.22−5.28Below flood stage2,210
16Jun 1, 202112.01−5.49Below flood stage3,420
17Mar 3, 200211.83−5.67Below flood stage1,680
18May 21, 201811.62−5.88Below flood stage2,830
19Jan 1, 201210.74−6.76Below flood stage1,160
20Mar 21, 202010.35−7.15Below flood stage1,400

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: 25.73 ft here, major flooding

  • WeldonaCO · Sep 14, 2013 · 19.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • AtwoodCO · Sep 15, 2013 · 15.52 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 15, 2015: 17.91 ft here, minor flooding

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
DenverCO11.018.66 ft, Jun 17, 19651
Fort Morgan this gaugeCO17.525.73 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 Morgan County

Flood gauges in Morgan County
Balzac10.013.71 ft, Sep 15, 20131
Weldona10.019.20 ft, Sep 14, 20131

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FOMC2, 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.